Upcoming Life Model Nights
Gap
France
Ouverte à tous, débutants ou initiés, cet événement artistique rend unique la pratique du dessin de modèle viva ...
Caen
France
Venez vous exercer au croquis d'après modèles vivant(e)s avec la technique sèche de votre choix.
Les temps de poses proposés vont 'crescendo' (de 5 à 30 min) puis 'descrescendo' à raison ...
Roubaix
France
Passionnés de dessin, étudiants en Arts et personnes ayant une pratique artistique amateur ou confirmée, cette soirée vous est réservée.
Quatre modèles vivants professionnels prendront la pose ...
Caen
France
Venez vous exercer au croquis d'après modèles vivant(e)s avec la technique sèche de votre choix.
Les temps de poses proposés vont 'crescendo' (de 5 à 30 min) puis 'descrescendo' à raiso ...
Life Model Night in Roubaix
Over the years, it has become a major event in French local cultural life. Each year, new cities organize their own Life Drawing Night, and the more established ones have to organize several sessions to allow everyone to participate.
Life Drawing Night makes the practice of life drawing accessible to everyone, beginners, experienced artists, and professionals, without age restrictions (some cities require minors to be accompanied by an adult), in a friendly and artistic atmosphere.
It most often takes place in the magical setting of museums, from 7 pm to midnight (times may vary), and is open to everyone. Admission may be free, but generally does not exceed €10 to remain accessible to young people and students.
This event is organized by art schools, associations or youth and cultural centers in partnership with municipalities, which usually provide a museum capable of accommodating hundreds of participants. Sometimes, this event takes place in unusual locations, such as in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where it was held at the municipal swimming pool with models who were exceptionally allowed to pose without swimsuits!
Night of the Life Model in Orsay
Each drawer can arrive and leave at any time, must bring their own materials (dry techniques only, no water), and also bring a folding chair or cushion, as seating is limited.
A catering service is generally provided on site. Photography and video are prohibited; only an official photographer is present to cover the event.
Entry is by online reservation only; the first to register will be guaranteed a place as these are limited and quickly reserved, too bad for the latecomers.
Many cities in France are organizing it in collaboration with art schools: Toulouse at the Natural History Museum with 600 artists, Angers at the Museum of Fine Arts, Lille at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Roubaix at La Piscine with 570 participants, Caen at the Museum of Fine Arts, Douai at La Chartreuse museum, Hazebrouck at the Musée des Augustins, Gap at the museum, Cambrai at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boulogne-sur-Mer at the swimming pool (first night in 2024), Paris with the All-Nighter of the Life Model at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, and at the Musée d’Orsay with painters...
The Night of the Life Model 2025 in Toulouse
The event spanned an entire weekend, featuring workshops, a conference, and life drawing sessions. It was a resounding success, with tickets selling out in just three days. Affordable prices made the workshops easily accessible.
Since its inception, the event has grown significantly. The Evening Life Drawing Session is no longer a single event, but a whole weekend for artists and families. It’s no longer just one session, but a comprehensive program with multiple workshops and a conference.
And for this occasion, the public responded enthusiastically: "The 600 tickets for the Evening Sessions sold out in three days, and all the workshops are fully booked," says a delighted Audrey Bourdin, one of the organizers. What’s appealing is first and foremost the rarity of this type of event, but also its low prices: "Today, fewer and fewer people can afford to take life drawing classes because it’s very expensive," explains the organizer. "You have to pay the teacher, the model, and it’s still a considerable expense." That’s why the Nocturnes aim to remain accessible to both art students and professional artists. Facing the artists, nine nude life models posed for periods ranging from 30 seconds to 25 minutes. Each model brought their own style and approach, but all were artists: dancers, actors, or circus performers. "The models are very diverse; there are all body types. It was important to us that they be representative of our society," explains Audrey Bourdin. On Saturday during the day, children and families, who already had their tickets, were introduced to drawing through two workshops. Finally, a meeting with Charlène Letenneur, naturalist and scientific illustrator, took place with free and open entry.
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