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Sometimes just hiring your own model to come to your studio works better than an art school's "open studio" anyway.
The open studio sessions near me are run by a guy who always wants to put the model directly under a big skylight so there's always a lot of unattractive shadowing under the eyes, etc. He wouldn't listen to my suggestions to reposition the model.
Last time I went he hired a guy to model who had the ugliest haircut I'd ever seen. I've painted lots of models and often the ones who have an "interesting" look are the best anyway. I'm not looking for fashion models. But the most accomplished painter couldn't have made that particular model look appealing!
If you set things up in your own studio, you choose the model, you control the lighting, costuming, pose, duration of sittings, etc.
You can ask a friend to pose in exchange for an 8 x 10 photo of the finished painting. Many people are very flattered to be asked. Or you can contact local babysitters and pay them whatever the going babysitting rate is. This gives you good practice for kids' portraiture which is, after all, two-thirds of the portrait market.
Of course, it's always nice to meet and learn from other local artists and a real "open studio" is great for that, if you can find the right fit.
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