Life Drawing Classes, Workshops,
and Open Studios in Canada
Listings in the USA

Since 2009, this directory has listed art schools, ateliers, and studios where artists can paint, sculpt, or draw live art models. Life Drawing groups come and go, and schedules change, so it is wise to confirm with the organizer before attending. Please report any defunct groups or broken links to directory@artmodelbook.com

See submission guidelines if you would like a free listing.


Select a province:


• Listings are sorted by Postal Code •

Alberta College of Art + Design
1407 - 14 Avenue NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 4R3
extendedstudies@acad.ca Telephone: 403-284-7640
Instructed
Figure drawing -- Prerequisite: Previous drawing experience.
Figure painting -- Prerequisite: Acrylic Painting I or Oil Painting I.
[2013-05-29]

Quickdraw Animation Society
351 - 11th Avenue SW, Suite 201
Calgary, Alberta T2R 0C7
email@quickdrawanimation.ca Telephone: 403-261-5767
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Ongoing Drop-in Wednesdays 7:00-10:00pm. Ages 18+. Fee: $10.00 per session. This is a casual non-instructional session with live models. All major animation schools & studios require samples of life drawing portfolio. Simon Tang, workshop coordinator, is willing to review student portfolios upon request. Sessions are held via RSVP. Email silver1spider@hotmail.com by Sunday before the session.
[2013-05-28]

Mount Royal University
Lincoln Park Campus,
4825 Mount Royal Gate SW
Calgary, Alberta T3E 6K6
cearts@mtroyal.ca Telephone: 403-440-6012
Instructed
Art courses include Portrait & Figure Drawing.
[E]

Harcourt House Arts Centre
Third Floor, 10215 112 St.
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1M7
harcourt@telusplanet.net Telephone: 780-426-4180
Instructed and Uninstructed
Drop-In Sessions include Life Drawing, Figurative Sculpture, and Long Poses, and Draw ‘Til You Drop. Drop-in sessions are non-instructional where the group works from the life model. All drop-in sessions are held in the Annex building next to the gallery, 10211-112 Street. The front door will be locked, so please ring the doorbell. Instructed classes include Sculpting the Human Figure.
[2009-08-07]

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code • Jump to Vancouver

100 Mile House Life Drawing Group
Parkside Art Gallery
401 Cedar Ave.
100 Mile House, British Columbia V0K 2E0
enquiries: parksidecentre@shaw.ca Telephone: 250-395-2021
Uninstructed
We do 10 sessions, Spring and Fall, drawing from live, nude art models of both genders. Cost for drop-in is $15 for a 3 hour session, Saturday mornings 9:00am-12:00noon. We begin with a number of 1 minute poses, to 3 minute, 10 minute and end the class with two or three 30 minute sittings. At the beginning of the class, there is a group critique of the previous weeks' drawings. The atmosphere is very casual. Bring your own materials and supports.
[2017-07-28]

Whistler Arts Council
Millennium Place
4335 Blackcomb Way
PO Box 383
Whistler, British Columbia V0N 1B0
Contact Teresa Bouchard: mylifedrawing@gmail.com Telephone: 604-905-8860
Uninstructed
Life Drawing held at Millennium Place in Whistler every Tuesday 6:00-8:00pm and Friday 3:00-5:00pm. Sessions are open to everyone from beginners to accomplished artists. The regular session starts with short (under one minute) gesture poses so the participants and art model can loosen up, allowing artists focus to become fluid and spontaneous. The session then usually progresses to longer poses where the participants have time to focus on the details such as shadows, facial features, fingers and toes. There are usually one or two breaks per session to give the model some time to rest.
[2013-05-29]

Sunshine Coast Arts Centre
PO Box 1565, 5714 Medusa Street
Sechelt BC V0N 3A0
Telephone: 604-885-5412 info@sunshinecoastartscouncil.com
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Group has been running since 1985. Tuesdays 10:00am-1:00pm (except during the summer). Nude art model, alternating male and female. Poses range from 1 minute to 30 minutes. The model starts promptly at 10:00am so it is advised to show up early. The front doors are locked then, and people know to go to the back doors. Fees are $15 per drop-in or $10 per week if you pay by the month. Easels are provided. These weekly sessions are an unusual opportunity to practice drawing the most complex and inspiring of subjects in natural overhead light.
[2011-10-03]

Livessence Society for Figurative Artists and Models
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Painting & Drawing Room
421 Cawston Avenue
Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 6Z1
livessence.society@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Figure drawing sessions. Saturdays 9:30am-12:00noon. Mondays 6:30-8:30pm. Please see the calendar for specific details. $10.00 for members and $15.00 for non-members. Beginners are welcome as are students and professional artists.
[E]

The ACT Arts Centre
11944 Haney Place
Maple Ridge, British Columbia V2X 6G1
learning@mract.org
Uninstructed
Drop-in life drawing sessions with an undraped model Fridays from 6:30pm-8:30pm. $20. This class is self-directed, but is facilitated by master artists that can offer assistance to registrants upon request. Participants must bring their own paper and drawing materials. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the website. 18+ years only, except with with written parent/guardian permission.
[2017-07-17]

