For centuries, art students sketched the nude human body to sharpen their eye and hone their skills. But you don't have to be a budding Michelangelo to join the life drawing class tomorrow at the Maryland Science Center.

 As part of its Body Worlds 2 exhibition, the center is giving everyone with an interest in drawing a chance to try their hand at sketching the human figure using male and female models hired for the occasion as well as the plastinated human specimens featured in the show.

"People can come in, sketch the plastinates and compare them with live nude models posing beside them," says Christopher Cropper, the center's senior director of marketing. "Like the exhibition itself, the goal is to give people a greater appreciation of the beauty of the human body."

Cropper says that since the show opened in February, dozens of artists have visited the center during regular hours to sketch the specimens on display.

"We wanted to set aside an extended period to give more people an opportunity to draw in the galleries," Croppers says, adding that he expects 100-150 artists, amateur and professional, to attend the event, which runs 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

The center recruited four professional models for Tuesday's event through the Maryland Institute College of Art, Cropper said.

Admission to the life drawing class is $19 for adults and $16.50 for students. Participants must bring their own art supplies to be admitted. The center is at 601 Light St. For more information, call 410-685-5225 or go here.

Above: Sun photo of the BodyWorlds 2 exhibit by Glenn Fawcett