Figure Drawing Classes, Workshops,
and Open Studios in Maryland
See also Washington DC • Virginia • Other States and Provinces

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.


• Listings are sorted by Zip Code •

Hyattsville Figure Drawing Group
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
4318 Gallatin Street
Hyattsville, MD 20781
Contact Jennifer: hyattsvillefiguredrawing@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Long-pose live art model drawing/painting sessions meet Tuesday evenings 6:00-9:00pm in Pyramid Atlantic's second-floor gallery space. Sessions begin with five 5-minute warm-up poses and one single, sustained pose for the remainder of the session. Please bring your own art materials and portable easel (if needed). Chairs and drawing boards will be provided. Free parking in the rear of the building after 6:00pm; enter through the rear doors. Meditative, reflective atmosphere. $20/session or $75/5-session punch card or $15/session for Pyramid Atlantic members. All experience levels welcome; ages 18+.
[2023-06-22]

Winter Palace Studio
4715 Edgefield Rd.
Bethesda, MD 20814
wintrpalce@aol.com Telephone: 301-263-0000
Instructed
Classical realism epitomizes this long running art studio in DC founded by academically trained artists. The studio has an exceptional atmosphere, small groups, and personal approach.There are several life model courses in drawing and painting: Tuesdays 10:00am-1:00pm Figure Drawing; Wednesday 10:00am-1:00pm Figure Drawing; Wednesday 6:00-9:00pm Portrait Painting. The studio is equipped with easels, stools, etc. We practice long several session poses as well as gesture drawing. Anatomy, proportions, tonal modeling, movement, character are just a few topics covered. We hire figure models.
[2012-04-07]

Yellow Barn Studio
 Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, MD 20814
Walt@yellowbarnstudio.net Telephone: 301-371-5593
Instructed and Uninstructed
Uninstructed Open Studio Figure Drawing. Over 50 instructed classes including: Figure Drawing; Advanced Life Drawing & Painting; Figure & Portrait Painting; Portrait & Figure Drawing & Painting; Landscape, Figure and Studio; and Figure & Studio. For questions about the classes, see contact information above. For course registration, contact the Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture at 301-634-2226.
[2013-06-22]

the beachKraft Gallery
18200 Georgia Ave. Unit O+N
Olney, MD 20832
Telephone: 240-608-2124
Uninstructed
Friday nights, 5:30pm-7:00pm. Clothed models male and female doing themed poses (e.g. relaxed, fitness, dance, martial arts). We have 5 stand-up easels, 10 tabletop. Relaxed atmosphere. $40 ticket price includes model pay (no tipping necessary) and light refreshment. Looking for new models.
[2022-11-30]

Montgomery College
 The Rockville Campus
51 Mannakee Street,
Rockville, MD 20850
Uninstructed
Weekend Open Figure Drawing/Painting sessions are cancelled until further notice due to Covid-19 restrictions.
[2022-12-15]

VisArts at Rockville
155 Gibbs Street, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20850
info@visartscenter.org Telephone: 301-315-8200
Instructed
Classes include Instructional Figure Drawing (Life Drawing). Beginning through intermediate-level students will learn to draw the figure expressively through observation of live models. See website for schedule.
[2013-06-20]

The Compass Atelier
11810 Parklawn Drive
Rockville, MD 20852
TheCompassAtelier@gmail.com
Instructed
Classes include Figure Drawing and Painting.
[2015-09-01]

Community Arts at Montgomery College
Cafritz Foundation Arts Center, Room CU206
930 King Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
communityarts@montgomerycollege.edu Telephone: 240-676-1567
Uninstructed
Join us and draw from a live model at Montgomery College's beautiful Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Art Center. Students may work in any drawing media, ink, or watercolor; please bring your own materials. Acrylic and oil paint are not permitted in the studio. Easels with drawing boards and a small number of drawing horses are provided. Students may request poses, pose length, and a nude or draped figure at the facilitator's discretion. Models are scheduled ahead, so students may not request specifics. Prerequisite: comfort drawing from a live nude model, ability to draw independently without instructor supervision. Meets 3 hours once a week for 5 weeks. $125 for Maryland residents, $245 for non-residents.
[2023-11-16]

Montgomery College - Continuing Education
Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
7600 Takoma Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Instructed
Courses include Figure Drawing.
[2022-12-15]

