Dr Sketchy Anti-Art School

A Nightmare Before Christmas Dr. Sketchy’s Las Vegas night

2012-12-17T15:50:20+00:00

May 17, 2012 Las Vegas Event

2012-05-13T21:24:35+00:00

May 17 2012 - At the ARTIFICE - 8pm to 11pm

February 16, 2012 Dr. Sketchy’s Las Vegas

2012-02-15T03:10:17+00:00

November 17, 2011 7pm to 10pm

2011-12-16T03:00:22+00:00

December 15, 2011 Dr. Sketchy’s Las Vegas

2011-12-08T17:38:23+00:00

Come join us at Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Las Vegas for a night of Drinking, Drawing, some prizes and debauchery. Cha Cha Velour the Burlesque Beauty, Tattooed Cutie will be our model for the evening!

Tonight! Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Las Vegas

2011-10-20T16:39:20+00:00

Thursday August 11, 2011 - 8 to 11pm

2011-08-08T12:25:22+00:00

Our August Session in Las Vegas. Hope to see you there!

July 19, 2011 8pm to 11pm

2011-07-16T23:55:42+00:00

Article in The Las Vegas Weekly on-line

2010-07-22T23:53:36+00:00

Sexy Sketching by April Corbin Mon, Jun 7, 2010 (12:50 p.m.) Dames, drawing, drinking and debauchery. The four Ds of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School are easy to spot. Drinks, especially sangria, flow naturally at Firefly inside the Plaza Hotel. The dame in question is local burlesque performer Vi Vacious, who is lying on her back on the ground, faux fur shawl around her shoulders, breasts pert and covered only by shimmering pasties. She sits, legs crossed and propped up on a chair, posing for the group, which draws the curvy model. As for debauchery — well, this all feels far too much fun to be that productive. But it is. The Vegas chapter of this monthly life/figure drawing group debuted at the 2008 Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. Today, it's back, unofficially celebrating two full years of the group's unique marriage of titillating burlesque performers and art. This outfit's creator and host, Cha Cha Velour, heard about the national Dr. Sketchy's movement and decided to create a Vegas group in order to help educate the local fine art community about burlesque. Despite the city's rich history in the art of near-nudity and tease, it's a small community, one that often has to remind people it exists. For the rotating burlesque performers who participate, it's a chance for exposure, literally and figuratively. Each session begins with a routine. Seeing the final products, including what the artists emphasize or focus on, is also interesting, as Vi Vacious says. Meanwhile, the artists get a mini-show and practice at their chosen medium. The theatrical nature of burlesque leads to interesting costuming and artistic challenges for budding artists. With Vi Vacious today there's the barely visible lines of her nude-colored leggings, the shimmering of her pasties and tassels, the ruffle of faux fur, the shadows forming a gulf between her exposed breasts. "This is the perfect place for people coming into their art," says Jay Sin, a Dr. Sketchy's art monkey (as the participants are called). The amateur photographer has been here from the beginning and has missed only three dates in two years. Today's special Burlesque Hall of Fame meeting has them at Firefly inside the Plaza Casino, where the rest of the weekend's festivities are occurring. Typically, the group meets every third Tuesday at Dino's Lounge, where drink and food specials abound. The events are free, though a tip jar for the model does make rounds. Just over two dozen artists participate today, but some sessions have brought out 30 to 40 artists. Jay Sin remembers the group's humble beginnings, including one month where attendance was four: him, Cha Cha, the model and the model's sister. "We wound up doing stick-figure contests," he recalls, "because everyone knew none of us could really draw." Local burlesque dancer Vi Vacious performs during Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, held at Firefly during the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. Those silly contests have lived on. In addition to the model picking her personal favorite after the 20-minute pose, Cha Cha sometimes hosts PlayDoh sculpture contests. Shitty prizes — "courtesy of me and the 99-cent store," Cha Cha proudly proclaims — are given to winners. Today's prizes include a Dr. Sketchy's button, a Slinky and something called "bitch soap." "I try to encourage everyone to have fun," Cha Cha Velour says. "I tell them, 'Move if you need to. Talk! You can talk!'" And you can joke. Sessions typically run three hours and within the first hour, the host already has bragged about the new mic she's purchased, had the bartenders introduce themselves and taken musical requests ("Slayer!" someone shouts). Cha Cha also asks the crowd to "give a round of applause for Vi Vacious' breasts." Not surprisingly, everyone was happy to oblige.

