Figure Drawing
Open Studios, Workshops,
and Continuing Education Classes
in Northern California
This is a directory of places
where artists can draw, paint, or sculpt the human form from live
art models. The list includes instructed and uninstructed sessions.
Drawing groups come and go, and schedules change, so it is wise
to confirm with the organizer before attending—website, email
and/or telephone is listed for each group.
Please report any defunct groups
or nonfunctioning links to directory artmodelbook.com.
If
you find this resource useful, please tell your friends, mention
in your blog, etc. Thanks!
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you like a free listing for your workshop?
Click here for submission guidelines.
This page includes northern
California cities
with Zip Code 94###, 95###, and 96###
including San Francisco, Sacramento, and Mendocino.
Listings are sorted by Zip Code
Bay
Area Classical Artist Atelier
Barrett Hall at the Belmont Parks and
Recreation
1835 Belburn St.
Belmont, CA 94002
BACAAClassesBACAA.org 
650-574-2210
Instructed
BACAA hosts workshops with master artists who teach in the tradition
of contemporary classical tradition. Classes: Figure drawing, painting
from live models, long pose. Open studios: Long pose in between
scheduled workshop. Students of all levels welcome. Single sessions
available.
Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) at Finn Center
230 San Antonio Circle
Mountain View, CA 94040
infoarts4all.org
650-917-6800
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Open Studio. Mondays 7:00-10:00 pm. Opportunity to
work with other students & artists. Model provided for several
short poses followed by two long poses. Draw from costumed model
on first Monday of each month. Bring own supplies. $7 per session
or $60 for 10 sessions.
SOMArts
Cultural Center
934 Brannan Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
infosomarts.org
415-863-1414
Uninstructed
Figure Drawing. Saturdays from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM, except holidays.
This class has been ongoing for 15+ years. Instructors and live
models are provided. The class is $8 per person. Drop-ins are always
welcome.
Academy
of Art University
79 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-3410
admissionsacademyart.edu
800-544-2787
Instructed
Classes include Head and Figure Sculpture 1, Gestural Figure Sculpture,
Advanced Figure Drawing/Fine Art, Heads & Hands, Clothed Figure
Painting, Advanced Figure Painting.
California
College of the Arts
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107-2247
ext-edcca.edu 510-594-3710
Instructed
Classes include The Figure in Clay and Life Drawing Portraiture
Intensive.
Some classes take place at the Oakland campus: 5212 Broadway, Oakland,
CA 94618-1426.
Mission
Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
infomissionculturalcenter.org
415-643-2778
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Fridays 6:00-8:30 PM, $8. Must be at least 18 years
old.
Life
Drawing Workshops - Mission District
3435 Cesar Chavez, Studio #302 (southeast
corner at Valencia)
San Francisco, CA 94110
RobertRobertWindle.com 415-722-9183
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Workshops. Drop-in, no instructor, figure drawing workshop
meets Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10 and Saturday mornings from 9
to 12. The fee is ten dollars for each three-hour session. We provide
a supportive work environment with great models and a relaxed friendly
atmosphere. Drawing horses, drawing boards, large worktables and
some easels that are available for your use. Brush up on your drawing
skills or explore new techniques. Beginner or advanced, everyone
is welcome. The focus of these drawing sessions is on gesture and
short poses. We work in twenty-minute sets and the length of the
pose varies from one to twenty minutes. See website or call for
more information.
Root
Division
3175 17th Street (at South Van Ness)
San Francisco, CA 94110
adultedrootdivision.org
415-863-7668
Instructed
Classes include figure drawing.
Drawing
with Collen
530 Edinburgh Street
San Francisco, CA 94112
infodrawingwithcollen.com
415.971.7617
Instructed
Private art lessons for one or more students. Classes include Figure
Drawing and Anatomy.
23rd
Street Drawing Studio
3747 23rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
23rdstreetstudiogmail.com
Uninstructed
Open drawing sessions are offered for those who prefer to explore
drawing on their own.
Drop-ins are available for $12. Sundays 10:00 am-1:00 pm, Mondays
9:30 am-12:30 pm, Mondays 6:30-9:30 pm, Wednesdays 6:30-9:30 pm.
San
Francisco Art Institute
800 Chestnut Street (between Jones and
Leavenworth)
San Francisco, CA 94133
acesfai.edu 415-749-4554
Uninstructed
Open Drawing Studio, Fridays 5:30–8:30pm. A resource open
to the community since the 1950s, the Open Drawing Studio provides
a great opportunity to draw from a live model in a relaxed and informal
atmosphere. $10 per session.
Pacific
Art League
668 Ramona St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
frontdeskpacificartleague.org
650-321-3891
Instructed and Uninstructed
The League offers Uninstucted Figurative Sculpture and Uninstructed
Life Drawing.
Instructed classes include Figure Drawing; Abstract Figurative Painting;
Figure Painting in Oil and Pastel;
Beginning-Advanced Sculpture with a Model.
