I finally made it into The Drawing Circus! As a big finale for the studio/building closing, Jake Spicer, founder of Draw Brighton, decided he was going to open up the costume trunks and bring the circus to New England House. The day was split into three parts as well as three floors. Rehearsals at 10am – 12pm, an afternoon drawing session 1-4pm and an evening session 5-8pm.
With multiple tutor studios in building, it was Frankie’s studio on floor 6 that was used as the model changing room. Arriving at 10am all the models were asked to come in for a dress rehearsal. On booking, I read the email very different to the other models and chose to model for just one of the two stints, whilst the rest did the entire day. So after I figured out with Frankie what I was going to wear that evening and what I needed to bring back with me to complete my outfit later, Jake rocked up to show us all to each of our stages and explain the days set up.
Taking us down to furthest floor we started in Lance’s studio on floor 3 where ‘The Animal Enclosure’ was set up. “We keep the lion in the quartermaster’s store, along with the tank where the merfolk refresh themselves; the circus dancers often visit for a gossip. Please do not feed the animals.“
We then proceeded up to the fifth floor, The Main Ring! “Our Ringmistress will be preparing for the main show, with her circus dancers and deputies. You may be lucky enough to peek into the Dressing Room, where performers will be changing outfits and top up their grease paint in front of our magic mirror.“
Okay so let me explain, the Main Ring was in the Draw studio, alongside the Main Ring, where the draw shop was usually situated, was now a cubby-style “Dressing Room” the magic mirror being the iPad with the online audience. With Emma Prothero – our online tutor currently studying in Barcelona – running The Drawing Circus for our online audience and Patreon members. It was incredible! once again, Jake had us all going “Ooooh” and “Aaahhh”. Everyone was getting so pumped!
Heading down to floor 4 we made our way to Laura Ryans studio where ‘The Rehearsal Stage’ was set up. “Our clowns Pierrot & Harlequin continue to endlessly vie for the love of sweet Columbine – the fortune teller has chosen to pitch tent nearby, perhaps to predict on whom Columbine’s affections will be bestowed.“
Now making our way to our respective floors, we discussed with the our “scene” models, how we were going to navigate our group poses. I was only posing in the afternoon in the Main stage (and Dressing Room) with Sara Reeve running the room. I had already received an email with a breakdown of what other models I would be posing with at what times. We very lightly discussed how we would move around the room, leaving a little room for spontaneity and the unkown. 5:00 / 30 min ‘intro’ pose. 5:30 / 30 min Tattoo poses with Ellie in the ‘Changing room’ set. 6:00 / 2 x 15 min poses (Posing with Carole (lion), Ellie (tattoo artist), Ruth (lion tamer) & Frankie(Ringmistress)). 6:30 / BREAK.
By the time we got to break, a story began to unfold, confirming amongst ourselves as we shuffled into our pose we decided to play out that I – as the deputy Ringmistress -was attempting assassination on my boss by releasing the lion on to her. 7:00 / 30 min pose (Posing with Carole, Ellie, Ruth & Frankie). 7:45 / 5 x 3 min poses (Big group poses!).
As the poses orbited the stage, we sat and stood and struck our poses, always connected, always in character, pouring our energy out to the artists that scratched their pencils and dipped their paintbrushes, furiously trying to capture each carefully raised chin and lifted elbow, balancing on thin air. It was magical. as the evening began to draw to a close, clowns tumbled into the room, dancers stretched their long legs up on to the stage and each of us circus freaks came together for the big finale. Clasping on to each other – with Jake front and centre – we held this space, that was our home, our safe space, our sanctuary, for the very last time.
If you would like access to the Drawing Circus images to draw from home, sign up to the Draw Brighton Patreon. With prerecords from the Dressing Room and other online sessions and photo sets from all the incredible models!
I would also like to add a little recognition to Catherine, who was set to do the whole day and unfortunately, after the afternoon session, slipped and broke her wrist during the break and had to be rushed to hospital, all the while, still dressed and in full clown makeup, you were missed and I hope you are on the mend toward a speedy recovery x
Jade Hylton 
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