I was asked at the start of 2006 to develop a series of life drawing classes designed to encourage engagement, insight and understanding of the art and artists within the collection displays and temporary exhibitions at Tate Modern. Together with my colleague David Price, I now organise a regular class in the galleries at Tate Modern. The classes are experimental and have been developed along the lines of a 'happening' rather than a straight life drawing class. Experimental drawing and collage are encouraged, rather than instruction on technique, as the galleries and spaces encourage a more inspirational, creative atmosphere.

Classes have involved a range of different spaces and approaches.
For example: life drawing and architecture - using the huge Turbine Hall spaces, also stairwells and escalators, with models choreographed to move up stairs and through spaces, a class in the 2006 Kandinski exhibition used dancers with ribbons moving to the music which inspired the paintings, an experimental class on the figure and city landscape in the Tate board room with floor to ceiling views across London, participants working together an a 25 metre drawing and a class in the Gilbert and George exhibition using photocopies of the models as inspiration for large collages.

We have also varied the format of the classes- moving from splitting the group (of 40 -50 people) in to two and teaching separately, to a more open format, with life models set up in different areas and people moving between them, spending as long or as little time with each as they decide. Classes have been developed where the model is incidental to the class with everyone working on the floor, only using the model if necessary, using previous drawings as inspiration.

The classes have proved challenging- for us as facilitators and also for participants. I really feel we have opened the boundaries as to how we perceive our life drawing classes and also what can be achieved in a relatively low-tech way- resulting in a totally creative experience. Both David and I have also been surprised as to how the classes have been received by participants- many of whom have never done any life drawing before. The work produced has been completely creative due to the fact that, without the constraints of technical instruction, people are free to experiment and bring their own ideas into their drawings in an inclusive environment.

more info on the Tate Modern website