Suite E Life Drawing Group
Coquitlam Community Centre
630 Poirier Avenue, Joseph Howe Room
Coquitlam, British Columbia V3J 1A1
mydalena@shaw.ca Telephone: 604-469-1911
Uninstructed
Meets Tuesdays 6:50-9:50pm, from September to June. The female and male art models are professionals who usually pose unclothed. For some sessions the model will be partially draped or in costume. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before to set up as sessions start promptly. Drop-ins and new members are very welcome. $12 non-members; $8 for members (or 10 session tickets for $75); $6 for students attending senior secondary school IF they bring their student ID card. Click our link above for more information including the model schedule.
[2013-06-20]

City of New Westminster, Art Services
Anvil Centre
777 Columbia Street
New Westminster, British Columbia V3M 1B6
Telephone: 604-527-4640
Instructed
This 3-hour class explores the timeless concepts of observational drawing and its compositional principles. Develop a solid foundation in life drawing, or advance your technical abilities, using draped and undraped male and female models. A variety of materials such as graphite, charcoal, watercolor and mixed media, are used for both analytical and expressive studies and longer poses. The class looks to historic and contemporary artists examples for inspiration, adopting both classical and contemporary drawing methods. Critiques and discussions culminate in students creating their own experimental project. No prior experience with drawing is required or expected. $20, basic materials included.
[2016-09-07]

Vancouver

Dr. Sketchy's Vancouver
The Wallflower Modern Diner
2420 Main St (near Main & Broadway)
Vancouver, British Columbia V5T 3E2
shary@drsketchyvancouver.com
Uninstructed
Cabaret drawing events. This is the Vancouver affiliate of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, founded in New York City.
[2013-06-19]

Basic Inquiry - Vancouver Life Drawing Society
1011 Main Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 4L4
basic@lifedrawing.org Telephone: 604-681-2855
Uninstructed
Figure drawing sessions seven days a week. See schedule on the website.
Drop-in Rates for Single Sessions $15 for non-members, $12 for members.
[E]

Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
570 Dunsmuir Street, Suite 600
Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1Y1
info@vanarts.com Telephone: 604-682-ARTS (2787)
Instructed
Art Classes include Intro to Basic Digital Life Drawing. This course is designed to teach the beginner the basics of digital life drawing. Digital life drawing is meant to apply traditional drawing and painting skills to the digital art form. The course guides the student through the basic use of photoshop, and the wacom tablet as it applies to drawing from the life drawing model. The course is recommended as a follow up to the basic drawing course.
[E]

Emily Carr University of Art + Design
1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island
Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3R9
csinfo@ecuad.ca Telephone: 604 844 3810
Instructed
Art Classes include Introduction to Life Drawing.
[E]

Victoria College of Art
1625 Bank St
Victoria, British Columbia V8R 4V5
info@vca.ca Telephone: 250-598-5422
Instructed
Art Classes include The Figure in Art and Sculpture Studio.
[2010-12-22]

Vancouver Island School of Art
2549 Quadra Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8T 4E1
info@vancouverislandschoolart.com Telephone: 250-380-3500
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing.
[2013-06-20]

Xchanges Artists' Gallery and Studios
2333 Government Street, Suite 6E
Victoria, British Columbia V8T 4P4
gallery@xchangesgallery.org Telephone: 250-382-0442
Uninstructed
Drop-In Sessions. All experience levels are welcome. Hone your figurative skills in a supportive and creative environment. Drawing boards, donkeys, sculpture stands, and coffee provided. Male or female art models provided, except portrait session where the artists take turns modeling. Artists provide their own materials.
• Life Drawing/Painting. Mondays 7:00-9:00pm. Gestures to 20-minute poses
• Long Pose Painting/Drawing and Portrait Groups are held on alternate Wednesdays 10:00am-12:00noon.
[E]

The Old School House Art Centre
122 Fern Road, West
Qualicum Beach, British Columbia V9K 1T2
qbtosh@shaw.ca Telephone: 250-752-6133
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Sessions. Fridays 10:00am-1:00pm, September to June. $10 drop in.
[2013-06-20]

Cowichan Valley Arts Council
2687 James Street
Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2X5
education@cowichanvalleyartscouncil.org
Uninstructed
Join us for a regular practice of Figure drawing in our Studio at the CVAC Gallery. Enjoy working in a focused circle with experienced models. Members may offer informal tutorials on technique from time to time. Bring your own drawing materials. If you’re new to figure drawing, here’s what to expect: Our studio is set up with drawing donkeys (easels with seats) in a circle around a podium where the model is posing. We have experienced models (male and female) for these sessions. The drawing times vary: some short sketches, some longer poses. Fees CA$ 95-110 for 4 sittings, Fall/ Winter sessions.
[2023-08-30]

Muir Gallery
440 Anderton Ave
Courtenay, British Columbia V9N 2M7
info@comoxvalleyarts.org Telephone: 250-334-2983
Uninstructed
The Comox Valley Community Arts Council is excited to offer weekly life drawing sessions at the Muir Gallery. These two-hour, non-instructional sessions are offered with the artists in mind - keep your drawing skills sharp with weekly practice with a live art model! Bring all of your own materials - model and tables will be provided. Some paper available at a nominal charge. Cost: $15 drop-in, $10 for CVCAC members. See the website for current schedule.
[E]

Campbell River Art Gallery
1235 Shopper's Row
Campbell River, British Columbia V9W 2C7
programs@crartgallery.ca Telephone: 250-287-2261
Uninstructed
Open Studio Figure Drawing, hosted by Richard Calver. This is a non-instructional program designed for those who wish to practice their figure drawing skills. Bring along your drawing and/or painting materials. The gallery will provide the art model. Please purchase a 6-session punch card prior to the start of the program for $55.00 + HST (one free). Drop in fees $12.50 (HST included) once the program has started. See website for schedule.
[2013-10-26]

