Drawing Together.

Once A Month There's An Art Party At La Grange With Dr Sketchy.

A good old fashioned life-drawing session is a necessary staple for artists of all types. Drawing from observation is a classic technique to improve your skills and increase your technical abilites to perceive form and function. Unfortunately, that sounds totally boring and academic.

Thankfully, seven years ago, Molly Crabapple and AJ Phibes got together in Williamsburg and held their inaugural Dr. Sketchy's event. It was a more relaxed life-drawing session.

Anyone who's ever done an actual, serious life-drawing or figure-drawing session has that, “Oh, you wouldn't believe what the model looked like!” story. Dr Sketchy's does it right, bringing burlesque performers in to hold court. These models are always in costume, and there is a theme every month.

Yesterday, at Dr. Sketchy's Dallas event at La Grange, it was a comic book-themed day, with pinup girl and cosplay queen Tafetta Darling playing the role of the model.

Also worth noting: This happens in a bar.

There's really nothing better than relaxing with a beer, seeing hot girls in awesome costumes and drawing. Host John Gonzales keeps things light, and there is always a contest for prizes at each event. Plus, they play great tunes to soundtrack your artistry, and it's always fun looking forward to seeing what the theme will be each week and what crazy props come along with it.

Dr Sketchy's is a great environment for beginners, too; there's no pressure, and it's definitely not stuffy. You get all skill levels in attendance — so don't worry about how good or bad you are. The events are more about having fun and enjoying yourself than about producing high-caliber work.

Keep an eye out on Dr Sketchy's Dallas website for upcoming events. Soon there will be midweek, nighttime sessions — and, we're told, a free event that will be held outdoors at an as-yet-undetermined park.