Drawing workshops
online and in the heart of
Northern New Mexico
Drawing Canyon, Sage, and Sky
Drawing workshops
online and in the heart of
Northern New Mexico
Drawing Canyon, Sage, and Sky
Surrounded by piñon and juniper, complex geological formations, endless cloudscapes and Milky Way skies, this high desert environment is open for sensory discovery through drawing. Artist Agnes Martin called this region of New Mexico her home, working in concert with the terrain. Here, we set up portable studios within badlands and sage fields, gather earth pigments, handcraft charcoal and natural paints, and expand drawing practice through tutorials and independent studio work, all as connected to the experience of place.
Online workshops bring the raw elements of the high desert to your home studio via interactive studio sessions.
In-person residential workshops span five full days and six evenings, and are designed for practicing artists keen to connect their materials to the land.
1) Cañon del Rio Immersive Drawing Retreat: May 23 - 29, 2024 - $3450/person all inclusive
2) New Mexico Drawing Intensive: May 31 - June 6, 2024 - Details to be announced in October 2023
Working with artist and professor Sara Schneckloth, participants come away with fresh techniques, a body of mixed-media drawings, relationships with new colleagues, and the experience of being immersed in the open air, vast silence, and remarkable natural diversity of this singular landscape. Together, we explore stunning field locations and generate drawings that embody the land and sky of Northern New Mexico, with natural materials as our guide, engaging in botanical and geological drawing through all the senses.
Online Workshops
In live online workshops, we draw with natural materials and geological specimens gathered in New Mexico and sent to your home. Sessions are fully interactive, and combine demonstrations, materials exploration, and professional dialogue. You'll receive a shipment of art supplies, natural pigments, and diverse stones to work from in one- or two-day workshops. These sessions are geared toward artists at any level seeking to deepen their drawing practice, engage with natural materials, and meet new colleagues, as we work between the high desert and your studio.
Residential Workshops
The residential art workshops combine field and geological drawing, tutorials, independent art production, and professional dialogue. The residential sessions are geared toward experienced artists seeking to deepen their drawing practice, craft and work with natural materials, meet colleagues with shared interests, and be immersed in the landscape of this less-traveled corner of New Mexico.
Maximum enrollment is six. Admission by rolling application until filled. **Proof of Covid-19 vaccination and negative daily antigen tests (kits provided) are required to participate in the workshop.**
The Setting
The workshops are based at a retreat center just outside the town of Jemez Springs (alt. 7000'). We venture to nearby canyons, forests, and mesas, where we hike, gather raw materials and set up directly within the environment for drawing sessions. We alternate field drawing with tutorials and independent studio work back at the center. The field locations are chosen for their blend of remoteness and accessibility, sweeping vistas, rich color, and abundance of compelling natural forms.
The Workshop Site
Lodging and Cuisine
The Workshop Site
Our base of operations in Jemez Springs, Cañon del Rio is a spacious and comfortable lodge with private rooms, individual work spaces, large terraces, river access, and panoramic views of the surrounding mesas.
Creative Director
Lodging and Cuisine
The Workshop Site
Sara Schneckloth's studio practice brings together art and science with an abiding love for the southwestern landscape. She has taught drawing professionally for twenty years and her mixed-media artworks have featured in over ninety exhibitions worldwide.
Lodging and Cuisine
Lodging and Cuisine
Lodging and Cuisine
Lodging is on-site in a private room with private bath. Six nights of lodging, chef-prepared dinners, fresh and healthy buffet lunches and continental breakfasts are included in the price of the workshops and retreats.
The Region
Application
Lodging and Cuisine
The region is ideal for hiking (including the Continental Divide Trail), biking, and exploring the nearby badlands. Jemez Springs is located 60 miles from the Albuquerque International Sunport and is an easy drive.
FAQ
Application
Application
Do I need a vehicle? What is the weather like? The altitude? What materials do I need to bring?
These and more can be found below.
Application
Application
Application
Applications for the residential workshop will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with acceptance based on experience, portfolio, and stated interests.
Online workshops do not require an application.