Free Drop in Drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

by Miriam Schulman
A few times this year I have visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their drop in drawing program. This is FREE with your museum admission and one of the best kept artist secrets in the city. The best part about it --besides being free-- is that they supply everything, and I mean everything for you. You are given a canvas stool, a drawing board, charcoal pencils, erasers and paper. While you are drawing docents circulate and replace your worn down pencils with fresh ones. When you are finished drawing you can help yourself to wipes for your hands and they have bags to carry away your masterpieces. For the beginners, or the intermediate art students there is even an instructor who provides a drawing instruction based which will focus on one technique. The first time I did it they were meeting in the Oceania exhibition which includes arts of Africa and New Guinea and the instructor took advantage of the three dimensional artworks to give instruction on positive and negative spaces. The next time I visited the same instructor was back, but this time she focused on "framing" the artwork and even passed out cardboard slide holders that students could use to crop images visually. Both times the quiet of the museum and the stress free environment led to creative inspirations. If you are interested in going to the Museum for the next program, whether because you live near the city or are planning a visit in the future, check out the information below.

Next scheduled event:

Metropolitan Museum of Art - drop in drawing
May 20, 2011
Jessica Houston (instructor)

Rooms with a View

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, 1st floor
Free with Museum admission

PS The museum also has a similar event for teens! There is a drop in drawing for teens on saturdays ( of course the teens are also welcome to the adult class above, and both times I went there were mature children with their parents.)

Here is information for your tween/teen
Metropolitan Museum of Art- Teen Saturday Sketching

Saturday Sketching (Ages 11–18)


Sit in front of original works of art in the Museum's galleries and sketch with an artist-instructor. You are encouraged to experiment with individual drawing styles and approaches. Drop in for all or any part of the session.
May 14, 2011

Ancient America

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Uris Center for Education, ground floor
Free with Museum admission
Back to Art Blog for The Inspiration Place