In the midst of the many and varied forms which art inhabits today, significant numbers of artists work in traditional media and methods. I am in a group of such artists. We have been meeting for about eight years now, every Thursday in Dublin’s Royal HIbernian Academy, to pursue a concentrated day of drawing. We draw from a life model. This seemingly anachronistic activity has many devotees. 
The motivations driving the many participants are varied, but there is one common link – the act of drawing. That is, the hand eye coordination, the honing of a skill, and drawing for its own sake.
These Thursday drawing sessions also provide very welcome time out of one’s own studio and a chance to meet, socialise, and to see how others work. Occasional drawings and some life paintings from these sessions have found their way into private shows, but most of this work lives in drawers and portfolios, some of it on the web.
This week for the first time, on Tuesday February 1st, a large selection of this work, selected by Mick O’Dea and Donald Teskey, will be hung in the Bourn Vincent Gallery in the University of Limerick – allowing it to be viewed collectively and at a distance.
We are hiring a bus to make the trip to the opening, leaving Dublin early in the afternoon and arriving back sometime the following morning. I think there might be a sing song!
By Dorothy Smith, Artist.
Work from the ‘Drawing Thursday’ sessions at the RHA School will be exhibited in the Bourn Vincent Gallery, University of Limerick from Tuesday February 1st, until Thursday March 31st, 2011.
Great idea. Limerick’s gain is Dublin’s loss. Sean Keating would be pleased. Given that the RHA School is based in Dublin perhaps next year we could have an exhibition in Dublin.It would encourage more artists to participate in this classical art initiative.
Why doesn’t the RHA take advantage of all this creative work happening under its auspices and on its own premises and have an annual show of ‘Work from the Life Room’. In the mean time well done Limerick for seeing the potential and for putting on a terrific show.
Great collective act of devotion to the fundamental practice of art. Doubt that Damien Hirst has such a group.