Figure Drawing Workshops, Open Studios, and Continuing Education Classes in Pennsylvania
Other States and Provinces

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.

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Pennsylvania - sorted by Zip Code

South Arts
The Historic Schoolhouse
2600 South Park Road
Bethel Park, PA 15102
margo.barracloughgmail.com 412-835-9010
Uninstructed
Open Portrait & Figure Drawing/Painting Sessions. The human anatomy is a very exciting subject to draw and paint. It has been said that if one can master the human figure, one can draw anything. So if you are passionate about learning how to draw the human body, specifically the face, then you will find these sessions helpful. A model will hold the same clothed or costumed pose for three hours for you to draw or paint.

[E]

Double Door Gallery
223 3rd Ave.
Carnegie, PA 15106
infodoubledoorgallery.com 412-429-4003
Uninstructed
The gallery frequently hosts informal open studio figure sessions with a live model. Bring drawing or painting materials. Cost: $10 model fee. Open to the public. See website for schedule.

[E]

The Academy of the South Side
Brew House
2100 Mary St., Suite 301
Pittsburgh, PA. 15203
academyofthesouthsidegmail.com 412-498-2446.
Instructed and Uninstructed
Classes include Figure Painting and Figure Drawing. "Founded in 2005, The Academy of the South Side provides year-round affordable, high quality instruction in painting and drawing through classes, workshops, and open model sessions for students of all ages and skill levels. Housed in a beautiful studio on the 3rd floor of the historic Brew House Association building on Pittsburgh's South Side, The Academy aims to not only educate but to inspire. Beginners and professionals alike develop and hone their skills through single classes or more concentrated study, building on a foundation of studio practice focusing on painting and drawing the human form from life.

[2009-07-23]

Barely Brunch at The Brew House
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
barelybrunchyahoo.com 412-969-7689
Uninstructed
Every third Sunday of the month, for several years, a group of people of all ages, from all walks of life, have been coming together to work from the figure. Using various techniques and methods, participants hone their skills, capture the essence of the human form, relax, and enjoy themselves. They also look forward to the break when they can have a cup of coffee, a glass of juice, some refreshments, and socialize with the other people present that day. Two models, $15/session (fee includes brunch).
[2009-07-09]

Panza Gallery
115 Sedgwick Street
Millvale, PA 15209
412-821-0959
panzagallerymac.com
Uninstructed
Life Drawing every Thursday evening 7:00-9:00. $7.00. Coffee, french pastries & drinks served.
Enter side door to lower gallery. No sign-up required. All artists welcome.

[2009-07-09]

Carnegie Museum of Art
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080
412-622-3288
Instructed and Uninstructed
Instructed classes include Drawing the Figure/Inside and Out.
Uninstructed Open Model Studio. Use this studio time to extend a morning session of figure study or to work on your own in your choice of medium. The first half of the class will consist of short poses by the draped or undraped model, directed by a monitor. In the second half, a model holding one long pose will enable the artists to work on a more complete drawing or painting.

[E]

Carnegie Mellon University, School of Art
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
artscoolandrew.cmu.edu 412-268-2409
Uninstructed
The School of Art runs open figure drawing sessions during the academic year (Fall & Spring semesters) usually on Sunday nights. We post the schedules on our blog http://news.art.cfa.cmu.edu and calendar http://calendar.art.cfa.cmu.edu.

[2009-08-03]

Dr. Sketchy's Pittsburgh
Gypsy Cafe
1330 Bingham Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Uninstructed
Cabaret drawing events. This is an affiliate of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, founded in New York City.

[E]

Brillobox
4104 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224-1306
brilloboxdrinkanddrawyahoo.com
Uninstructed
Drink and Draw is an open studio live model drawing session that meets last Tuesday of each month on the second floor of Brillobox. Models are costumed. The sessions run from 6:30 to 9:30 pm and cost $10.

