American River College has provided professional and student artists an opportunity to join together for weekly figure drawing sessions in the Fine Arts Building.   

‘Figure Friday’ is an open life workshop sponsored by the art department, allowing for a cheaper and easier way to access figure drawing sessions in Sacramento.

The event is held every Friday of the spring semester in Fine Arts room 510 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for $5.

“As the only figure workshop in town that is under $10 per session, it is looked forward to by many artists around town,” said art professor Sarah Mattson.

Mattson created the event in 2007, with its purpose being to offer a more creative outlet and opportunity for ARC students.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our figure-study students to have the opportunity to work next to professional artist to observe and learn,” said Mattson. “Additionally I’ve found it as a wonderful recruiting tool to expose our figure-study program to the public.”

ARC is the only Los Rios Community College District campus to run such an event.

The event is hosted by Brad Carps, a former Figure Friday attendee who describes the event as “great fun.”

“Attending and running the event has personally helped me improve a lot,” Carps said. “We provide the nude model, chairs, tables and boards to draw on, but people must bring their own supplies.”

The event allows for almost any form of art, including drawing, painting, pastels, sculptures and digital media, but excludes photography.

Art major Kashia Lynhiavue attended the event for the first time on Feb. 26 and described it as a way to “get better at appreciating and learning the art of the human anatomy.”

“I heard about it around campus and thought i’d try it out,” said Lynhiavue. “I was a little nervous, but I’m happy I came, I’ll definitely come again.”

The event is open to all students, faculty, staff, and professional artists.