Quimper Arts offers a vital skill-honing activity to local artists– working from a live model. We have 2 sessions with different models each Monday.
The morning session, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, consists of shorter poses, which start at one minute and go up to 20 minutes. Most participants sketch in pencil or charcoal, although other media are welcome. The doors open at 9:00 a.m. for the morning session.
The afternoon session, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., involves just a single pose by the model. (Doors open at 12:45 p.m. for setup, and sometimes folks stay right through from the morning.) In the afternoon, media used range from graphite, charcoal and pastel to watercolor, gouache and oil paint. We occasionally have 2 long pose sessions in a row that are the same model and pose, to allow for a more developed drawing or painting.
As of November 2025, we have discontinued our evening sessions.
Poses are often unclothed, but may be clothed if the model prefers or if requested by the group. Occasionally for the single afternoon pose and the one-hour evening pose, we pose the model in a costume and with props and/or backgrounds of various kinds.
We have sessions even on holidays, with few exceptions– we’ve even met on New Years Day!
Life drawing sessions cost $15 for a morning, afternoon or evening for the general public, $10 for members. (Info on membership here.)
Our meeting place is the Masonic Lodge, 1338 Jefferson St, Port Townsend, WA, which is the red brick building north of the stone post office building.
Materials and setup
Bring your preferred materials for sketching or painting. A board that you clip paper onto can be helpful. If you can bring an easel, great. We have “horses” (benches where you can sit and prop your drawing board in front of you), tables, and a few spare easels. If painting in oil, use only odorless mineral spirits (such as Gamsol) in a covered jar.
Etiquette
Respect and honor the model and your fellow artists. Please arrive at least a few minutes before the starting time in order to set up. You may enter either through the front door or the side door if you arrive before the session starts, but please use only the front door if you arrive after a session starts or if you must leave during a session in order to avoid drafts and noise and for the privacy of the model. If you must enter or leave during a session please do so quietly and with as little disruption as possible.
Please keep cologne, perfume and other personal fragrances out of the studio.
Cell phones should be off or on vibrate.
The artists share the responsibility to set up in the morning and clear up at the end of the day. Artists who come in the afternoon and evening are encouraged to stay until the end so we can all share in putting everything away.
Tipping the model is acceptable, and if you choose to tip, there is a container labeled “tips” near the model stand. Try to bring some smaller bills for that if you can, as we sometimes have difficulty keeping change for $10 and larger bills after folks have paid their session fee.
If you want to photograph a model, you must first get the model’s permission, and then pay the model their requested photo fee (which varies depending on the model).
Finally, please show respect for the model by not discussing or making comments about their physical appearance, age, race, weight, etc. As an organization we don’t discriminate, and seek and accept models of all ethnic backgrounds, ages and body types.
Interested in modeling?
If you are interested in modeling, or know someone who would like to do so, we welcome inquiries. Please contact our Model scheduler, Chris Witkowski, at (360) 385-0911.
Model Schedule
For privacy we list models by first name only, or by gender only if they request to not have their name listed.
February 2 – Morning and Afternoon: Cassandra
February 9 – Morning: Tulsi; Afternoon: Brooke
February 16 – Morning and Afternoon: Brooke
February 23 – Morning: Lyle; Afternoon: TBD
Note: Models are subject to change.
Below: Artists at work in the afternoon session.
Quimper Arts 