ART will breathe life into Newcastle later this month when the city hosts three premier shows celebrating the harbour, community art and a little-known but internationally successful cartoonist.
One of the shows is in memory of cartoonist and illustrator Reg Russom, who was a staff artist on the New York Times in the early years of last century.
He died in Newcastle in 1952 and the city has a large collection of his work that shows the skill of drawing from life.
The Newcastle Art School, part of Hunter TAFE, is one of a dwindling number still offering life drawing classes.
They have been held in the Hunter Street building since the institution opened more than 100 years ago.
"Life art has a long tradition," the school's head fine art teacher John Morris said. "Some schools won't deal with it any more."
Yesterday's class was with Nick Lycos, who lives near Laguna and is one of the school's long-standing models.
When he's not modelling, Mr Lycos works in the Hunter vineyards, work that Mr Morris said prepares him well for life art classes.
"He's fit, lean, attributes that allow him to take on difficult poses," he said.
The Hunter Maritime Art prize begins on August 19, the Newcastle Art Society's 75th anniversary exhibition on August 26, and The Reg Russom Memorial drawing prize, on September 2. It carries a $1000 prize.
All shows will be held in Hunter TAFE's Front Room Gallery in Hunter Street.
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