Open Studio: Figure Drawing
Jan 23, 2018

  • Child's drawing of a model.

    Open Studio: Figure Drawing, November 2017. Photograph by Alexus Knight

  • Man posing while children draw him.

    The model poses

  • Boy sketching with pencil.

    Starting a sketch

  • Child's sketch.

    The model under the sea!

  • Child's sketch.

    One model, many sketches!

  • Child's sketch.

    Shape and color

  • Child's sketch.

    An unusual setting

In November, Family Programs hosted a large-scale figure drawing event with live models, inspired by the work of Toyin Ojih Odutola, currently on view at the Whitney.

Ojih Odutola makes large-scale drawings of figures whose identities are somewhat mysterious. She often places her subjects in landscapes that combine elements of reality and fantasy, juxtaposing English countryside with Nigerian hills. In this spirit, families were asked to use their imagination and introduce surprising elements into their own drawings. As families sketched, they were encouraged to add imaginative backdrops and details to their sketches of the models. The result was an incredible mix of places and playful details. Check out the slideshow above! All photographs by Alexus Knight.

Elena Ketelsen González, Assistant to Family Programs

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.