They get together to chit-chat, stimulate their minds and share life experiences.
And to improve their figure drawing skills, too.
Since 1924, people have gathered in Casper to paint and draw from life models. The location and artists have changed over the years and the group now meets every Monday evening at the Casper Artists' Guild, also known as West Wind Gallery.
Figure drawing merely means drawing from live models, said Justin Hayward, who advocates the figure drawing group in his Casper College classes. Sometimes the model is draped in material, but usually the model is nude.
"The figure pops up in a lot of artwork," said Hayward, an instructor of drawing and painting at Casper College. "I like to teach anatomy during life drawing. When they understand anatomy they can understand the structure such as proportions of the figure, the skeleton and all the bones and then the muscles."
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Figure drawing can be traced back to cave art, Hayward said. The caves of Lascaux in France, which have images of large animals and other figures, are probably the earliest examples of figure drawing.
Putting 3-D objects on a flat piece of paper is challenging, but the memories and the recording of an evening's work is far beyond frustrating - it is rewarding and satisfying.
At age 82, Bob Odell perceives figure drawing as a stimulating hobby because it revitalizes his thinking.
"The right brain gives the left brain a vacation," Odell said. "It helps you solve problems like where the nose is related to the upper lip. As a geologist, I need to be able to relate distance and perspective."
Others joined the group to have a venue in which to practice figure drawing. Miles Davis, a Casper College graduate, began attending the group about a year ago to improve his life-drawing skills.
"Human figure is the most difficult to draw," Davis said. "The more you draw human figure the better you can render anything."
Most of the time, Davis concentrates on the torso.
"You look at things differently," Davis said. "The way the light hits it, details and shapes."
The models, therefore, are the vital part of the evening and are selected on positive character, Odell said.
"I appreciate the art of the human form," said Del Kinswoman, who has been modeling about four years. "From Rubens to the voluptuous figures to statues. By participating in art you might get to feel how the models felt back then."
Modeling requires being comfortable with yourself and appreciating your imperfections, Kinswoman said. Seeing how others view you also builds confidence. In-between poses, she takes a moment to look at the artists drawings.
"From all the different angles, you see how each artist has taken what they see and put it on paper - how you look to them," she said.
Jordan Short, who has been modeling for a couple of months, likes the idea of presenting himself as artwork, not to mention the added incentive to workout.
"You are not born with clothes on," Short said. "You should always be comfortable in your own skin."
The artists observe the models' boost in confidence, as well.
"You get to know the person better and reinforce confidence in them," Odell said. "As long as you respect the model it's very worthwhile experience."
Odell and the other artists have gained lasting friendships with the models throughout the years.
"If you have patience, they all come around and mature into useful citizens or individuals," Odell said. "It's a privilege to have people share their life experience with this facility. It has really stimulated the arts and local populace."
Learn more
Want to learn more about figure drawing? Justin Hayward, a painting and drawing instructor at Casper College, has some instructions and samples on his Web site at www.justin
haywardart.com. Or, attend a figure drawing class 7 p.m. every Monday at 1040 West 15th Street (behind the Westside Albertsons Store). Also, painters meet 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays for an informal painting sessions. All are invited to join free of charge. No experience is required; just bring your own materials. For more information, call 307-265-2655.
A long tradition
The original figure drawing group was started in 1924 by Ruth Joy Hopkins and her husband Lin. They, along with architect Leon Goodrich, photographer Tom Carrigen and his wife Eva, who was a painter, met on Casper Mountain to draw from life figures.
In the 1930s, meetings were held in the basement of the Townsend Hotel. Adults and children posed as models for the artists. Adults were paid 50 cents for the evening while children were paid 10 cents.
Over time, the participants and locations changed.
"Back in 1963 we just met wherever," said member Bob Odell. "Most of us took classes at Casper College and we enjoyed it so much we wanted to keep going."
And they did. In 1979 the Casper Artists' Guild finally got a home of its own in the old fire station at 1040 West 15th St. The city leased the building to the guild for $25 per year.
In 1999 the city sold the building to the group and the artists have met there ever since. The figure drawing group now meets every Monday evening at the Casper Artists' Guild, also known as the West Wind Gallery.
