Studio 316a

Studio 316a Thursday night drawing group’s first-ever model

Another Thursday night pose

A new Thursday night life-drawing group started this week at the studio of Matthew Gonzalez. The Studio 316a Drawing Group can be found online at www.meetup.com/studio-316a-rabbit-road-drawing-group.

Even though this was the first official meeting of the Studio 361a Thursday night drawing group, Matthew has a long history of starting and hosting successful drawing groups in Santa Fe.

Studio 316a is located at 316a Rabbit Road. I plan to add Studio 316a to my regular weekly drawing-group schedule, especially since it’s just seven tenths of a mile from home. No turns, no traffic, no stop signs or traffic lights. Just an occasional rabbit between here and there.

Thinker

Thinker
Charcoal on newsprint

Three Poses

Three of about 20 poses from a recent life drawing group. This model makes every pose look classic. Even upside-down.    

Muscular

Muscular Model
Charcoal on newsprint

Last week’s model looked a lot like me. 

Two arms, two legs, white hair . . .  

that’s about it.

Botanical Gardens

Rock Sculptures at Santa Fe Botanical Gardens

Original: acrylic on watercolor paper
Digital print on paper
22" x 18"

Plein aire painting with friends at Santa Fe Botanical Gardens.

Shoulder Accent

Shoulder Accent

Drawing the Wednesday night model brought back memories of going to Prayer Meeting at the First Baptist Church every Wednesday night when I was growing up. 

To help pass the time I would draw. 

I still draw on Wednesday nights, but the drawings would probably get me banned from Prayer Meeting. 

I’m totally okay with that.

Arched Back

Leaning Back

Unfinished Feet

Unfinished Feet
Digital print from original charcoal on paper life drawing

Mermaid Tavern Sign

New signage for the Mermaid Tavern

Our house is known as the Mermaid Tavern. It’s not a real tavern, at least not one that makes money, but there are similarities: a well stocked bar, food, regular visitors, late night events, an outdoor patio, etc.

The name comes from a 16th century tavern in London, which was located at the corner of Friday Street and Bread Street. A monthly meeting of notable writers, poets, and thinkers, known as The First Friday Club used to meet there on the first Friday of every month. Therefore, the monthly gathering that happens here at our Mermaid Tavern on the first Friday of every month to read a Shakespearean play is also called The First Friday Club. 

Back Lighting

Back Lighting
Charcoal on newsprint

Tuesday Male Model

Tuesday Male Model

Cloth with Fringe

Cloth with Fringe

To morrow

To morrow
Digital print on aluminum
40" x 24"

She should have died hereafter;

There would have been a time for such a word.

To morrow, and to morrow, and to morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle,

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by and idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

This sounds like the sort of thing a Scottish king from long ago would say who’s just been told his wife is dead and is having issues with a forest moving towards his castle while some guy who was untimely ripped from his mother’s womb wants to kill him. In fact, pretty much everyone in Scotland wants to kill him. No wonder he’s talkin’ crazy. But, crazy or not, those Scottish king guys sure are eloquent.

Wednesday Poses

Wednesday Poser
20" x 12"
Digital Print from original life drawing

Rough Sketch

Rough Sketch
Conté pencil on white paper

Upside-down again

Iglesia

Iglesia San Jose
20" x 16"
Digital print from original oil painting

Iglesia San Jose is located in Los Cerrillos, New Mexico, a small village 30 minutes southwest of Santa Fe, that used to be a thriving town of miners with 21 saloons and four hotels. Now it's a semi-ghost town with a small residential population and a dusty, barely-open bar named Mary's Bar. And a Catholic church, Iglesia San Jose (St. Joseph’s Church).

Several movies have been filmed in Los Cerrillos (The Small Hills), including Young Guns and Vampires. 

Poster version

Pillowed Face

Pillowed Face

Spikey Hair and Earrings

Spikey Hair and Earrings
Charcoal on newsprint

Strands of Hair

Stray Strands of Hair
20 x 16
Digital print from original charcoal drawing

Toppled Stool

Toppled Stool
Digital print from original charcoal drawing on white paper

In the Zone

In the Zone
Digital print from original charcoal on newsprint life drawing

In the zone. The nude model zone. Not me. Her.