A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

‘Aye, Susie, I’ll do whitever yous want. I’ll teek me kit aff over there. Ne problem.’

Her smile was enthralling. Great big white teeth gleaming between shocking pink lipstick that had most definitely been applied up the bumpy front drive.

The room fell silent as Cailey’s uninhibited figure appeared from behind the screen. Her skin was the colour of porcelain and even I had to remind myself life drawing is life drawing, not perving at a naked body. It’s studying the beauty of the way light falls on the nude. The shadows in the crevasses and the darkness of the folds. Concentrating on the luminosity of skin and letting your eye travel across the figure.

‘Right ya,’ she said, ‘where do yous want me?’

‘Come, stand in the centre.’

As Cailey crept between the easels her tear-drop bosoms were the only things in the whole room looking towards the floor. Even the fire gave a crackle and a flicker.

‘You must say if you want to do something different,’ I had to get this class started ASAP, ‘but I was thinking of six short poses to loosen everyone up?’

‘Right ya. This kind of thing do?’

Cailey was lunging forwards, posed with her arms up in the air. A trained dancer I’m sure, no normal person has balance as good as this. Her figure was taut and the light streaming in the windows sculpted her every muscle. This room was perfect.

‘Yes. That’s ideal. Now, everyone, I’d like you to draw each short pose on the same sheet of paper. Try to get down the essentials of the figure, don’t get tied up in the detail. Fluency is the thing here and lightning response.’

Jane exhaled loudly and Felicity asked if she could start.

‘Yes, yes, get going. I want you to trace the outline of the body, get a feel for the extension of the limbs.’

I made sure not to mention Cailey’s name, referring to her as an object not a person in the hopes it would help everyone concentrate.

It seemed to be working…

‘Next pose please.’

‘I haven’t finished,’ said Rupert.

‘It’s about practising not finishing. Don’t worry. There will be a long pose after the break. These ones are just to get you going.’

Giles, Shane, Minty and Lianne drew fast. The scratching sound of their charcoal on paper intimidating the less experienced others who were, in my opinion, spending too much time looking and not enough drawing.

‘Rapid sketches,’ I said. ‘One, two, three, it doesn’t matter how many, just get your hand working. Another pose please.’

‘This okay?’ Cailey was crouching down with one leg extended.

‘Perfect. Just great. Thank you.’ She really was an excellent model.

‘Susie?’ said Rupert.

I went to his side.

‘I don’t know how to tackle this.’

Cailey’s leg was shooting out straight at him, her crotch only just obscured by a conveniently placed thigh.

‘Foreshortening is hard.’ I stood behind him so as I could get a better view. ‘Don’t worry about the scale, just focus on the movement, get the muscles down. You can work on accuracy later.’

‘Thanks.’

Jane’s hand was down by her side, she’d given up. Time for a new pose. I got Cailey to perch on the chaise longue.

‘If you can keep your back straight, Cailey, that’d be great. I want the class to focus on your centre of gravity.’

‘Sure thing.’

When the exercise came to an end, everyone gave their drawing hands a good shake. I nodded at Cailey who disappeared behind the screen. Two seconds and she was back, pulling a satin dressing gown over her shoulders and not bothering to tie up the belt.

‘Miss,’ said Shane, ‘I’m going to the toilet.’

Jane and Felicity left the room too.

‘We’ll start again at half past ten. Moving into a long pose. Come, Cailey, let’s work it out.’

‘Can she lie down?’ said Minty.

‘Everyone okay with that?’

Five heads nodded.

‘Chuck us a cushion,’ said Cailey. ‘This settee’s rock ’ard. Don’t half smell too.’

‘Moth balls,’ said Giles.

‘Hang on a minute, I’ll go get a quilt from my car – it’s comfy and it’ll definitely smell better.’

‘Cheers,’ said Cailey, and I left the room.

The sky was bright blue, the air crisp, and the cold hit me as I stepped outside. I rushed down the outdoor staircase full of glee that the class, so far, seemed to be going well. Louis had blithely ploughed his own furrow, drawing body parts on several bits of paper, but the rest of them had taken my instruction on board and drawn rapidly on one piece of paper.

A clapped-out Peugeot squeaked into the yard. Zoe was behind the wheel. Presumably back from visiting Stuart.

‘Hi,’ I waved as she parked next to my car.

‘Hi, Susie.’ She heaved a huge sigh as she got out. ‘This buzz-box is hopeless in the snow. I’m so glad it’s melting.’

Then, looking at my flat tyre, she joked, ‘It’s jolly lucky you made it here last night.’

‘Yes, isn’t it. I was going to tell you about that later.’

‘Well, if you don’t need to get away before, we’ll make sure it’s sorted by Friday.’

‘How kind, thank you.’

‘Class going okay?’

‘Oh yes, great. I’m just getting something from my car.’

‘Well, if you’ve time can I have a quick word?’

I stopped with surprise. Had I done something wrong already?

‘It won’t take long, it’s just I wanted to mention Fergus’s brother to you, in confidence.’

‘Of course.’

‘Ewen lives in a cottage down the back drive. He has done for years, although I’m sure he’ll move on one day. He’s very nice, I like him a lot,’ – I’m detecting a bit of tension between Ewen and Fergus – ‘but it’s quite like him to decide he wants to join the course and I don’t think that would be a good idea.’

‘Okay,’ I said, a little confused why I was being told.

‘I just feel that for our paying residents it’s unfair if family get to do it for free.’

‘I quite understand.’

‘Thanks, Susie, I knew you would. He’s coming to dinner tonight,’ Zoe looked happy at the thought, ‘and if he mentions