Nick Nocita, left, and Dave de Luna draw burlesque model “Vi Vacious” at Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School workshop during the 20th annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend Saturday, June 5, 2010. Photo: Sam Morris

Photo: April Corbin Local burlesque dancer Vi Vacious performs during Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, held at Firefly during the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend.

Photo: April Corbin Dr. Sketchy's participant (called an art monkey) sketches Vi Vacious while she poses during a 20-minute session.

Photo: Sam Morris Burlesque dancer Vi Vacious poses at Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School.

Las Vegas Dr. Sketchy’s in the View News

2010-07-22T23:49:02+00:00

Anti-Art School

By AMANDA LLEWELLYN VIEW STAFF WRITER

F. ANDREW TAYLOR/VIEWContortionist Stephanie Castellone poses for artists during the April Dr. Sketchy?s Anti-Art School life drawing session. The sessions are offered the third Tuesday of each month at Dino?s Lounge. F. ANDREW TAYLOR/VIEWDr. Sketchy?s Anti-Art School Las Vegas coordinator Cha Cha Velour announces competition categories during the April session. F. ANDREW TAYLOR/VIEWContortionist and circus performer Stephanie Castellone poses in repose during the April Dr. Sketchy?s Anti-Art School life drawing session at Dino?s Lounge.

Burlesque performer Cha Cha Velour considers herself an ambassador of all things pleasureful and debaucherous. Tightly clutching an all-tease, no-sleaze attitude as though it were a shiny, new designer handbag, the longtime Las Vegas resident said her goal is to herald the promise and splendor of artistic expression to the masses while gaining some notoriety as a performer.

It was the quest for that notoriety that led Velour to pursue rights to host the infamous Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, which began in New York in 2005 and is now known internationally.

The life-drawing class features games, prizes and a burlesque or performance art model, who performs and then poses for photographers, artists and barflies during a three-hour drawing session.

A registered cardiology nurse by day and renegade tattooed striptease artist by night, Velour said she understands the plight of Clark Kent, Superman's alter ego.

"All the mystery adds to the notoriety and mystique of what I do, though," she said.

The Las Vegas Dr. Sketchy's, which meets from 7 to 10 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month, has been going for nearly two years but recently gained a new home in the form of the trendy, downtown karaoke hotspot Dino's Lounge, 1516 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

"We were at The Aruba for the longest time, but late last year this opportunity presented itself and I had to jump at it," Velour said. "Dino's is a great place, and I think it has just the right ambience for what we're trying to accomplish with these events."

Admission is free. Velour said participants don't need to be professional artists, but they do need to be 21 or older.

Velour said Dr. Sketchy's events are so well-known in burlesque communities around the world that running the Las Vegas incarnation earns her instant recognition among fellow striptease artists.

"I introduce myself and tell people that I run the event here, and they immediately know what I'm talking about," she said. "Then they know that I'm the real deal."

Velour said her motivation for hosting the event is not purely for self-promotion.

"I think we need more events like this in Las Vegas," she said. "It exposes people to something new. It gives performers a venue to show their stuff, and it promotes the arts. It's all good."

Contortionist and circus performer Stephanie Castellone said the April event was the first time she'd had an opportunity to pose for the class but that she would love to do it again.

"It was a really great gig," she said.

Castellone said she has been friends with Velour for a long time and was thrilled when the burlesque beauty opted to plug her into the model spot for the month.

"It's the kind of event that caters to artists and photographers," she said. "They get to practice their skills. Even the amateurs get excited, and there's a great vibe. I plan to pose again towards the end of the year."

Velour said models are not nude, and at the very least they wear pasties and a G-string.

"Usually, there's a performance and then a posing session in one costume, a break, and then the model comes back in another costume," she said.

Velour said she has yet to see anyone bring paints or sculpting tools to the event, but such mediums would be welcome.

"There's drinking, drawing, games and debauchery," she said. "That's kind of our motto."

For more information about Dr. Sketchy's nationally, visit www.drsketchy.com. For details about the local Dr. Sketchy's, visit lasvegasdrsketchys.blogspot. com, twitter.com/lvdrsketchys or www.facebook.com/pages/las-vegas-dr-sketchys-anti-art-school/457245525211.

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.