Paria Shahverdi
Life Drawing
Weekly Sessions
February 19, 2026 – Ongoing
Thursdays, 6:00–9:00 PM | Free and Open to the Public
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Life Drawing is a free weekly gathering led by artist Paria Shahverdi, offering participants an opportunity to explore observational drawing from a live nude model in a welcoming, informal, and collaborative environment. Open to beginners, experienced artists, and anyone interested in drawing, the sessions encourage sustained looking, experimentation, and the development of individual approaches to representing the human figure.
Drawing on principles of contemporary classical figure drawing, participants are invited to explore gesture, contour, proportion, mass, volume, light, and tone through direct observation. The sessions encourage an attentive relationship between the eye, hand, and subject, allowing participants to develop their understanding of the figure through regular practice and exploration of different drawing techniques.
Shahverdi offers demonstrations, practical guidance, and individual feedback throughout the sessions, accommodating a wide range of experience and artistic interests. Participants are free to work independently, experiment with different approaches, or seek assistance as needed. There are no formal critiques or requirements to present one's work, allowing each person to engage with the practice at their own pace.
The class emphasizes the process of drawing, the cultivation of perception, and the confidence that develops through sustained observation. As an ongoing weekly gathering, it also provides a space for artists, students, and members of the wider community to come together through a shared creative practice.
Participation is entirely flexible. Visitors are welcome to attend individual sessions or return regularly, with no prior drawing experience or affiliation with Arts Letters & Numbers required. Drawing pads and basic materials are provided.
WHEN: Every Thursday, 6:00–9:00 PM
WHERE: Second Floor, Main Gallery, Main Studios, Arts Letters & Numbers | 1548 Burden Lake Road, Averill Park, NY
FORMAT: Weekly, three-hour drop-in life drawing sessions with a live nude model. Open to all experience levels, from beginners to professional artists. Demonstrations, individual guidance, and optional feedback are available. Drawing pads and basic supplies are provided. No registration or prior experience is required. Participants are encouraged to arrive 10 minutes early.
COST: Free and open to the public.
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Paria Shahverdi was born in Tehran, Iran, where she earned her first degree from the Fine Arts University. In 2004, she immigrated to Canada, where her artistic practice flourished. Her drawings were selected annually for the Toronto Annual Drawing Exhibition, marking her early recognition in Canada’s art scene.
In 2016 and 2018, Shahverdi presented solo exhibitions featuring her distinctive mixed-media series, earning critical attention and public acclaim. In 2017, she was awarded a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to support her second body of work, which received further recognition through interviews on CBC Radio and CBC Television. Her artwork, deeply rooted in personal and socio-political narratives, has been exhibited widely across Canada and Iran.
Shahverdi pursued her academic journey alongside her professional career, earning a second Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as an honorary student at York University. She later completed her Master of Fine Arts at York University, where her research focused on creation as a form of individual and critical artistic practice. Her work often explores themes of identity, displacement, resilience, and the lived experiences of women, drawing from her personal history and cross-cultural perspectives.
Today, Shahverdi continues to create, exhibit, and research as an independent artist, committed to producing work that bridges personal experience with broader cultural and political dialogues. Her practice integrates painting, drawing, and installation, inviting viewers into immersive narratives that reflect on freedom, struggle, and transformation.