Life Class: Today's Nude

Comments

1. Have thoroughly enjoy every episode. This has provided a great resource of information and imagery which I have found particularly useful as I don't have the time or money to attend life drawing classes. Thank you to everyone involved. More please!

   Posted by Jim Sleeper on 04/12/2009 11:39:17

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2. Great series! Please show again! And please film more!

   Posted by Lena on 02/08/2009 15:45:29

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3. This whole series has been inspirational. Congratulations to the team who thought it up and many, many thanks to all concerned in taking the terror out of life drawing and showing us that it can be done. I've not experienced such a steep learning curve, such intense concentration, nor such delight in albeit very modest achievement for many years. Please let us have more very soon!!

   Posted by Anthea on 19/07/2009 18:35:12

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4. Any chance of this being shown again? We can't watch anything on 4OD here in Ireland, or perhaps make the episodes available for download.

   Posted by vidhill on 18/07/2009 21:11:39

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5. People naked? You mean people actually have something under their clothes? OMG I think I've just keeled over in shock! Get a grip. I can't believe, well actually I can, that some people are trying to label this as pornography. A woman nearly has a relapse in her bed because she saw this? I am presuming she has never taken her clothes off in her life, and she is most likely a spinster who has never had sex in her life. As for not being appropriate viewing for children, that's just bull. Have they never taken their clothes off in front of their children? I know I have. I've taken my child into a bath with me when she was younger. Does that now makes me a paedophile? I find it highly disturbing that people think this is pornographic, and worry for the state of their children's mental welfare. Is it any wonder that teenagers are so titillated when they see a naked body, or when studying what used to be Section 6 of our science books and seeing just an outline of the penis/vagina? For some unexplicable reason, we see it as something to be ashamed of, a secret never to be talked about or viewed, except in very hushed tones. No wonder we have such high levels of teenage pregnancy - I mean, if we can't even let them see a naked body, never mind actually discussing sex, then we are in serious trouble. I shudder to think how these complainants react when they go around an art gallery, although I suspect that these people are so ignorant and uncultured, they don't even know what the inside of an art gallery looks like. These people disgust me. They clearly see the name of the programme - their chance to turn over - and yet they still manage to sit through a whole programme whilst retaining the so-called moral high ground.

   Posted by Heather on 17/07/2009 14:57:22

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6. Really enjoyed the series. Great to be able to draw from life everyday. Please do another very soon!!!

   Posted by Penny Parker on 12/07/2009 12:52:24

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7. The week has ended as well maybe better than it started. And my sketching from Fridays program is significantly better than from Mondays. This has been a superb opportunity living as I do in a part of the country where opportunities for life drawing are very limited. I do hope it will be possible to both download these models for future practise and have more programs of this sort in the future. One of your commentors suggestion of an hours program with some more specific tutoring would be good though I would not welcome too much tuition in how to draw. This I have to do for myself. It would be great to be able to draw like M. Angelo but I would prefer to draw like Chris I. at her best. Less uninterrupted sitting time would be very frustrating. I think those who have complained in various ways are missing the point of the program and missing a great opportunity.

   Posted by Chris I on 11/07/2009 13:52:32

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8. Gosh, how disappointed am I? I love life drawing and looked forwards to this series, but pretty much all there was was the model and some commentary. I was expecting, and hoping, to see how skilled artists developed their drawings from blank paper to completed work. What it needed was maybe two simultaneous screens, or maybe two programmes, showing the model and the work progressing.

   Posted by joe tozer on 10/07/2009 19:05:14

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9. Great series-more please.The chance to see the artists working would have been of great help.The suggestion from Geoff-having the poses available to download -was a sound one, since it would be very useful to 'complete' some first efforts.His other suggestion regarding the chance to see the initial drawing developed into painting etc was a good one too. Perhaps you could consult with some of your viewers in the event that you run a second series. He seems to know what he's talking about. I was sorry to read a grumble about nudity . Having introduced 7 year olds to Hockney's Peter Getting out of Nick's Pool I know that they can behave in a very mature manner if allowed to talkabout what they're seeing.