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code •

Winnipeg Sketch Club
Forum Art Institute Bldg.
120 Eugenie at Taché
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 0X7
wpgsketch@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Sketching sessions take place Tuesdays 7:00-9:00pm. Founded in 1914, Winnipeg Sketch Club has the distinction of being one of the oldest clubs of fine art in Canada. The express purpose of the Club throughout its history has been to provide artists with opportunities to sketch from live art models. There is an annual membership fee of $75 payable with the membership application and at the beginning of each calendar year. Drop-in fee of $6 per session for non-members. The club is intended for artists who have achieved a demonstrated level of knowledge and ability. It does not offer art classes or instruction for beginners.
[2013-06-05]

Winnipeg Art Gallery
300 Memorial Boulevard
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1V1
inquiries@wag.ca Telephone: 204-786-6641
Uninstructed
Life Drawing: Open Studio. $7. Wednesdays 7:00-9:00pm. This drop-in program provides an opportunity for independent study in life drawing. Although no instruction is provided, artists and students have the opportunity to work from art models in a personal choice of materials. No advance registration is required; payment is collected each week at the Studio Programs front desk. Participants bring their own supplies.
[E]

Winnipeg Life Drawing Society Inc
525 Wardlaw Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0L9
Uninstructed
Life drawing sessions twice weekly: Tuesdays (gestures) and Thursdays (long pose), 6:30-9:30pm. $10/$8. Clothed and nude models. Use side entry lower level.
[2018-10-29]

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code •

Saint John Arts Centre
20 Peel Plaza
Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 3G6
sjac@sjartscentre.ca Telephone: 506-633-4870
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Wednesdays 7:00-9:00pm. (No sessions in summer.) These weekly non-instructional classes provide artists with the opportunity to sketch and draw the human figure from live art models. Classes begin with short warm up gesture studies and progress to more sustained poses. Space is limited to ten participants. Please bring your own drawing supplies, but tables, easels, drawing horses and boards are provided.
[2013-05-31]

New Brunswick College of Craft and Design
457 Queen Street
Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5H1
Instructed
See website for current classes.
[2010-12-15]

No listings as this time.

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code •

Mahone Bay Figure Drawing
Mahone Bay Centre
45 School Street
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2E0
sallywarren@eastlink.ca
Uninstructed
Figure drawing studio sessions with a nude model (both male and female) take place in a friendly and supportive atmosphere every Sunday morning from 10:00am-1:00pm (October through April) at the Mahone Bay Centre. A fee of $15 per participant per session covers the cost of room rental and model fees. Benches, tables, and drawing boards are available. Newsprint pads are sold at cost. Poses vary from 1 minute gesture to half hour sustained. These sessions are not instructed and open to all ability levels. Short courses of instruction are offered annually. We are always recruiting new models.
[2015-08-05]

Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
1107 Marginal Rd.
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 4P7
extendedstudies@nscad.ca Telephone: 902-494-8185
Instructed and Uninstructed
Figure Drawing (instructed). Working from live nude art models, students explore drawing techniques used to render the human figure. Instruction emphasizes line, form, proportion, movement, gesture and observational skills. Prerequisite: Introductory Drawing or equivalent. Class Limit is 18. Site: Port 207, 1107 Marginal Road. 7 3-hour sessions $215.
Life Drawing Open Studio (Uninstructed). Participants have access to a studio situation with a live nude art model. This open studio is particularly suitable for NSCAD alumni and Extended Studies students with experience. Limit is 10. Site: D241, 5163 Duke Street. 6 3-hour sessions $85
[E]

Drawing with Lynn Rotin
Chebucto Connections
531 Herring Cove Rd
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3R 1X3
lynnrotin@gmail.com Telephone: 902-346-2018
Uninstructed
We are a small group dedicated to drawing (and sometimes painting) the nude figure. We meet Tuesdays from 10:30am-1:30pm with a half-hour break for snacking and schmoozing. (We're a friendly bunch!) Our models are all sexes and very experienced. We begin with quick gestures and gradually work our way up to longer poses. Once a month we follow the gestures with a two-hour pose. We provide tables and chairs, but you will need to bring all art supplies and an easel if you prefer to stand. Price is determined by how many people sign up for each six week session. We're always on the lookout for new models.
[2023-02-28]

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code • Jump to Toronto

Fleming College - Haliburton School of The Arts
297 College Drive
Haliburton, Ontario K0M 1S0
createit@hsta.ca Telephone: 1-888-353-6464
Instructed
Week-long courses in Life Drawing, Life Painting, Landscape of the Model, Figurative Abstraction, Portrait Painting, and Portrait Sketching. Depending on the course, nude and costumed art models are utilized. An introductory Saturday workshop in Figure Drawing is also available. Most offerings are scheduled in July and August, in the inspirational Highlands of Haliburton. Accommodation assistance is available.
[2011-11-22]

Ottawa School of Art
Orleans Campus
245 Centrum Boulevard
Ottawa Ontario K1E 0A1
osao.info@artottawa.ca Telephone: 613-241-7471
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing, Go Figure: Drawing and Painting the Figure, Human Anatomy Drawing Workshop, Portrait Drawing Workshop, Portrait in the Medium of Your Choice, Expressive Portraits in Acrylics and Watercolour, and Teen Portfolio Development.
[E]

