MuseumPainting

Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts

Every Wednesday, the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) has FREE (with admission) sketching in their galleries.  They have a live model almost every single week — one Wednesday a month it's drawing from the galleries.  They provide paper and pencils and erasers or you can bring your own.  There's even an instructor around to help you if you need it.  It's pretty amazing.  Best of all, it's dynamic drawing — i.e. short poses.  

Nat and I met up with our friend Jenn and stayed for about an hour of sketching.  There were a number of one-minute poses (sketch fast, man) followed by some five-minute poses. And then I think a ten or fifteen-minute pose. 

These drawings aren't in the order that I did them, but I think you'll be able to tell the quick sketches from the more leisurely ones.  There's nothing here that I would call great art, but it's all about the practice.  Plus, I had fun!

From the Balzer Designs Blog: Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts
From the Balzer Designs Blog: Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts

I really enjoyed drawing this model.  He chose interesting poses and had a compelling face that was fun to explore — thus all the quick head sketches.  I plan to make Wednesday sketching at the museum as often as possible.  I really enjoyed myself and I need the practice!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

24 thoughts on “Live Sketching at the Museum of Fine Arts

  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • A few questions popped into my head as I was reading this post. If you are sketching in the galleries, are the people who are there to view the art (walking thru) distracting to you? Models in clothes or not – which is easier to draw? Do you ever get the urge to see what the other artists are drawing or is it strictly “keep your eyes to yourself”?

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • Oh this looks like fun:.) Oh my the quick drawing time would count me out quickly. I am more like the 15 mins and up drawing time ha ha. What an opportunity to get to draw like this.
    This looks great for getting in practice time. What is nice it is free.
    Thanks for sharing this. Love to see you doing what you totally enjoy doing creating Art :.)
    Have a Happy Wednesday
    Fawna

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • love it Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply
  • I really liked the sketch of the man with his fist under his chin (green). And yes, one can see how far you’ve come with your sketches.
    Thanks for sharing your pics from the MFA for two days as well Julie.

    Reply

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