Tag Archives: traditional portraiture for alternative lifestyles

Drawing Sadie Lune for The Longest Night.

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Sadie Lune on the Longest Night December 21 2022 by Suzanne ForbesA collaboration with Eternal Muse Sadie Lune for the Winter Solstice.

When I was working at Wicked Grounds in 2009 I was introduced to the Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey. Everyone at work was a fan! Prominent in the extremely kinky and queer series are the Servants of Naamah, a church and religion of sex worker priests and priestesses. It was the perfect fantasy series for the kinky queers and sex workers of Wicked Grounds!

Sadie Lune on the Longest Night December 21 2022 by Suzanne ForbesCelebrating the Longest Night in the Court of Night Blooming Flowers is a theme in the books.

I had always wanted to do a Winter Solstice session inspired by that feeling of luxury and sworker power, and this year we managed to organize it! Sadie absolutely stunned and amazed with her makeup and styling.

Previous collabs with Sadie Lune:

The Lamp of Spring

My latest IRL portrait of Sadie, on a very cold Fall day.

Vampire Baby Jesus

Sadie in Thistle and Spire

Book release party for “As You Wish, my Lady” – vanilla

Book release party for “As You Wish, my Lady” – NSFW

Sadie’s piece in the Coven show at Schwules Museum

Sadie’s pregnancy photo shoot, documented

Vampire Lesbians of Neukoelln – NFSW

Diptych portrait of Sadie Lune and Jo Pollux

You can learn about Sadie’s work on her (NSFW) website. And here’s her Insta, and her twitter . My flickr gallery of drawings and paintings of Sadie is here!

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue making art as a homebound disabled person.

With your support, I can work from home or safely outside and keep telling the stories of Berlin.

Art archives: St. Paul cafe drawings!

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St Paul cafe drawing by Suzanne Forbes working as Rachel Ketchum circa 1990 1I started seriously drawing in cafes or coffee shops in 1990.

I finally got into the habit of having a sketchbook with me at all times, not just most of the time, once I had a car!

St Paul cafe drawing by Suzanne Forbes working as Rachel Ketchum circa 1990And I had a teacher at MCAD who said the best way to draw the figure confidently was to draw “in situ“, constantly.

Good advice! Seriously, look at the foot of that little girl.

St Paul restaurant drawing by Suzanne Forbes working as Rachel Ketchum circa 1990I drew everywhere I went.

And as a person in early sobriety, it was the perfect way to be comfortable in social situations.

Self portrait with Day by Day cafe cruising map 1991 by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesThe Day by Day Cafe!

Such a part of sober life in St. Paul back then. And even now, I think? Also, as indicated in this drawing, a total cruising spot for me and all my gay friends 🙂

Minneapolis Dunn Bros 5 29 91 by Suzanne Forbes working as Rachel KetchumI lived near Dunn Bros, worked at Dunn Bros, hung out at Dunn Bros.

The coffee was incredible. This is from 1991.

homage a degas 1990 by Suzanne Forbes working as Rachel Ketchum

This homage to Degas is one of my favorite cafe drawings ever.

Dunn Bros, 1990.

Denise and Zora March 15 1994 at Music City Cafe by Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesThere were other sober hangouts, like the Music City Cafe.

This is my friend Denise and her daughter Zora there, 1994. Children have never been my specialty!

musicians at Music City Cafe St Paul Jan 4 1991 Rachel Ketchum aka Suzanne ForbesI also did a whole series of drawings of musicians in cafes during this time, like this one at Music City Cafe.

You can see some more of them here on flickr, in my Musicians album. Later coffee shop drawings are here.

Most of these drawings had never been scanned or uploaded; until now, no online record of them existed – if we had a fire or flood they would just be gone forever.

I am so grateful to my Patrons on Patreon, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to take time to document my art archives.