Sandy Hill Life-Drawing Workshop
Sandy Hill Community Centre Basement
250 Somerset St EAST
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6V6
dannorthcott@yahoo.ca
Uninstructed
Wednesdays 7:00-9:30pm. The usual turnout is between 30 and 50 people, at every level from beginners to professionals. Easels are not provided by the workshop, but there are lots of chairs. The schedule is 5 90-second gestures, 1 20-minute standing pose, then 3 30-minute poses with 5 minute breaks in between. Our workshop has been running for over 35 years. It is probably the largest and cheapest in Ottawa. The class is co-operative and non profit. Drop in any Wednesday. We never stop! You only pay for the sessions that you attend--currently $4 including coffee, tea, and cookies. Everyone helps with the room set-up before the session and then helps in the clean-up afterwards as much as they are able.
[2013-05-30]

Life Drawing at the Art House Cafe
555 Sommerset St. West
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 5K1
Uninstructed
Weekly semi-nude life drawing (think swim-wear coverage) taking place in a fully restored heritage house turned gallery/cafe. Sessions take place Tuesdays from 7:00-10:00pm during functioning cafe hours. Poses range in length from 1 minute to 35 minutes with one 15-minute break. $10.00/session can be purchased online, in the cafe, or at the event as drop-in (space dependent). Free street parking, easy bus access. Not wheelchair accessible. 50/50 balance between male female bodies. $2 Easel rental. All skill levels welcome. Facilitators schedule bi-monthly pre-session instructions if requested.
[2017-07-02]

Greenboro Pavillion Life Drawing Workshop
Greenboro Community Centre
14 Tapiola Crescent
Ottawa, Ontario K1T 2J7
Greenborolifedraw@yahoo.ca
Uninstructed
Saturdays 1:00-3:30pm. Join our facebook page for schedule updates. Draw from undraped figure models, a daytime workshop in the South end of the city of Ottawa, Ontario. Non profit, uninstructed, we provide plenty of chairs, the room, and schedule the models. The model cost is shared among attendees which varies depending on attendance to a maximum of $10 per person. Bring your own materials (e.g. paper, pencil, eraser, easel). The class is 2.5 hours long, starting with short gestures followed by, medium length poses, and a one hour pose to finish. Parking is free or bus stop right at our doorstep.
[2015-07-26]

Melrose Ave. Art Club
Takahashi Martial Arts Dojo
5 Melrose Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1T8
Uninstructed
We are a non-instructional figure drawing club located in a centre of Hintonburg. We get together every Friday morning 9:30-12:30. The club offers long pose, one pose for 6 weeks, with or without drapery. You can use dry medium, water colour, acrylic and oil paints as long as you follow the rules. $20 for drop-ins; discounts for mutltiple weeks and for students. See website for details.
[2017-06-05]

Visual Arts Studios
Nepean Visual Arts Centre (located in the Nepean Sportsplex)
1701 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 1W2
Telephone: 613-580-2424 ext. 46652
Uninstructed
Classes include Life Drawing Studio. Drawing or painting from the nude model. Studio members share the cost of the model.
[U]

Shelburne Life Drawing
596340 Second Line W.
Shelburne, Ontario L0N 1S6
shelburnelifedrawing@live.ca
Uninstructed
Life drawing sessions on Wednesday nights 7:00-10:00pm. Registration required for 8-week sessions at a cost of $160. Drop in possible if space is available - please contact us before attending. Male/female nude models (occassionally a couple) - a different one every night during the session. Short poses for the first half of the class and extend to 3 30-minute poses in the last half of the class. Some drawing horses, easels, drawing boards available. Please bring your own materials. Coffee/tea and snacks included.
[2012-08-18]

The Creative Hub
23 Main St S
Waterdown, Ontario L0R 2H0
Telephone: 905-815-9745 (contact: Trevor)
Uninstructed
Wednesday Nights, 7:15-9:15pm. $15. Form-Fitting Clothed (tights/swim/gym wear etc) so anatomy can still be studied. 2 to 30 minute poses incrementally. Basic materials provided. Please register in advance as seating is limited; see Hub Classes on our website.
[2017-03-16]

Traditional Realist Art Group
1885 Clements Rd, Suite 229-230
Pickering, ON L1W 3V4
aslark@primus.ca or dmanchur@sympatico.ca
Uninstructed
Every Thursday evening from 6:00-9:00pm, a small group of artists for drawing or painting of model. We alternate between portraits, or costumed figures (late 1800's style) or nudes (male or female). Easels or Cheval style benches are available. We start with short poses to warm up and then move to a 1-hour pose for a final drawing. Coffee break for about 20 minutes is around 7:30. Members are responsible for their own supplies, and assistance with cleanup. $20 per session. This is a beautiful, privately-owned studio, with wonderful lighting for classical art work. Monthly passes are available at a slightly reduced rate. We are also seeking models.
[2019-06-17]

Latcham Gallery Life Drawing
Silver Jubilee Building
6297 Main Street
Stouffville, Ontario L4A 1G7
Telephone: 905-640-8954
Uninstructed
Adults (18+) meet weekly to sketch and draw from a nude art model. Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer sessions. There is no instructor. Pre-registration is required. Call to register and ask for details.
[2013-06-24]

Rumble Open Studio
154 Rumble Ave.
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4G2
rumbleopenstudio@gmail.com Telephone: 905-770-8144
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Thursdays 7:00-10:00pm (September to June) and Summer sessions Tuesdays 7:00-10:00pm (July and August). $20 drop in fee. Gestures galore and 3 short poses with medium of choice. Bring tons of paper. Open Studio/artist owned studio.
[2015-08-08]

