What is Hen Party Life Drawing?

Hen Parties are changing - whoop whoop! Thankfully we are no longer stuck with the choice of a night in an awful club wearing L plates or a pretty boring girls pamper night in. The choices for activities and the expectation of a bit of quality mean things are certainly much more appealing to the hens and the guests. But one thing activity seems to be out competing them all and it is, in it’s own way, somewhat traditional and that’s Hen Party Life Drawing. But what is it all about and is it any good?

If you haven’t heard about this then you probably haven't had the pleasure of attending a hen do in the last few years. I have experienced this activity on my Sister's hen do a couple of years back when this was first taking off so you are getting first hand info here!

The whole idea is based around a traditional “life drawing” idea; as in drawing a naked person. Now I went to Art College so this concept isn't entirely alien to me but, the aim here is fun and not so much about art. It probably goes without saying that the model is always rather easy on the eye and you can  laugh and be as loud as you like during the session. According to one of the leading hen do activity companies in the UK; Fizzbox Hen Do or Fun Life Drawing is on the top of the list for most hen do’s in the UK at the moment. But what is it about the whole thing that makes it so popular?

Now, before you jump in at the deep end and book something do make sure you are getting the right kind of life drawing. Fun or hen party life drawing is not to be confused with life drawing courses and classes! Turning up at a proper class with a group of girls and bottle of prosecco probably wont go down very well!

So 2018!

One of the big points around fun life drawing is that it fits in well with the current gender climate and how we are all trying to treat each other as equals - both male and female models are available for fun life drawing sessions on hen and stag dos. For a lot of women (and men) the idea of a stripper is just not cool any more and a strip club is totally out. Let's face it male strippers are rarely like Magic Mike! But Life Drawing parties offer nudity without the overt seedy feel of stripping. It often happens in a hotel meeting room or hen do hired house location during the day rather than late at night, and it is much more of a shared experience with the model as well as other guests. Of course, ultimately we are still talking about enjoying someone else’s naked body but there is nothing wrong with that in the right context is there?

Chilled Out and Funny

One of the other big points here is that a life drawing party is fun, it’s light hearted and it is also hysterically funny. Not just because everyone loves a giggle but because it is not a overtly sexual activity. The idea of a bloke trying to make sexy moves on stage in a thong is just cringe worthy but a friendly good looking guy posing for drawing is…well its nice to look at and very funny. Once you add on the creative aspect and the focus of actually having something to do rather than stare and drink and you get some way to understanding why everyone loves this so much.

Helping Hand

The other great thing about hen party life drawing is that, when it’s done well, the model will actually help you with the drawing. They talk you through some basics, they do different poses and they also judge the drawings which can be very funny indeed. They are engaged with the guests and the guests are engaged with each other and the model and that makes for a less awkward and way more fun atmosphere. I found after the initial giggling and red faces everyone really got stuck into their drawings and enjoyed the creative process.

Not So Boozy

Another reason this is becoming so popular is that it doesn’t have to involve drinking. These days people are feeling more strongly about the amount they drink, taking breaks from drinking or just not being into it at all. A hen do was often a bit of a nightmare if you didn’t fancy a drink but life drawing parties work just as well with a glass of bubbles as without. I was far too hungover to even consider drinking during the session and still had loads of fun!

The Down Sides

Of course it is not for everyone. Ultimately there is a naked guy in the room and if you have guests that may be a bit against such things then maybe think again. But these guys are not thrusting themselves at you, nor are they…well preparing for the “show” in any way so its all pretty tame. If you really hate drawing this may not be for you but remember, the worse the drawing the more hilarious the judging gets!

Hopefully this not only explains what it is all about but gives some clues as to why this is getting so popular. If you get the chance to do a life drawing party then go for it….it’s great fun regardless of how well you can draw. If you have the responsibility of organising a hen do then you could do a lot worse than pop life drawing at the top of the list for a day time activity, just don’t book a class at a local art college.

This is a collaborative post