   Posted by Maggie on 10/07/2009 17:01:14

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10. Great opportunity to draw from life. Please continue with this series.

    Posted by Gloria Loring on 10/07/2009 16:13:10

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11. This was a good series I do agree that in the bottom corner of the screen it should show the artist at work so the beginer would gain knowlage on how the artist was drawing the model, this is how I learnt when I attended life class,I would stand nearly in the same position as an artist who was better than me so I could see how they worked. Having different artists is good as every one aproches drawing differently and not to get boged down with one style suits all. My mother and my daughter have also enjoyed the series, my daught has attended life class with me on and off since she was 8yrs (she is now doing her GCSE's) it has taught her the discipline of concentration, the art of being quiet for an hour or so and the art of looking. Life class is NOT of a sexual nature nor is it ever treated like that, the life classes I have attended over the years has taught me a great deal about looking and drawing anything, everyone enjoyes seeing other peoples work and their aproch to drawing/painting gaining snipits of information from one another. My daughter has enjoyed being asked about her drawings and has agined confidence in her drawing but also in talking about her work and answering questions. More Chanel 4 More!

    Posted by Susan A on 10/07/2009 16:09:15

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12. I am absolutely delighted Channel Four made this program. And that finally I can access 4OD on my mac. Well done C4! Very inspiring. It didn't even occur to me that people would have an issue with nudity during the day - John the Jag, seriously, if you're concerned about your kids, make them go outside and play rather than watching tv. Although I don't understand what the problem is, surely this program would only make them want pic up the pencils and paper? I thought it was very interesting to hear the artist's thoughts as they are drawing, but I do agree with Geoff that it would be great to have another program with more development. Again C4, thanks for this, especially finishing with John Berger: "it's with the erasing that you re-find the essential, it's odd, it's a paradox", man, I love this guy!

    Posted by Mel Bestel on 10/07/2009 14:38:59

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13. The pose by the model today was excellent but we had the usual 'artist speak' rather than a tutor guiding the students, Hopefully we have now gone well beyond the issue of nudity in art and on the TV and can progress to a series where each program is an hour long and we see how the artist develops the drawings/ paintings using charcoal, pastels, oils etc The concept of 'Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and finally tell them what you have told them' would work very well here. It also has to be run at two levels ( strangely just like a pantomime0 for the beginner as well as for intermediate/experienced artists. The poses ought to be available to download so that it can be used as a reference or to sketch from This would not be an expensive series to produce - it is a classic 'chalk and talk' type of production Pleased that you tried but you only get a moderate pass - 6 out of 10

    Posted by Geoff on 10/07/2009 13:50:43

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14. Unfortunate I missed most of the Life drawings shown on CH4 this week, can I purchase the DVD. Regards Carmel Healy

    Posted by Carmel Healy on 10/07/2009 13:35:30

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15. The program is pointless and teaches little because you don't really see what the artist is doing. It's a daring ploy to get ratings up. Showing part and fully naked people shouldn't be done before 9pm as children are definately watching at 12:30. Parents can't watch children every second and stop them chancing channels.

    Posted by Jon the JAG on 10/07/2009 13:28:39

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16. Very inspirational series. Removes some of the myths surrounding the subject. A split screen approach wold be useful. Would like to see a little of what the artist was doing. Lets Have More.

    Posted by Mike McGinity on 10/07/2009 09:02:09

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17. I love the concept, the different body shapes and the artistic imput, would like to see the artisits at work as well as having time to do mine too, in order to pick up tips. Please can we have more of this type of programme. Thank you!

    Posted by lyndsay on 09/07/2009 21:49:22

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18. There is nothing wrong with this show, who ever is complaing should grow up! The human body is nothing to be ashmed of and if you don't want your kids watching change the channel, personaly I would let my kids watch (not they want too). At the time this is shown they are at school anyway, my god do these same people find greek stautues offencive how do they ever get round to taking a bath. This show is very tastful, normal and natural

    Posted by Luke Mattoli on 09/07/2009 14:32:40

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