Drawing House
60 Mary St
Barrie, Ontatio L4N 1T1
drawinghousebarrie@gmail.com Telephone: 705-503-2996
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Live Drawing Evenings is an uninstructed Life Drawing class where students will have the opportunity to work from a live model and hone their knowledge of human anatomy, perspective, and dynamic poses.
• Instructed classes include: Figure Drawing; Drawing The Head and Portraiture.
[2019-10-23]

Quest Art School + Gallery
Midland Cultural Centre
333 King Street (corner of King St. and Elizabeth St.)
Midland, Ontario L4R 3M7
create@questart.ca Telephone: 705-526-ARTS (2787)
Instructed and Uninstructed
Workshops include Instructorless Figure Drawing.
[2014-02-20]

Visual Arts Mississauga
4170 Riverwood Park Lane (Located in Riverwood Park)
Mississauga, Ontario L5C 2S7
info@visualartsmississauga.com Telephone: 905-277-4313
Instructed and Uninstructed
Teens and Adults; Instructional Beginner Life Drawing, Portrait & Fabric Study, Figurative Abstraction and Portrait Painting; Non-instructional Life Drawing Open Studio
[2013-02-13]

Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
1430 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, Ontario L6H 2L1
Telephone: 905-845-9430
john.parker@sheridaninstitute.ca Telephone: 905-845-9430, ext. 2612
Instructed
Art classes include Figure Drawing 1, Figure Drawing 2, and Life Painting.
[E]

Oakville Art Society
560 Bronte Road
Oakville, Ontario L6L 6S1
info@oakvilleartsociety.com Telephone: 905-827-5711
Instructed
Classes and Workshops include Abstractions in Figurative Art and Portrait Painting With Live Model. See the website for current offerings.
[2011-11-09]

Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios
1 Bartley Bull Parkway, Suite 10
Brampton, Ontario L6W 3T7
visualartsbrampton@gmail.com Telephone: 905-453-9142
Uninstructed
Life drawing sessions. Tuesday evenings, artists get together, to draw from the human form. Each session begins with 10 two minute warm-up gestures. Then there follows 3 ten minute poses. After a short break, the evening is divided into half hour poses. Professional life models usually will pose for two consecutive poses. Subjects are on a raised model stand with proper spotlighting to create three-dimensionality. As always, drawing horses and boards are provided for use. Contact us for more information. Tuesday evenings 7:00-9:30pm, weather permitting. $10 for Members and Non-Members. $7 for CREA8TIF Members.
[2013-06-01]

Hamilton Life Drawing
175 1/2 James Street North (3rd floor)
Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2K9
Contact: Janice Jackson Telephone: 905 966-4301
Uninstructed
Open drawing group. Every Sunday 1:00-4:00pm. Third-floor walk up (above Vasco da Gama club). All skill levels welcome. Three-week rotation of short, medium and long poses by a nude model. Bring $20 and drawing materials. Drawing horses and easels provided. Some drawing boards available.
[2023-07-07]

Toronto

Centennial College
Story Arts Centre
951 Carlaw Ave (Near Pape and Mortimer)
Toronto, Ontario M1K 5E9
ce@centennialcollege.ca Telephone: 416-289-5207
Instructed
Classes inlcude Life Drawing. We will work with live models and draw the nude figure. Model poses will vary in length from short, medium to long. A number of techniques will be explored from gesture, contour, continuous tone modelling and constructive approaches.
[2013-05-29]

Willowdale Group of Artists
North York Seniors Centre
21 Hendon Ave
North York, ON M2M 4G8
Uninstructed
The Willowdale Group of Artists is one of Toronto's oldest art groups, founded in 1947. Life drawing sessions are held on Tuesday evenings. These sessions are scheduled as part of the ongoing membership activities and are not open to the public.
[2011-12-13]

Koffler Centre of the Arts
4588 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario M2R 1W6
akocsis@kofflerarts.org Telephone: 416.638.1881 x4269
Instructed
All levels of artists are welcome to explore drawing and painting of the human form. A variety of figurative art classes and 2-day workshops are offered, such as: Art of the Portrait; Colour Portrait Painting; Contemporary Figure Painting; Experimental Figure Drawing/Painting; Expressive and Abstract Figure Drawing/Painting; Figurative Abstraction; Life Drawing.
[2011-11-09]

Central Connection
Withrow Park Clubhouse
725 Logan Avenue (south of Danforth Avenue, near tennis courts)
Toronto, Ontario M4K 1L3
Central_Connection@yahoo.ca
Uninstructed
Drawing and painting studio sessions. Mondays 6:30-9:30pm. $10 per session drop-in fee. We hire high-quality professional art models. Over five weeks we will have figure poses (two nights), costume poses (two nights) and a night of quicker drawing or painting poses. Please arrive by 6:20 to help set up so we can start promptly. We have a number of wooden easels and drawing boards. Bring your own materials. NO turpentine, citrus thinners, fixative sprays or adhesives. Everyone is expected to help take down and put away the props, chairs, draping, mats, etc. Closest Subway: Chester, on the Bloor-Danforth line.
[E]

Avenue Road Arts School
460 Avenue Road
Toronto, Ontario M4V 2J1
contactus@avenueroadartsschool.com Telephone: 416-961-1502
Instructed
Art classes include Introduction to Portrait & Figure Drawing, Master Class in Figure Drawing, Master Class in Portraiture, Portrait Painting, Painting the Figure and Portrait in Watercolour.
[2009-10-20]

