Artist date: drop-in drawing at the met

When: first Friday of each month, 6-8pm

Where: the specific location within the museum varies each time, check the listing on their events page before you go

Cost: free with admission (which is pay-what-you-wish if you are a New York resident!)

On the first Friday of every month, the Met hosts a Drop-In Drawing event where they provide the stools, the supplies, a prompt, and a few helpful tips. I love the idea of drawing at museums but I often feel a bit too self-conscious to actually do it, so this was a good opportunity to try it in the comfort of a group setting. I attended the March session, which took place in the Greek and Roman Art section. After a mini-lecture on finding centerlines and joint points, we were free to scatter around the gallery to sketch whichever sculptures caught our eye.

From what I can tell on the website, it seems like each session takes place in a different gallery with a different drawing challenge, which means you’ll get to try something new each time you go! The sessions last two hours, but you are welcome to join or leave whenever you wish. The instructors also repeat the mini-lecture a few times throughout the session so you won’t miss anything even if you arrive a bit late. Bonus: I have found the museum to be much less crowded when I’ve been there on late Friday afternoons/evenings, so it’s also a great time to enjoy a stroll through the exhibits! I recommend arriving a little early to browse a gallery or two before heading to the drawing event. If you attend the April session, I suggest stopping by the “Beyond the Light” exhibit before it ends on April 16th! Happy drawing!

Posted March 17, 2023