Howard County Arts Council
 8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043
info@hocoarts.org Telephone: 410-313-ARTS (2787)
Uninstructed
Life Drawing/Painting Sessions - Drop In. Tuesdays 7:30-10:00pm, Room 9. Year-round. $12 per session (purchased in advance). $60 for 6 sessions. A live, nude art model is provided at each session. A monitor coordinates all sessions, however, instruction is not provided. The sessions consist of a single pose with the same model over a multiple week period for detailed figure study work. One day, multi-pose sketching sessions will be held on occasion. Bring your own art materials. There are a limited number of easels, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions purchased in advance are only good for one year from time of purchase. Pre-registration is not required. Participants under age 18 must have parental consent to participate.
[2013-06-21]

Zoll Studio School of Fine Art
15 West Aylesbury Road, Suite 601 (2nd Floor)
Timonium, MD 21093
info@zollstudio.com Telephone: 410-296-0233
Instructed and Uninstructed
Life Open Session, Tuesdays 7:00-10:00pm. $10.
Instructed classes include Life and Portrait.
[E]

Dr. Sketchy's Baltimore
 Windup Space
12 W North Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Uninstructed
Cabaret drawing events. Second and fourth Monday of every month. This is the Baltimore affiliate of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, founded in New York City.
[E]

Schuler School of Fine Arts
 7 East Lafayette Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Contact Hans Guerin: schulerschool@gmail.com Telephone: 410-685-3568
Uninstructed
Open Figure Drawing and Painting, Thursdays 7:00-10:00pm. $10 per session. Participants draw and paint from a nude model in a single pose. Easels, stools, and drawing boards are provided.
[2017-04-21]

Plaza Artists Materials
 Plaza Artists Materials
519 York Road
Towson, MD 21204
Telephone: 410-823-6406
Uninstructed
Open Studio with Figure Model. Join us for a non-instructional open figure model session. Work from a nude art model and improve your life drawing skills, while benefitting from the company and skills of other artists. Bring your own supplies and work in any medium. Must be 18 or over. Fee $10. No refunds. Call for dates or check the calendar on our website.
[2015-11-06]

Mitchell School of Fine Arts
6247 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21209
themitchellschool@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Open Figure Drawing with life model. Thursdays 6:30-9:30pm. $15.
[2015-08-06]

Studio 55
5529 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21214
maryrever@msn.com Telephone: 410-591-1878
Instructed
Classes include Portrait Studies in Painting or Drawing.
[2011-12-15]

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
 1300 Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217
Telephone: 410-225-2219
Instructed and Uninstructed
Classes incude: Figures in Clay (Human and canine models are provided); Painting the Portrait & Figure; and Drawing the Whole Figure: Head, Hands and Feet. Open studio model sessions offered for those who want to draw or paint from the live figure; each section includes two art models—one for quick poses for sketching, and one for sustained drawing or painting.
[E]

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
801 Chase St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
info@marylandhall.org Telephone: 410-263-5544
Instructed and Uninstructed
• Instructed classes include Figure Drawing, Figure Painting Alla Prima, Portrait Drawing in Charcoal, Pastel Portrait, Portrait Sculpture Workshop, Monitored Figure Sculpture, and The Secret Figure: A Sculpture Workshop For All.
• Uninstructed sessions include Wednesday Morning Figure Co-op, Thurday Evening Long Pose Drawing / Painting Figure Co-Op, and Friday Morning Portrait Co-op.
[2015-08-06]

St. John’s College
 60 College Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
Telephone: 410-626-2881
Instructed
Continuing Education and Fine Arts classes include Life Drawing and Figure Sculpture in Clay.
[2013-06-28]

The Griffin Art Center
437 N Market St (corner of 5th & N Market St)
Frederick, MD 21701
Telephone: 888-666-0804
Instructed and Uninstructed
Drop In Open Studio with Model. Every Sunday 3:00-6:00pm. Several short poses followed by a long pose. $10 Fee Paid at Door. No pre-registration required. See the website for current instructed classes.
[2013-06-22]

Frederick Figure Drawing
4 W 5th St
Frederick, MD 21701
Moderated by Gnarly Artly: Telephone: 240-529-7814 gnarlyartly@gmail.com
Uninstructed
Fridays 6:00-9:00pm. Nude poses mostly, costumed occasionally. Gestures, 5-10 minutes, then some 40 minutes or a long pose. Studio has easels, stools, and a sink. $20 cash, cc, paypal, venmo @GnarlyArtly. Send your email to get the weekly notice.
[2002-09-12]
[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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