519 Church Street Community Centre
519 Church Street
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2C9
lifedrawing519@gmail.com Telephone: 416-392-6874
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Thursdays 8:00-10:00pm. There are both male and female models, but with an emphasis on the male form. Artists of any skill level are welcome. Bring your own materials. We generally start with short warm-up poses, then move to 15, 20, or 30 minute poses. There is a ten-minute break in the middle to socialize. $10 per session or $200 for a whole year (May to May). Cash only. We are always looking for new models.
[2013-08-07]

Toronto Heliconian Club
35 Hazelton Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2E3
info@heliconianclub.org Telephone: 416-922-3618
Uninstructed
Monday Sketch Group. Every Monday from September until mid-June, the Art Section organizes life-drawing sessions with a live art model for Club members and non-members alike. 10:00am-12:00noon for quick poses, and 1:00-3:00pm for a sustained pose. The fee is $7.00 for each two-hour session, or $14 for the whole day. The Group stages a show of participants' work in Heliconian Hall in January to early February.
[2011-11-11]

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1G4
Telephone: 416-979-6608
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing, Foundation Anatomy for Artists, Figurative Painting, Figurative Sculpture, and Figurative Photography.
[2009-09-10]

Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD)
100 McCaul Street
Toronto, Onatrio M5T 1W1
Uninstructed
alumni@ocadu.ca
Open Life Drawing with a professional model. While this studio time is offered by the OCAD University Alumni Association, you don't have to be a student or alumni to attend -- the sessions are open to everyone. Life drawing sessions are scheduled on Wednesdays 7:00-10:00pm (year-round) and Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm (September to April). Bring a drawing board and materials. No reservation is required. $10 per session; pay to the monitor on duty. Room numbers vary, please see website for schedule.
[2013-05-31]

Open Life Drawing at Project Art
230 Queen St. West (rear entrance)
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1Z6
mark_r_hazen@hotmail.com Telephone: 647-290-2357
Uninstructed
Thursdays 7:00-10:00pm. Climate controlled. $15. Drawing boards, easels, and horses provided.
Pose format:
10x 1-minute, 2x 5-minute, 1x 10-minute, Break.
3x 10-minute, Break.
5x 1-minute, 2x 15-minute, Break.
2x 20-minute.
[2015-08-09]

Animation Portfolio Workshop
St. Matthew's United Church
729 St. Clair Ave West
Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B2
Telephone: 416-651-3658
gerard@animationportfolioworkshop.com
Instructed
Courses include Life Drawing for Animation.
[2013-06-07]

Toronto School of Art
980 Dufferin Street, 2nd Floor (at Bloor in the old Kent School building)
Toronto, Ontario M6H 4B4
info@tsa-art.com Telephone: 416-504-7910
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Courses include Life Drawing, Life Painting, Figure Sculpture, and Figure and Portrait painting.
• Open Life Drawing offers a variety of poses, Monday and Friday evenings, 6:00pm-9:00pm weekly. Participants must bring their own supplies, and may use TSA drawing boards, easels, and tables. Open Life Painting offers sustained poses, Friday evenings, 6:00pm-9:00pm weekly. Note: Health & Safety Policy prohibits spray fixatives, aerosols, and solvents other than odourless mineral spirits. No registration necessary. The drop-in fee is $15 per session. 5-session passes are available for $60. TSA Code of Conduct for Classes with Models is clearly posted in the studios.
[2014-03-12]

Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6J 1J6
Telephone: 416-531-4635
Uninstructed
Weekly Life Drawing Class since the 1960's. Wednesdays 8:00-10:00pm at the Art Bar, $7.
[2009-07-28]

Toons on Tap
152 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, ON M5T 2L5
events@acidanimation.com
Uninstructed
Costumed gesture drawing with living cartoon characters. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, 7:00-10:00pm. $10 cover. Toons On Tap is an open, costumed life drawing event created with the animator in mind. Be amongst other artists, and draw from professional models best described as living cartoon characters. Bring your sketchbook to an upcoming session, and remind yourself why you love to draw. Note: Toons On Tap is experiencing higher than normal model applications and will no longer accept unsolicited applications without two professional references and a portfolio.
[2013-06-24]

Academy of Art Canada
1929 Davenport Road
Toronto, Ontario M6N 1C3
academyofartcanada@gmail.com Telephone: 416-658-0808
Instructed
Art Classes and Workshops in Natural North Light with Life Model (Comparative/Proportionate): Figure Drawing, Figure Painting, Portrait Drawing, Portrait Painting, Constructive Anatomy/Morphology, Rendering and Modeling of Form, Pictorial Design. Historical Oil Painting Techniques taught at AAC include direct as well as indirect techniques: Alla Prima, Fa Presto, Early Venetian & 19th Century Venetian, Old Flemish (oleo-resinous over egg tempera on panel), Old Italian, 19th Century Flemish, Renaissance, Baroque, Pre-Raphaelite, 18th & 19th Century British Portrait Technique, 19th Century French and British variations. At the AAC, pictorial thinking is taught in consideration of artistic ideals and feelings, while respectful of considered placement/measurement.
[2013-06-02]

Academy of Realist Art
2968 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6P 1Y8
info@academyofrealistart.com Telephone: 416-766-1280
Instructed
Workshops include: Figure Drawing; Figure Painting; Figure Drawing Using Constructive Anatomy and Rhythmic Form Modeling; Portrait Drawing; Portrait Painting; and Alla Prima Portrait Painting.
[2013-06-01]