[2009-07-09]

The Lancaster Art and Workshop Meetup
Building Character
342 N Queen St
Lancaster, PA 17603
Uninstructed
Life Drawing on Thursday nights. This is an adult only workshop for 18 and over. We start at 6 and finish between 8 and 9. You do not need to RSVP and late arrivals are welcome. See schedule on Meetup.
[U]

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
204 N. Prince Street, P.O. Box 59
Lancaster, PA 17608
cepcad.edu 717-396-7833
Instructed
Classes include Figure Drawing.
[2009-07-08]

The Banana Factory
25 W. Third St.
Bethlehem, PA 18015
infofest.org 610-332-1300
Instructed
Classes include Figurative Painting and Drawing.
[E]

The Barnstone Studios
52 N. 2nd Street, Suite 3
Coplay, PA 18037
Tel: 610-261-1030
Instructed
Classes include Figure Drawing I and II.
[2009-07-07]

Baum School of Art
510 Linden Street
P.O. Box 653
Allentown, PA 18105
registrarbaumschool.org 610-433-0032
Instructed
Classes include Figure Drawing and Figure and Portrait Sculpture.
[E]

PoconoArts Council
18 North 7th Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360-2110
570-476-4460 infopoconoarts.org
Instructed
Classes include figure drawing.
[2009-07-08]

The Afa Gallery
514 Lackawanna Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
tedtedmichalowski.com 570-969-1040
Uninstructed
Life Drawing. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. $5. Draw from a range of models each week in this uninstructed and informal session. Models will be nude, with occasional drapery, partial costume, or accessory. Models of any body type or experience level are welcome to inquire to pose.
[E]

Murdoch Art Studio and School
512 Scott Road
Bedminster, PA 18944
infomurdochart.com 267-221-6046
Instructed and Uninstructed
Uninstructed Open Model Drawing and Painting Sessions. Mondays 10 am-1 pm. Three one-hour poses of the live nude model. Easels provided. $12 for a single visit. $10 a session if paying for two or more sessions. Please pre-register—space is limited.
Instructed classes include Figure Drawing - Beginner to Intermediate and College Portfolio Development (Life Drawing for high school students).
[2009-08-30]

Main Line Art Center
746 Panmure Road
Haverford, PA 19041
sbrennanmainlineart.org 610-525-0272 ext. 23
Instructed and Uninstructed
Classes included Figurative Sculpture, Figure Drawing & Gouache Painting, and Figure Modeling I & II.
Uninstruced Open Life Studio is an opportunity for artists at all levels to work independently to maintain or improve their life drawing skills in a variety of techniques and media. The group warms up with short gestural drawings and moves on to longer poses. Models interested in posing for our classes should contact Katie Groppi 610-525-0272 ext. 17 or kgroppimainlineart.org
[2009-10-14]

Abington Art Center
515 Meetinghouse Road
Jenkintown, PA 19046
infoabingtonartcenter.org 215-887-4882
Uninstructed
Model Workshop. Thursday 9:30AM-12:30PM. This is a chance for experienced artists to come together and draw from the nude model. Everyone gives each other support and feedback to improve their work in this creative environment. Each morning starts with several croquis followed by more sustained poses. For AAC members only. Limited to 20 students.
[E]

Wayne Art Center
413 Maplewood Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
infowayneart.org 610-688-3553
Instructed and Uninstructed
Instructed classes include Introduction to the Figure, Figure Drawing, Adult/Teen Figure Drawing, Drawing the Figure & Portrait, Figure in the Landscape, Figure Within an Interior Environment, Drawing & Sculpting the Figure, The Figure in the Environment.
Uninstructed: Drawing and Painting Open Studio.
[E]

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
128 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-972-7632 Email: continuingedpafa.edu
Instructed
Classes include Elementary Figure Drawing and Painting, Figure Painting, Terra Cotta Figure Sculpture,
The Long Pose: Two Figures, and Master Class with Sidney Goodman.
[E]

The University of the Arts
320 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
precollegeuarts.edu 215-717-6430
Instructed
Pre-College Saturday School for high school students. Classes include Figure Drawing and Figure Sculpture.
[2009-11-16]

Moore College of Art & Design
20th Street and The Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
cemoore.edu 215-965-4030
Instructed
Figure Drawing -- Develop strong observational skills and learn about composition and proportion through interpreting the human figure, the traditional prerequisite to all visual disciplines. The unclothed model allows for the study of gesture as well as skeletal and anatomical structure. Students will learn how to capture a pose with quick gestures, develop a quality of line with contours and solve foreshortening problems by understanding aspects of perspective. Short drills will lead to long poses and the development of more complete, detailed drawings using a variety of drawing media. This class uses both nude and clothed models.
[E]

