Dr. Sketchy's: A Creative Refuge for the NYUSH Artist

While it is true that over the last five months we the student body of NYU Shanghai have acclimated ourselves to this vast and complex city, finding a way to infiltrate the art scene has proven difficult. At student government meetings we entreat our representatives to get more arts courses out of the administration, and each art class we do have fills up quickly and must be conducted in small, ill-equipped rooms. How are the artists of NYUSH supposed to express ourselves if our school does not give us enough outlets to do so?

Well look no further my struggling creators because Dr. Sketchy's is here to save the day! Dr. Sketchy's is an anti-establishment figure drawing class designed by artists for artists that combines entertainment, and alcohol to help its students improve their skills. The program was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2005, and in the last nine years it has gone global, existing in over 100 cities worldwide. One of its newest branches opened here in Shanghai last fall.

I was lucky enough to attend the inceptive show of Dr. Sketchy’s Shanghai, and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. Stuffed into an intimate bar here in Puxi were about thirty artist of all different ages and skill sets who had come together to draw, network, drink and enjoy the evening together. It was the perfect setting to mingle with other, more experienced members of the Shanghai art community.

Besides the delightful company, I am also pleased to report the drawing experience was spectacular. Instead of behaving like a traditional figure drawing class, where the model sits in the center of the room and goes through basic poses while the silent students sketch away, the Dr. Sketchy's models put on a show and told stories as they modeled. Doing so added an entertainment aspect to the class, which kept us, the artists, better focused and amused than the hush of a typical studio.

Another fun aspect of Dr. Sketchy's is the assistants, or"art monkeys" as the Shanghai program director Morgan Plumm has dubbed them, conduct mini-contests throughout the show, doling out prompts to the audience and handing out prizes to the victors as we draw. This encourages us artist to be more creative with our work and adds an extra twist of challenge to the class. The prizes can vary from a free drink at the bar, to art supplies or coupons for Strictly Cookies.

Dr. Sketchy's really is a great way to spend a Saturday night, but it is not for everyone. It is important to note that the classes are normally conducted in bars or bar-like settings so there will be alcohol there. You are guaranteed to see someone partially, if not completely nude, as it is in essence an anatomy study. Though it is meant to be a place for people to congregate and enjoy themselves, it is first and foremost an art class. This does not mean you have to be "good" at drawing to attend, but it does mean you should be able to behave yourself in a mature manner and be willing to follow the strict Dr. Sketchy's rules. No photos may be taken during the show and any cameras seen by the art monkeys will be confiscated until the end. You may not touch or harass the models; they are there be watched and drawn, not abused. Anyone who misconducts themselves will be removed with no refund.

Dr. Sketchy's, at its core, is a learning environment so tread with caution my fellow art students, but I encourage you to go and join the fun. It provides an interesting, unique workout for your creative skills and will help you become better acquainted with the Shanghai art community. Happy sketching!

The Shanghai Dr. Sketchy’s Branch meets once every two months, so the next show should be in April. Ticket prices range from 50 to 100 kuai. For more information go to http://www.drsketchy.com/branch/shanghai.

Sources:

Plumm, Morgan. "Schedule of Upcoming events." Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. www.drsketchy.com/branch/shanghai.

This article was written by Naomi Losman. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Art Credit: Naomi Losman