News & Events

Closures during Holiday Season
Artwork by Chuck Ladd

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Wednesday this year. Open Figure Drawing is cancelled on those days. We have also cancelled Sunday sessions on December 22 and 29, (calendar).

Our last session in 2024 is December 18, & our first session in 2025 is January 5.

OFD also sometimes cancels sessions due to the weather.

Themed Drawing

Sunday, January 5, 1 – 3 pm
Delavan Studios room 413
501 W Fayette St, Syracuse

This is our 1st drawing session in 2025. Open Figure Drawing is closed after December 18, until January 5.

The theme for January is Flapper.

Themed Drawing sessions are the 1st Sunday of every month, except sometimes when the 1st Sunday is a holiday weekend.

Regular rules apply.

Mike Show

An Open Figure Drawing Group Show celebrating the model Mike

Artwork by Chuck Ladd, Dan Shanahan, this one’s a photo, Richard Morse, Iver Johnson

January 25 – March 23, 2025
Delavan Studios, room 413

Reception:
Saturday, January 25, 4 – 6 pm
Food & Drinks!

The Mike Show will showcase the 55 year career of a treasured model.  Anyone who has been involved with figure drawing in Central NY has probably drawn Mike. He is a performance artist making each session unique. His dynamic modeling has challenged countless learners and artists over decades.  This show will spotlight some of the results of his impact on the art community and give recognition to an often overlooked part of the artistic process.

If you have artwork of Mike, even is you have never drawn with OFD, we invite you to join our celebration by submitting your artwork.

Submit your artwork, framed & ready to hang, with an entry form, any time between now and the deadline: Sunday, January 19, 1 – 3 pm, during OFD’s Long Pose drawing session.

Rules:

  1. Anyone who has ever drawn Mike may submit artwork.
    You can submit up to 3 piece of framed figurative artwork of Mike for inclusion in the show. The artwork does not have to be from an OFD session. If we run out of space, everyone is guaranteed at least one of their pieces will be included in the show, and all artwork will be included in the Mike Show catalog.
  2. How to Enter
    Submit an entry form with your artwork. Your artwork does not have to be recent.
  3. Deliver artwork to Delavan Studios, room 413 by Sunday, January 19, 1 – 3 pm, during Open Figure Drawing’s Long Pose session.
    The show ends on Sunday, March 23. Will will be hanging a new show shortly afterwards, so do not delay in taking your artwork home. You can take it before March 23 if you need to.
  4. Artwork must have identification and contact information on the back. Include your name and phone number (or e-mail or street address). Optionally, include a title, media, and size information. We also suggest signing and dating your work.
  5. All work must be framed & have a wire for hanging. Please take a look at our hanging system next time you attend OFD.
  6. Work can be for sale, but does not have to be. Sales will be handled between the buyer and the individual artist. Include with your artwork the necessary information for a buyer to contact you.
  7. Optional: Package your artwork.
    Since we will not be transporting the artwork for this show, it is up to you if you think it needs packaging to deliver it safely to us. Please take all packaging with you after you deliver your artwork.
New Sentries Wanted

Open Figure Drawing is looking for new porters to let OFD participants into Delavan Studios.

Our current doorman, Iver Johnson, would like to retire from the position at the end of December.

Doorpersons must arrive at the door
by 6:45 pm on Wednesdays and stay at their post until 7:15 pm
by 12:45 pm and on Sundays and stay at their post until 1:15 pm

They can then join the ongoing drawing session for free.

Interested? Contact us, or talk to the host during any OFD session.

Open Figure Drawing, since 1989