Palo
Alto Art Center
1313 Newell Road
Palo Alto, California 94301
ArtCentercityofpaloalto.org
650-329-2366
Uninstructed
Tuesdays 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Open drawing Life Drawing workshops feature
short or long nude poses with male or female models. Occasionally
two models pose. No instruction. Fee is $5, but tips are encouraged.
Frank
Bette Center for the Arts
1601 Paru Street
Alameda, CA 94501
infofrankbettecenter.org
510-523-6957
Uninstructed
Gesture Poses with a nude model every Tuesday 6:30 - 9:30 pm. All
skill levels welcome. Bring your own materials. Space limited. Pay
by the month to cover model fee: $35 - $45 depending on number of
artists. Limited drop-in spaces are available at $15 per session.
Members only. No Instructor.
Arts
Benicia
991 Tyler Street #115
Benicia, CA 94510
infoartsbenicia.org 707-747-0131
Uninstructed
Tuesdays 7pm-10pm, ongoing. Benicia Figure Drawing Group. Please
arrive before 7pm to set up your station. Monthly Fee: $65 members,
$70 non-members. Two Sessions in one Month: $35 Members, $40 Non-Members.
Drop in - One Session: $20 Members, $25 Non-Members. Payments may
be made by check or cash on Tuesday nights.
Adobe
Center Art Studios
20395 San Miguel
Castro Valley, CA 94546
recreation@haywardrec.org 510-881-6735
Instructed
Life Drawing daytime and evening classes; 4-week sessions. Session
involves 20 minutes studies, gesture poses and one long pose for
drawing, painting or sculpting. Odorless thinners only. No cameras.
All levels welcome. Pre-registration required. The minimum number
must be met one week prior to the start of class so a model may
be booked.
Barbara
Stanton's Figure Drawing Workshop
Bothwell Art Center
2466 8th St.
Livermore, CA 94550
microangeloearthlink.net
925-373-9638.
Uninstructed
Figure Drawing Workshop (Live nude models, no instructor) on Fri.
mornings 9:30 - 12:30. Artists bring their own materials and easels.
We start with one and two minute gesture poses, then two ten minute
poses and twenty minute poses for the rest of the session. On the
last Fri. of the month we have gestures and then one long pose for
the rest of the session. Coffee, tea and refreshments are available.
Individual sessions are $20. Open to all artists. Students under
18 need a parental permission to attend.
Lightning
Coyote Studio
2914 Linden St
Oakland, CA 94608
lightnincoyoteyahoo.com 510-836-0363
Uninstructed
Drawing from the Nude Model - Every Tuesday Evening from 7:00pm
to 10:00pm. These are open sessions with no instructor. Space is
sometimes limited so please call first. Tuesday Evening Session
Cost is $12.00 to drop in or $40.00 Monthly. Painting Sessions are
$15.00 drop in.
The
Atelier School of Classical Realism
4920 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
dnshardyyahoo.com 510-465-1958
Instructed
Saturday Figure Drawing & Anatomy Courses. The curriculum consists
of four parts, which must be taken in sequence; each part is three
trimesters. The classes are all day from 9:00AM to 4:00PM with a
lunch break from 12:00 noon until 1:00PMSingle sessions of the Saturday
Figure Drawing and Anatomy Course may be attended if there is an
opening and subject to the approval of the instructor. The cost
is $90/ session, payable at the beginning of the session.
Firehouse
North Gallery
1790 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94703
Contact Karen at kzsherrcomcast.net
to reserve a space
Uninstructed
East Bay Figure Painting is a very diverse group of artists who
get together to paint a model, sharing the costs. Currently our
program is a long pose lab hosted by the Firehouse North, an artist
collective in
Berkeley. Tuesdays 10 AM - 1PM with a clothed model. Model and pose
change every two weeks. $20/session. We strive to maintain an atmosphere
supportive of all media and approaches to the figure.
Artwork from the group can be found on our blog.
ASUC
Art Studio
Lower Sproul Plaza, MLK JR. Student Union
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-4500
artstudioberkeley.edu 510-642-6161
Instructed
Classes include FIgure Drawing.
Richmond
Art Center
2540 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804
admintherichmondartcenter.org
510.620.6772
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. This is designed for self-directed figure study from
a live model. A monitor will guide the model through a series of
short to longer poses. Appropriate for students who wish to work
independently in drawing or painting medium of their choice. Oil
paints not permitted. Minimum 12 students. Bring a friend! See drop-in
policy for restrictions. Day drop-in fee: RAC Member $20, Nonmember
$25.
MarinMOCA
500 Palm Drive
Novato, CA 94949
infomarinmoca.org 415-506-0137
Uninstructed
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Life Drawing.
Tuesdays, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm . Figure Painting.
Drop-in $15 per session, or $80 for 8 consecutive sessions.
Stone
Griffin Gallery
411 E. Campbell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
smith8273yahoo.com 408-374-5200
Uninstructed
Life Sessions - We hold a life drawing session in the gallery twice
a month -- on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. The
time is 7pm to 9pm, cost is $15. Table, chairs and model are provided
-- bring your own supplies. No instruction.
