Like most students, I wanted to come study abroad in Rome not to see, do, and learn the same things I would at home, but in search of something more. The food, culture, and travel I have experienced so far have most definitely been an exciting change from my normal routine. Unfortunately, however, I did not have room in my course load to choose culturally relevant electives. While I was extremely lucky to find courses that counted for my major requirements while abroad, I regret not being able to take Italian art and culture classes like some of my friends are. Enrolling in extra university classes was too expensive of an option for me, but I was determined not to let that stop me from experiencing all that I had hoped to. This was what led me to seek out independent art classes in Rome.
I always loved art classes as a child and I occasionally dabbled in drawing and painting as a teenager, but as I have grown older I have made less and less time for independent artistic endeavors. Now, surrounded my so many classical masterpieces and such a strong artistic energy in Rome, I’ve gotten the itch to take part in this culture of art myself. I began searching for casual, beginner-level, English-taught art courses in the city. After some extensive research, I found a weekly drop-in figure sketching course in Trastevere, the area of Rome in which am living. The course is held through http://artstudiorome.com/ and costs 30 euros per two hour session.
I learned from the information page online that figure sketching refers to the classical practice of using charcoal and sketching a nude model in the center of the room. This was something I had definitely never done before and that was slightly out of my comfort zone, but it was also something that intrigued me. In a modern, Western culture where nudity almost always is connected with sexualization, I was fascinated to explore nudity from a mature, objective, artistic standpoint.
After calling to get more information, I felt that my finding this class was serendipitous, for I found out that the instructor was also a professor at the American University of Rome where I am studying! He struck me as a friendly, energetic, American expat, and encouraged me to give the class a try that upcoming Thursday evening.
I felt excited, but nervous to show up for the first time because of my lack of experience. I envisioned myself in a massive classroom of expert sketchers who have had years of practice. In order to calm myself and prepare a bit, I watched some instructional YouTube videos on figure sketching and realized it didn’t seem as hard as I had originally imagined.
I made a critical error in my preparation for this class, however, that meant that I had to wait another week before starting. When initially checking the time, I had looked quickly and had thought that the schedule said it began at 7:00. In reality, the class began at 17:00 (5:00 pm), which I did not realize until it was too late. Upset with myself for making this careless mistake, I sent a text apologizing to Tim – the instructor – for missing the lesson and asking if it would be alright if I went the following week instead. Attending a week later ended up being fine; however, this was a lesson to me to be aware that time in Italy is sometimes written in a 24-hour format.
When I finally did end up beginning my lessons, I showed up at the studio and found that it was in the basement of a quaint local art shop. I was the first of only two students to show up that evening, which worked out well for me because I received more one-on-one instruction from the teacher and I was less intimidated by the pressure of being in a large group setting. The model that day was a middle-aged Italian man, who I could tell was a regular model at the studio because he was depicted in several sketches and paintings hung around the room.
We started the class by “warming up” with six quick, scribbled gesture drawings of the model in various poses. After getting comfortable with using the charcoal, I felt more confident moving onto doing a larger, more detailed sketch of just one pose over a longer period of time. I definitely did not produce fantastic, accurate pieces; however, the instructor was helpful and supportive. It actually felt very freeing to try a brand new hobby purely for enjoyment, without putting pressure on myself to be “successful’. It was an experience of exploration in which I was more focused on the process than on the end-product. Nevertheless, I did finish the class with a piece that I was proud of. I was surprised and pleased with what I had created, and I was excited to show my work to my friends. I felt challenged, focused, and alive.
After the initial few moments in the class, I surprisingly did not feel uncomfortable drawing the body of a nude stranger. In fact, I found it freeing to grow comfortable with the naked human form and to simply observe it at face value, focusing on each shadow and curve. It was a refreshing change from the culture of negative body image and body shame that advertising and social media have created. In that room, the body before us was the subject we were trying to recreate, and therefore, it was the embodiment of perfection.
Despite my reservations, I was so happy that I decided to try this brand new activity. Since my first class, I have gone back a second time and, this coming week, I plan to attend a third. This time, some of my friends even asked to come too. Artistic energy is definitely contagious!
