Soft Eyes Art Social: A Drawing Community
In the quiet hum of a Brooklyn evening, a small group gathers in the studio of artist Jean-Pierre Roy. Easels are positioned. Pencils are sharpened, and paint palettes are freshly laid out with color. The model finds the pose, the music comes on, and for four hours, time slows. This is Soft Eyes Art Social—a life drawing group born from a desire to build community through creativity.
As an artist, I stumbled into Soft Eyes during a season of personal turmoil. After the end of a 15-year relationship and marriage, I felt adrift—grieving not only the loss of a partner but the version of myself that existed within that shared life. I was looking for a way forward. What I found was something unexpectedly powerful: a room filled with artists focused not on perfection, but on presence.
Painting in progress by Jean-Pierre Roy
The Power of Drawing with “Soft Eyes”
The name Soft Eyes says everything. It's a phrase used in drawing to describe a relaxed, receptive gaze—one that takes in the whole without obsessing over details. But it also describes the emotional atmosphere of the group: open, accepting, and quietly courageous.
Founded by Jean-Pierre Roy, an accomplished painter and educator, the group was conceived not as a class or a performance, but as a space for serious, soulful practice. Here, beginners work next to professionals. Conversation flows as naturally as the charcoal and paint. And the only real requirement is a willingness to show up.
Two of my earlier drawings in progress.
Finding Myself Again Through Art
When I first attended in October 2024, I was looking for an outlet that would help me center myself and fill in the hours of feeling alone. I had known about the group since it began in April 2023 and at that moment I thought this would be a good thing for me to do. It was the right moment. I didn’t expect the act of figure drawing to become so healing. But there's something profoundly grounding about observing another human body with total focus—how the light hits the clavicle, the curve of a wrist, the quiet rise and fall of a breath. In drawing others, I slowly began to rediscover myself.
With each session, I produced more work than I had in months. My skills sharpened, my confidence returned, and perhaps most importantly, I began forming new connections—with fellow artists who are talented, generous, and deeply dedicated to their craft. After each session I left the studio with my head held high, not because I created a good drawing, but because I showed up for myself, I gave my soul a positive experience and feeling that made me realize that I would be OK as long as I keep leaning into art.
Why This Matters—for Artists and Collectors Alike
Soft Eyes is more than a drawing group—it's a microcosm of Brooklyn's vibrant creative soul. For collectors seeking to connect with emerging and established artists or acquire meaningful, emotionally resonant work, this is where the future of art is quietly unfolding.
Many of the artists who attend Soft Eyes, myself included, are creating bodies of work deeply influenced by the raw, honest practice of figure drawing. These aren’t just studies—they're seeds that blossom into finished paintings, intimate portraits, and concept-driven pieces that end up in galleries and private collections.
My drawing from Soft Eyes 60, January 2025
If you're new here, welcome! I invite you to explore the figure drawings I’ve made in the last few months here, and if you’re a collector, reach out. I’d love to share more about the stories behind each piece.
Left: Artists Kyle Andrew Phillips and Sebastian Deregibus at work, Right: Freshly laid out oil colors on a palette.
Sessions are held on most Friday nights in Jean-Pierre Roy’s studio in Brooklyn. It’s a safe space to sharpen your skills, meet like-minded creatives, and become part of something beautiful. Contact Soft Eyes Art Social here.