Rittenhouse Drawing Group
240 South 20th Street (just off Rittenhouse Square)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
rittenhousedrawinggroupgooglegroups.com
Uninstructed
The Rittenhouse Drawing Group has been meeting since 2008 in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA. Artists meet on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm-9:00pm and draw from the live model. Drawing sessions are largely self-directed, however informal instruction is available by Mark Bullen. No materials are provided, however the current host may be willing to provide basic materials in a pinch. Drawing spots and easels are available on a first come first serve basis—arrive any time after 6:40pm. Drawing begins promptly at 7:00pm. There is a fee of $10 per session. For complete information please join our Google Group.

[2010-02-15]

Dupree Studios
3617 Haverford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19104
jamesdupreestudiosinc.com 215-386-1804
Unistructed
Open studio figure draiwng Tuesdays and Thurdays 6:30-9:30 PM. $15/session.
[E]

Dr. Sketchy's Philadelphia
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Uninstructed
Cabaret drawing events. Sessions take place on the second Saturday of each month, 3 PM to 6 PM.
This is an affiliate of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, founded in New York City.
[2010-03-18]

The Philadelphia Sketch Club
235 South Camac Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-5608
215-545-9298
Uninstructed
The Philadelphia Sketch Club offers six workshops a week on various days and times for the convenience of participants. No registration is required. Studio Workshops. $9/session; $8 Sketch Club members ($5 students with valid ID). Easels and drawing boards are provided. Bring your own materials. Lockers available for a small fee. Life Model -- Monday: 6:30 to 9:30 PM; Tuesday: Noon to 3 PM; Wednesday: 6:30 to 9:30 PM; Saturday: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Costumed Model -- Thursday: Noon to 3 PM.
[E]

The Plastic Club
247 South Camac Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
plasticclubatt.net 215-545-9324
Uninstructed
The Plastic Club offers painting and drawing workshops year-round for a nominal fee. The schedule is: Tuesdays from 9:30 to 12:30, drawing and painting from a clothed model; Wednesdays from 9:30 to 12:30 PM, Thursdays and Fridays, 6:30 to 9:30 PM, and Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, drawing and painting from life models. $8 per session, $7 for members. No registration is required. Easels, boards, tables provided.
[2009-08-14]

Studio Incamminati
340 North 12th Street (southwest corner, 12th and Callowhill streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
infostudioincamminati.org 215-592-7910
Instructed and Uninstructed
Uninstructed Open Studio sessions. Sundays (except selected dates) 1-4 p.m. Draw or paint from live model in a studio setting with other artists. Just bring your own art supplies, an easel and taboret are provided. $10 per each 3-hour session which is payable at the studio, or Purchase a 10-visit discount card for $70.
Instructed classes include Long Pose Figure Drawing in Graphite, Introduction to Figure Drawing in Charcoal, Studio Anatomy The Body at Rest - The Torso, and Oil Painting- Still Life and Figure.
[E]

Bell #3 Figure Drawing
831 N. 2nd Street, Apt #3
Philadelphia, PA 19123
bellthreedrawinggmail.com
Uninstructed
Bell #3 Figure Drawing is a group of like-minded people who enjoy the practice of drawing naked people. We meet weekly in the Northern Liberties on Thursdays from 7pm to 10pm. $5 per person per session. If you are new to the group, you should send us an e-mail.
[2010-04-02]

Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial
719 Catharine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147-2811
infofleisher.org 215-922-3456
Instructed
Classes and workshops include Figure Drawing - Introduction, Figure Painting- Introduction, Figure Sculpture - Introduction, Alla Prima Figure Painting, Painting and Drawing from the Figure, Figure Drawing - Intermediate, Figure Painting - Intermediate, Figure Drawing - Advanced, and Painting the Model in a Setting.
[E]


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

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The Art Model's Handbook: The Naked Truth about Posing for Art Classes and Fine Artists • by Andrew Cahner
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