Life Drawing Live with Rove McManus

Hosted by triple Gold Logie winner Rove McManus, Life Drawing Live will draw the nation together for a live two-hour TV event on Saturday 4 July at 8.30pm on SBS. 

Rove will be joined in studio by a group of amateur artists, including some famous faces, to sketch live life models as they strike various poses. 

Guided by some of the country's leading art experts, artists will complete a series of life drawing exercises before attempting to capture a challenging final scene. 

Viewers are invited to pick up their pencils and draw along in real-time and be guided by Australia's best. For those wanting to participate, a Pose Cam will provide an uninterrupted stream of the life models via sbs.com.au/lifedrawinglive.

BS is encouraging home viewers to share drawings on social using #SBSLifeDrawingLive or via email at lifedrawinglive@sbs.com.au for the chance to have their artwork featured during the broadcast and analysed by our experts. 

Rove McManus said: "I studied a fine art degree, so I am no stranger to life drawing, but that was a long time ago, so I am more than a bit rusty. We all drew as kids, but I never stopped. I even managed to make a job of it illustrating my own kid's books. Life Drawing Live gives everyone at home a chance to sharpen their pencils and have a go." 

SBS Director of TV and Online Content, Marshall Heald said: "Whether you're participating or spectating, Life Drawing Live will be instructive, inclusive and entertaining. SBS will explore the role of drawing and art in reflecting our culture. Life models will be drawn from a range of Australian experiences and backgrounds and artists will be a diverse group of enthusiastic amateurs with various skill levels."   

CJZ Head of Comedy and Entertainment, Damian Davis said: "A lot of us have wanted to emerge from this lockdown with a new life skill, and this is the perfect chance to gain one and to be entertained along the way. This is the nation's biggest ever Life Drawing class, completely live and unrehearsed. We can't wait to see the results from our in-studio rookie drawers and from everyone at home.

On Saturday 11 and 18 July at 8.30pm, SBS will broadcast Life Drawing UK from the BBC. Presenter and artists Josie d'Arby will be joined by some of the UK's leading art experts and special guests. Viewers are invited to hone their life drawing skills with the uninterrupted stream of the life models available via sbs.com.au/lifedrawinglive.

Life Drawing Live is produced by CJZ for SBS. It is based on a format created by Avanti Media and broadcast by the BBC in the UK.