Still life group still living

THREE times a week, a group of artists and one model walk up the stairs of the former Sebastopol State School building into a old room to maintain a decades-old tradition.

For over 30 years, the Sebastopol Life Drawing group has met regularly to create nude still life artworks in a social and encouraging setting.

After splitting off from experimental sessions originally held by the Ballarat Society of Artists, they’ve operated as what facilitator Sylvia Hollis calls a long-hidden facet of Ballarat’s arts community.

“We sort of skate under the radar, this group. We’ve always been here, so if you don’t know about us you don’t know,” she said.

“We work with whatever. Some people use pastel, some pencils, others watercolour, even digital technology. We’re very open to whatever anyone wants to use.

“It’s a really good thing for an artist to do figurative drawing, and then you’re also hanging out with other artists who can help fuel that creativity. Everybody here’s a character.”

Hollis initially modelled for the group, and has since taken over last year from long-time coordinator Peter Cooper, is aiming to expand their social media presence.

In addition to the initial Friday meetups from 9.30am to 12.30pm, Hollis increased weekly sessions to include Tuesdays from 9.30am to 11.30am, Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm

About five original members still attend the Friday, which Hollis said gives the sessions “a real family vibe.”

The Sebastopol Community Centre has been their hub for most of its lifespan, and Cooper said its function as their “home base” has served the group throughout the decades.

“We were in the Grace building up in Urquhart Street to start with which was a small room, and now we’ve had this room for nearly 30 years,” he said.

“It’s a great space and it belongs to us.

“This has always been a social gathering of people interested in still life, which is a form that sort of encompasses everything you need to know about drawing.”