Art
Museum of Los Gatos
4 Tait Avenue at W. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95031
EducationMuseumsofLosGatos.org
408-395-7386
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Class. Tuesdays, 2:00-4:30 pm. $16 per session. Ongoing.
Drop-in basis. Bring a portable easel. Chairs are available. 18-years
and older. No registration required. No solvents.
Santa
Cruz Art League
526 Broadway
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
cindyscal.org
831-426-5787
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Instructed: Figure Painting in Oil. Working directly from
the model, the participant will explore concepts of anatomy, design
and color. While the emphasis will be in oil painting,acrylics and
watercolors may be used. A workbook will be provided. Level: Some
painting experience necessary.
• Uninstructed: Figurative Drawing. Facilitated by Open Studio
artist Richard Bennett $16 (Members $14; Students $10). Drop-Ins
welcome! Monday Night Drawing - Drawing from a model. Evenings 7-10
p.m. 1st & 3rd Monday Afternoon Drawing & Painting-1-4pm
Live model, longer poses.
San
José State Animation / Illustration Club (aka Shrunken
Head Man)
San José State University
Art & Design Building, 3rd floor
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192
shmshmclub.com
Uninstructed
Figure Drawing. Mondays 6:30-9:30pm, Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm, Fridays
2:00-5:00pm. $3.00 per session or $75.00 per semester. Sessions
are packed, so come early and come often.
Chartreuse Muse Figure Drawing
918 10th St.
Modesto, CA 95354
For information contact Jack Morris jjackm55yahoo.com
Uninstructed
These are open session life drawing workshops from 7-10 pm every
Tuesday evening at the Chartreuse Muse Gallery. We have shorter
poses twice a month and longer poses the remainder of the month.
We are a small group with male and female models. $10 per session
at the only Muse. Enter through the back door and we are upstairs.
Gualala
Arts Center
46501 Gualala Road
Gualala, CA 95445
infogualalaarts.org 707-884-1138
Uninstructed
Wednesdays 3:00-6:00 pm, upstairs at GAC. Open to all and all skill
levels. Model's fee is shared, usually
$8 - $12. Models are paid $20 per hour and we always need new models.
For info call or email Mike Mee, meemikeyahoo.com,
707-785-3999.
Mendocino
Art Center
45200 Little Lake Street at Kasten Street
P.O. Box 765
Mendocino, CA 95460
mendoartmcn.org 707-937-5818,
ext. 10
Instructed and Uninstructed
Figure Drawing Open Studio. Wednesdays 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, $7 per
session, $24 per month, Model fee required. Tuesdays, 1:30 pm -
4:30 pm, studio use and model fees required.
Figurative Sculpture Open Studio, Tuesdays 10 am - 1 pm. Model fee
dependent on number of participants.
Instructed workshops include Abstract Figurative Painting.
Sebastopol
Center for the Arts
6780 Depot Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-829-4797
Uninstructed
Go Figure! Drop-in open studio, figure study sessions. Draw, paint,
sculpt and/or photograph (photography 2nd Friday of the month only)
a live model in an open, well-lit studio. All levels. Bring own
materials. No turpenoid or turpentine solvents! Artists must be
18 and over. Mondays 12-3pm, single 3-hour pose session; $15 per
session or $50 for 4-prepaid sessions. Wednesdays 7-10pm, multiple
short poses 1st hour, then 20 minute poses; $12 per session or $40
for 4-prepaid sessions.
Arcata
Life Drawing Circle
StewART Studios
1125 16th Street, Suite 105-D
Arcata, CA 95521
numeerimage.com
Uninstructed
Drop-in Life Drawing Sessions
Thursdays 7-9 p.m. $5. gestures and short poses
Fridays 10-12 a.m. $5. gestures and short poses
First Tuesday of each month 6:30-9:00 p.m. $10. Gestures and 30
minute poses. Moderated by Jim McGee.
The
School of Light & Color
10030 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
sarbacklightandcolor.com
916-966-7517
Instructed
Classes include Figure Painting.
Capital
Art Center
1200 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
artist_patrisyahoo.com
916-397-8958
Uninstructed
Life Drawing/Painting Sessions - $10 per session.
Tuesdays- short poses, 10 am - 1 pm (With instruction:$15), 6 -
9 pm.
Thursdays- long pose, 1:30 - 4:30, 6 - 9.
Saturdays short/long poses,10 - 1.
Artist
Studios in the Foothills (As If Studios)
940 Idaho Maryland Rd
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Contact Bob Martin 530-274-7000
or bmartinasifstudios.com
Uninstructed
Open drawing sessions are offered for Figure Drawing twice weekly.
Instruction is available upon request. Drop-ins are available for
$12 on Wednesdays 7:00 -9:30 pm, Saturdays 9:00 am-1:00 pm for $16.
We request an email notification to attend.
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