#30×30 2026 : Sunday Shibari Drawing

June 14, 2026

I’ve been going to this Japanese rope bondage life drawing group for a few months now. If you’re an artist in Montreal, they do the life drawing every second Sunday. It always attracts an interesting group of sketchers with a relatively high skill level.

The model can’t always hold still, and the rigging (as they call it) is a dynamic process always in motion until the final pose. And even then they check in to make sure blood is circulating and discomfort is manageable. They are definitely not comfortable even if she looks sleepy in this child’s pose :) But they say they do it for the endorphins, so :) It’s all part of the artform.

These little excerpts are from an 11×16″ pad of sketchbook paper I use when I’m not quite brave enough for my usual Fabriano cotton rag. It’s a house brand from a local art supply store, but it’s pretty similar to Clairfontaine or Canson’s cellulose papers.

Usually I regret cheaping out on paper. Cellulose (vs. a superior cotton paper) can give you some some grainy or, sharp edged washes – as all you sketchbook artist’s know.

But I’m used to it – it’s kind of my go-to for rapid sketching or warm-ups, and I think this ‘direct drawing’ (no layering, no glazing, one-touch shapes) plays to the paper’s sweet spot.

So today’s about the mid-point in the marathon, but for me since I start early, I’m very close if not already at thirty! The thing with these sessions – I guess every page should count – and I have six pages tonight (some poses are a bit too wild to post :)

But I do tend to think of the whole session as one thing.

Otherwise it’s just to easy to hit thirty :)

Each night of figure drawing has it’s own color-mood. I can put a stack of sessions side by side you can see which were done in one go. Sometimes the colors are softer, sometimes paler, especially if I’m really rushing. It depends a lot on the model, and how many poses they can hit before they need a break.

But anyway! I think of this as my ‘daily painting’ for today!

Hope you guys are having fun with the marathon. I’ll see you over on Uma’s website, VIVIFY!