Our Story

What began as an informal meet-up group gathering every third Sunday at The Red Victorian on Haight Street has grown into a thriving creative community. When the hostel closed, we found our home at Monument, where we've been rooted for the past decade.

Over the years, we've evolved from simple drawing sessions into immersive, multisensory experiences. We began collaborating with performance artists and musicians, inviting friends who curated wine selections and prepared food, always scheming up new ways to engage all the senses. Our programming expanded to include weekly uninstructed figure drawing sessions where artists of all levels practice life drawing in community, learning from the experience itself and from fellow artists.

We also host occasional instructional workshops led by talented members of our own community, and created the Shibari & Pole series to highlight and support sex workers, kink workers, and pole dancing hobbyists.

We collaborate with local nonprofit institutions like Ruth's Table and museums like Oakland Museum of California Arts, and have presented at panels including Comic-Con San Diego.

Our programming extends beyond drawing sessions. We provide professional development workshops covering topics like grant writing, how to print and frame your work, and other essential skills for practicing artists. We also organize art markets and curate group art shows, creating opportunities for artists to exhibit and share their work with the broader community.

Sketchboard is our love letter to creating in community.