She sat there on the bench. Twelve pairs of eyes were fixated on her every part. Twelve hands studied her every curve. Twelve artists lifted their pens, pencils and pastels to take part in the figure drawing co-op.

The figure drawing co-op is an open studio session in which students and nonstudents alike can attend, for a small fee, to draw a model, sometimes nude, sometimes clothed.

The Biological/Premedical Illustration Club-sponsored program launched in 1995 to help students in the major gain extra practice drawing human figures.

“One of the requirements for their portfolios when applying to graduate schools is lots of figure drawing,” said Dean Biechler, faculty adviser of the BPMI Club. “There was not a lot of outside opportunity for them to do figure drawing, so we set up the BPMI co-op where they could get extra practice,” he said.

Wade Furlong, junior in art and design, learned about the co-op from Biechler.

“I thought it would help my figure-drawing since that is what I am focusing on,” Furlong said as he penned a few more lines on his drawing.

Furlong said he is not sure whether the co-op sessions or his figure-drawing classes are better.

“It depends on the teacher,” Furlong said. “Some teachers come [to the sessions] and it gives us an opportunity to watch them work because in class they may do a demonstration but that is all.

“The co-op is a really comfortable environment too.”

Gene Figura, retired ISU professor, said the co-op provides a good opportunity for new students.

“This would be an ideal time for them to work on their skills,” Figura said.

“There is no pressure on them and no one is telling them how to do this or how to do that.”

Figura, who also paints at home, comes to the sessions regularly to practice his painting skills.

“This is just kind of working in remembering how to look at the figure,” he said.

This is the first time for high-school senior Diane Tate from Coon Rapids-Bayard High School near Carroll.

“A friend of mine works on the ISU campus and told me about this,” Tate said. “This is my first session and hopefully the first of many.”

Tate massaged more graphite into her drawing of the seated model.

“I am really enjoying this,” Tate said.

The co-op is usually in the Design Center, but Biechler, with the help of University Museums curator Matthew Delay and program assistant Allison Sheridan, has organized some special free sessions in the Brunnier Gallery.

“[The Brunnier sessions] are free because it is part of our programming,” Sheridan said. “Really, at any time, anyone can come into the gallery and draw but this is a special event because we have a model.”

Sheridan said the model is clothed during the Brunnier sessions, though, as it is in a public place.

The model at the Brunnier sessions, Hanna Vedmid, sophomore in marketing, said she and a friend originally applied to be nude models at the Design Center, though time conflicts prevented her from taking the job.

Vedmid, who is minoring in art, said Biechler e-mailed her looking for co-op models.

“I want to model because it is a paying job that is not full time and it gives me a chance to see how other people do their art,” Vedmid said. “I would like to do graphic design sometime but I cannot yet, so this is a good chance to see everyone else work.”

Biechler said attendance averages around ten people per session.

“Sometimes I am disappointed more students do not use the co-op,” Biechler said. “It is a great opportunity and a great resource.”

Furlong said he will continue to do outside figure-drawing sessions on into graduate school.

“I plan on moving on to an art institute and if they do not have a co-op I will definitely find a way to keep at it,” he said.

The co-op, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in room 246 of the Design Center, is open to the public for a $5 fee.

Brunnier will host the co-op April 11 and April 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; those sessions are free.