Last month’s life drawing class drew inspiration from one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures, Medusa. Far more than a monster, Medusa’s story speaks of transformation, resilience and reclamation. These themes remain deeply resonant today. Our session invited artists to look beyond anatomy and explore the energy, symbolism and narrative woven into her legend.
Our model for the evening was female, holding bold and evocative poses that reflected the strength, defiance and vulnerability at the heart of Medusa’s myth. Props and references inspired by ancient mythology, from serpentine motifs to draped fabrics, helped set the tone and created an atmosphere charged with both danger and beauty.
We began with a series of short, dynamic sketches. Arms raised like writhing serpents, a gaze cast defiantly outward, a body twisting as though caught between resistance and release. These quick studies encouraged artists to capture rhythm and emotion rather than detail.
As the session developed, the longer poses deepened the narrative. In one, the model sat upright, her form regal and unyielding, embodying strength and resilience. In another, she curled inward, suggesting both fragility and rebirth. The duality of Medusa, fearsome yet vulnerable, cursed yet powerful, gave participants a wealth of inspiration.
The responses were as varied as the story itself. Some artists embraced bold and expressive mark making, channelling raw energy into sweeping strokes of charcoal. Others worked more decoratively, weaving serpentine lines and mythic motifs into their drawings, echoing the iconography of ancient art. Each piece felt like a dialogue with Medusa’s story, part study and part act of reinterpretation.
By the end of the evening, the studio walls were alive with work that reached far beyond the study of form. The drawings told stories of transformation, survival and reclamation. They celebrated Medusa not as a silenced figure of fear but as an enduring symbol of strength.
Themed Life Drawing at Gorilla Bar, Manchester
This session was a reminder that life drawing can be more than observation. It can be storytelling, myth making and above all an act of giving voice.
Nichola