Sketching centuries of faith in New Mexico

[Guest post by Erik Madsen in Santa Fe, New Mexico] Much of the history of the last 400 years in New Mexico can be defined by the churches, chapels, parishes and cathedrals. The early Spanish explorers and their priests brought Roman Catholicism to the new world. Architectural influence was primarily Spanish colonial, but in the mid 1800’s French priests began to arrive and brought the architecture of the French churches. The pueblo style of the Native American Indians is also found in many places of worship. All of this provides a wonderful backdrop and inspiration for the urban sketcher.

Many of the churches I sketch are in Santa Fe, while many others are a short drive away, making for great day trips. I never seem to tire of church sketching and revisit these subjects repeatedly. These sketches were done last fall using pen, ink and watercolors in Moleskine journals. Santa Cruz Catholic Church (above) is located on the east side of Española, New Mexico, in
an area once considered the center of Spanish Colonial New Mexico. This
church has been in continuous use for nearly 275 years, and is a cultural
masterpiece.

St. Joseph’s chapel is in the village of Cerrillos, New Mexico, half an hour south of Santa Fe. The church was completed in 1922 and is currently still in use. It is beautiful inside as well as out.

Built in the Mission Revival style, Our Lady of Light Chapel was completed in 1926 in Lamy, New Mexico. It is located 30 minutes south of Santa Fe in an old railroad village. Still a beautiful structure, the church was abandoned in the mid 1990’s and is in need of extensive repairs.

St. John the Baptist church is located on the north side of Española on the tribal land of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Completed in 1912 under the direction of a French priest, it is a bit of an oddity since all of the surrounding buildings are adobe and the church is red brick.

Loretto chapel in Santa Fe was completed in 1878. The Gothic Revival style is patterned after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. This sketch is a winter view that is not visible in the summer when the surrounding trees are in bloom.

Erik Madsen is a retired artist/sketcher living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Erik’s sketches can be seen on Flickr.