If you’ve ever heard of the QC-based nude sketching community Sunday Nudes and sighed at how far they were, you’re in luck. Starting May 19, Sunday Nudes will be holding Sunday sessions at The Living Room 24 in Malate, Manila for P500 per person. It’s three-month trial period, so whether or not the community stays there depends on how well these sessions do. Don’t be alarmed if you’re from QC, though: Their Casa Lychee sessions won’t be affected by this transition.

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It’s happening! ✨ We are straying a bit away from the north and taking Sunday Nudes to the heart of MNL! Our first ever #SundayNvdesSesh at #TheLivingRoom24 is on 19 MAY 2019. Still the same sesh, still the same advocacies, but with doggoes instead of cats! 🐶🐱🐶 We are testing the waters with a SECOND venue, doing an initial three-month run at The Living Room 24, so please help us spread the word! We hope to meet and make Nudies out of more Manileños! Our #CasaLychee (QC) sessions will still be happening, of course. Event dates will be posted as soon as they are finalized. (We also upload announcements on our NEXT SESH IG HIGHLIGHTS.) The transition can be a bit confusing, so please note carefully which session is happening where. Interested to join? Here’s how: 1️⃣ Message us; IG is preferred, but you may also reach us thru FB or email. 2️⃣ We’ll send you our GUIDELINES and PAYMENT OPTIONS. 3️⃣ Send us PROOF OF PAYMENT. 4️⃣ Full venue location will only be disclosed once verified. See you in two weeks, Manila! . Thank you, @knytai for the hook up (and poster!) and @binibiningmanila for making this happen!

A post shared by Sunday Nudes PH (@sundaynudes.ph) on May 1, 2019 at 6:33pm PDT

I’ll be honest, even after years of having artist friends show me their nude sketches and hearing them talk about these sessions, my first thought when I hear the words nude art will forever be the Mr. Bean episode where he inadvertently drops into a nude sketching session. The image of the ardent art teacher trying to get the skittish Bean to paint the nude woman by gesticulating to her body and saying, “the body. The BODY,” are forever etched in my brain.

If you’re curious to try it out but the thought of that scene (and really, the thought of drawing a naked body) intimidates you, then Sunday Nudes is a good place to start. It’s a feminist space that’s body-positive and all-inclusive, and peering through the community, you get a real sense of collaboration between artist and model. It’s not voyeuristic, like how some male-dominated nude sketching spaces run the risk of their artists ogling the model and making him or her feel violated. In fact, the community has guidelines in place to keep the models safe. This makes it a welcoming and comfortable space for artists and models alike, and no one is going to force anyone into doing anything they don’t want to do there.

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A Superficial Probation of the Self @gaymcbright 12×8” ink and rubber on cork board NOT FOR SALE . S E N D N U D E S Sunday Nudes’ Second Anniversary Group Show 27 April – 17 May 2019 @project20gallery #SundayNvdesOnlineCatalogue2019 . Next #SundayNvdesSesh: 19 MAY at @thelivingroom24ph (Malate, Manila). DM to join.

A post shared by Sunday Nudes PH (@sundaynudes.ph) on May 13, 2019 at 6:35am PDT