Articulations
2928 Dundas St. West, The Junction
Toronto, Ontario M6P 1Y8
info@articulations.ca Telephone: 416-901-7464
Uninstructed
Drop-In Life Drawing No Instruction. Every other Thursday 7:00-10:00pm. $15/session or $65 for a 5-class pass. First come, first served. Artists should arrive 10-15 minutes early to get prepared. Easels, tables and chairs are provided for everyone, but all artists are welcome to bring their own equipment. The models are female or male and differ by the week depending on availability. Materials: You should bring a drawing board, a bull clip, large paper, and the drawing medium of your choice. These items are also available for purchase from our shop.
[2013-06-17]

The Drawing Room
Diane McGrath Studio Gallery
213 Sterling Rd.
Toronto, Ontario M6R 2B2
dmcgrath5@mac.com
Uninstructed
Open advanced life drawing class. Short action poses: 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Models are aerialist circus performers, choreographers, and/or dancers posing in the air on circus equipment in costume. Drawing horses, boards, and clips available. Commit to a month up front for a discount price: 4 weeks $50.00, 5 weeks $60.00, Drop-in $15.00. Please RSVP. Having a minimum of 3 people commit to a month up front would be a precondition of running for that time period. See Facebook page for current schedule.
[2012-03-25]

Neilson Park Creative Centre
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 1V7
Telephone: 416-622-5294
Instructed and Uninstructed
Drop-in life drawing Tuesday evenings; no instructor.
Life drawing course or drop-in, Friday mornings; no instructor.
Figurative Art with Kim Lee Kho Wednesdays and Fridays.
[2013-05-29]

Etobicoke Art Group
56 Neilson Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario M9C 2S2
Telephone: 416-622-5294
Uninstructed
The Etobicoke Art Group has been meeting since 1951. See website for rates.
• Mondays 9:30am-12:30pm. Life Drawing Studio. Nude Model. Gestures, long and short poses.
• Tuesdays 7:30-10:00pm. Life Studies from the Nude, a studio for independent and experienced artists. Each evening includes gestures, a 30 minute study and a long pose. All media and all levels welcome.
[2009-09-10]

Eden Mills Community Club Hall
108 York Street
Eden Mills, Ontario N0B 1P0
Contact: Janet Wilson Telephone: 519-856-2811 janetwilson@xplornet.ca
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Drop-In. Mondays 7:00-10:00pm. Arrive by 6:45pm to set up and stay until the room is cleared. 20 minute break for tea. $15 per session plus a $10 yearly fee membership to Eden Mills Community Club. The long pose will be the last Monday of each month. The hall is in the centre of the village. It is a red brick building with parking lot. *It is important to contact Janet in advance in case of last minute cancellations.*
[2015-09-10]

Cambridge Centre for the Arts
60 Dickson St (Intersection - Dickson St and Ainslie St S)
Cambridge, Ontario N1R 8N1
artcentre@cambridge.ca Telephone: 519-740-4681 ext 4376
Uninstructed
Weekly Life Drawing Sessions. Draw the figure at this community arts centre open studio drop-in class. Every Monday and Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm, $10 each session. Last Wednesday of each month, one long pose 6:30-9:30pm, $15.00. Wednesday sessions run throughout the entire year, including all summer long. Monday sessions run September to the end of May. Wheelchair accessible building. Please remember to pay at reception when you arrive. Equipment available for you: drawing horses, easels, drawing boards. Contact: Robin Crank Telephone: 519-222-0459 missrobin.c@gmail.com
[2014-08-13]

Button Factory
Waterloo Community Arts Centre
25 Regina St. South
Waterloo, Ontario N2J 1R8
programs@buttonfactoryarts.ca Telephone: 519-886-4577
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Classes include Drawing from Life.
• Drop-in life drawing on Thursdays 1:00-3:00pm. $10 per session. Equipment available for you: easels and drawing boards. Contact Sal: sal@planesphere.com
• We also host a bi-annual Life Drawing Marathon.
[2014-08-13]

Homer Watson House & Gallery
1754 Old Mill Road
Kitchener, Ontario N2P 1H7
programs@homerwatson.on.ca Telephone: 519-748-4377
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing. Students will learn a variety of fundamental drawing techniques and methods involving the human form. Demonstrations will be offered as well as one-on-one support. A live model is present for most sessions.
[2013-05-30]

Artemis Art Supplies and Studio
286 Harbour Street
Kincardine, Ontario, N2Z 2X9
artemisartsupplies@outlook.com Telephone: 519-396-5463
Instructed
This is an instructed, live model, figure drawing workshop. Offered as a full-day workshop with two two-hour windows. The first devoted to gesture drawing and 20-minute contour studies. The second half is intended to provide artists the opportunity to work on one sustained pose. All equipment and drawing materials are provided, ie: easels, stools, chairs, paper, chalks, charcoal, conte, graphite. This workshop takes place in an art studio located in a historic building in lovely, lakeside Kincardine, Ontario. Please call for booking details.
[2015-08-10]

Glenhyrst Art Gallery
20 Ava Road
Brantford, Ontario N3T 5G9
info@glenhyrstartgallery.ca Telephone: 519-756-5932
Uninstructed
Life Drawing with Nude Model. This class provides you with an opportunity to enhance your drawing skills through the study of the figure. Open to anyone interested in anatomy, as well as an opportunity for students headed to art school to build up your art portfolio. Life drawing is open to youth 16 years old with parent’s consent. Monitor present/No instructor.
[2011-02-08]

