August 2021: Coming up on Patreon this month!

Hello lovely patrons! I'm going to start posting a monthly update to give you an idea of what to expect from the Draw Patreon as well as an overview of how we spend the money you pledge each month. In addition to the usual programme of live, online sessions here's what to expect this month: 

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Blog Posts

We're releasing a new series of material-focused reference blogs this month for supporters on all tiers. Lance has recorded new videos introducing you to the fundamental properties of different drawing materials, accompany by a written blog from me - look out for them each Monday!   

• Monday 9th Aug Introduction to: Graphite 
• Monday 16th Aug Introduction to: Charcoal 
• Monday 23rd Aug Introduction to: Conte Crayon
• Monday 30th Aug Introduction to: Water-soluble media

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Photo-sets

This August we enter the penultimate month of our Lemonade reference series; the series concludes next month with new life, portrait & clothed photo sets release in October from Ines, Adrian, Manko, Françoise & Mat.

• Friday 13th July Lemonade Photo-set: Gravity (Urte) - Portrait / Life / Student Tiers
• Friday 20th July Lemonade Photo-set: Helium (Mark) - Life / Student Tiers
• Friday 27th July Lemonade Photo-set: Shopping bag (Tilli) - Portrait / Life / Student Tiers

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Future plans

In September we'll be expanding our existing Patreon resources ready for the dual launch of  improved online sessions and our new in-person programme in October! 

• For Life Drawing & Student tier supporters we'll be running through Lance's full 34-week online life drawing programme again, adding a new demonstration video to each of the existing recorded classes. It will be a great time to pick up the course from scratch or work through it again in more depth, using the tutorials to accompany any online or in-person session you come to. We'll also be adding subtitles to our existing videos to make them more accessible - the cost had been prohibitive but your ongoing support is making it possible!
• For all supporters we'll be releasing new weekly life drawing inspiration posts related back to our previous life drawing blogs, with links to new historical & contemporary artists each week. Our ETC series of talks and interviews will also re-start in the autumn (you can watch our last series of talks here)

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Where does all the money go?

As always you find details about how our Patreon income is spent here. Alongside the usual pay and royalties distributed to our 40 artists & models we have used money raised on the Patreon to fund the following initiatives this month:

• The Draw Journal 2021 - we have commissioned new writing & interviews for the latest edition of Draw Journal, currently being worked on by Megan Snyders with original illustrations by Will Scobie. More details coming up next month! You can read last years journal here. 
• Our Patreon income continues to subsidise our in-person sessions in Preston Park, helping us keep pay fair for models and sessions affordable for attendees. You can find in-person sessions listed here.  
• Covid is hitting life models hard - very little pre-pandemic work has returned, government support ends next month and in July 25% of the models we booked were off sick. Your patronage has allowed us to pay all of those models sick pay - thank you!

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Figure Drawing Book

Thank you everybody who supported my book launch in July! The book is now out in the UK, with copies available here and at your local book shops - it will be out in the US on the 17th August, available from all good book sellers. 

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Finally, an apology - we had some tehcinal hitches this month, with the 'Setting up a Studio' blog delayed until next week and our recording of Topaz's portrait session being lost. Don't worry though, we are going to get the doyen of Scottish life drawing back in soon to re-record the session!

Thanks for all your support,

Jake