Grey Gallery
883 2nd Ave E
Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 2H2
greygalleryowensound@gmail.com Telephone: 226-664-2776
Uninstructed
Weekly drop-in life drawing with an experienced model. Sessions are held in our eclectic art gallery space in downtown Owen Sound, in a welcoming and professional environment for all artists interested in working from the live model. Pre-registration is not required. We meet weekly on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm; fees are $10 per session. Bring a drawing board and materials, benches provided. We follow a tried and true format with a focus on short poses, and finish with a 15 or 20 minute pose. We are always looking for good models!
[2018-10-03]

Gallery Stratford
54 Romeo Street
Stratford, Ontario N5A 4S9
Telephone: 519-271-5271 info@gallerystratford.on.ca
Instructed and Uninstructed
The Gallery Stratford's Open Studio Life Drawing has been running since the 1980s. $10 per session. Wednesdays 8:00-10:00pm. This is an uninstructed drop-in studio; no registration is required. Bring your own materials. We draw both male and female art models. Poses run from 2 to 20 to 40 minutes over a two hour period. On occasion we run longer sessions with longer poses. To be on the notification list for special sessions, email Ken Nutt at kneb@rogers.com
See the gallery website for a current schedule of instructed courses.
[2013-05-31]

• Listings are sorted by Postal Code •

Montreal

Dr. Sketchy's Montreal
MainLine Theatre
3997 St Laurent
Montreal, Quebec H2W 1Y4
drsketchymontreal@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Alternative/cabaret drawing events. This is an affiliate of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, founded in New York City.
[2013-05-28]

Ctrllab
3634 St. Laurent Blvd.
Montreal, Quebec H2X 2V4
lindsay@ctrllab.com
Instructed/Uninstructed
Figure drawing workshop. Sundays 5:00-8:00pm. $7. Great live art models, trained help available, snacks, drinks, easels, tables, great lighting.
[2011-03-10]

Atelier de Brésoles
55 rue de Brésoles
Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1V7
atelierdebresoles@yahoo.com Telephone: 514-288-3772
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing, Anatomical Drawing, and Life Painting.
[2009-07-28]

Studio Technique
metro Place St-Henri
Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A2
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Figure Drawing classes, taught by Samantha Youssef, combine her experience from 2D feature animation, academic drawing, and classical ballet. This program not only helps develop aesthetic finishing techniques, but most importantly helps the artist to extrapolate information about the functions and physics in a pose, and the mechanics of the anatomy. It trains the artists' eye to be able to better analyze references from life, and to expand their visual library.
• Uninstructed life drawing sessions are offered with a seasonal membership.
[2013-05-28]

Syn Studio Concept Art School
460 Rue Sainte-Catherine West #508
Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A7
info@synstudio.ca Telephone: 514-998-7625
Instructed
Classes include Drawing from Life, Draiwng the Human Form, Advanced Anatomy, Constructive Figure Drawing, and Sculpting the Human Form.
[2021-05-20]

Centre Culturel Georges-Vanier
2450, Rue Workman
Montreal, Quebec H3J 1L8
centrecgvanier@gmail.com Telephone: 514-931-CCGV (2248)
Uninstructed
Sessions include: Live Model (quick warm up poses then two 20-minute and two 45-minute poses); Live Model Long Pose (4 hours); and Portrait. See website for schedule and details.
[E]

Montreal Art Centre / Griffintown Art School
1844 William
Montreal, Quebec H3J 1R5
info@montrealartcentre.com Telephone: 514-667-2270
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Griffintown Art School classes include: Portraits From Life-A Classical Approach and Sculpting The Human Form.
• Join the community of artists at the every Monday night 6:30-9:30pm for an open drawing session. Models alternate each week between male and female. The Art Centre has enough easels, drawing boards, tables and chairs for all. The sessions are $10 per person. Pay by cash at the door.
[E]

The Visual Arts Centre
350 Victoria Avenue
Montreal, Quebec H3Z 2N4
info@visualartscentre.ca Telephone: 514-488-9558
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Classes include: Learn to Draw the Figure, Life Drawing Intermediate and Advanced, Figure and Portrait Drawing, Figure and Portrait Painting from Alla Prima to Sustained Work, Figure and Portrait in Watercolor, Portait Drawing from Black and White to Colour. Note: Not all of these classes are offered every semester.
• Studio with Model. Each week, the studio is available for artists who want to work from the model. When space is available, late registration is possible
[2014-11-10]

Beaconsfield Artists' Association
Centennial Hall
288 Beaconsfield Blvd
Beaconsfield, Quebec H9W 4A4
Uninstructed
Life Drawing Classes. For BAA members only. Tuesdays 1:00-4:00pm. Two sessions per year (September-December and January-March). Cost per session varies with number of participants and weeks in the session. Contact Ann Rocherfort: 450-699-1533.
[2009-09-27]

Centre for Continuing & Distance Education
University of Saskatchewan

245 Williams Building
221 Cumberland Avenue North
Saskatoon, SK S7N 1M3
community.arts@usask.ca Telephone: 306-966-5574
Instructed
Art classes include Life Drawing I & II.
[2013-05-29]


[E] = An email has been sent asking the organizer to verify or correct the information listed.
[date] = the listing has been submitted, updated, or verified by the workshop organizer.

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