artisan
Our work is an elegant statement of the West, of Native American design elements, and of those who have come before us.
We have been inspired by magnificent art, crafts, and artifacts and they lead us on our creative path. Elmo Baca describes that inspiration in his article called “Designing Women” in an issue of New Mexico Magazine, which celebrates ten New Mexico women in the design arts beginning with Mary Colter, Millicent Rogers, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Like the nine other women in the article, I too am influenced by what Baca describes so well when he writes,
Above / The Shop on Raven Ridge Road, Lamy
“Recently rediscovered, Mary Colter’s life and work is inspiration for all aficionados of Santa Fe Style, but especially for contemporary women seeking a romantic design attitude. Colter’s genius lay in fusing Native American design styles and forms in a romantic and eclectic way, creating rooms and buildings that seared into the viewer’s memory. As a staff architect for the national Park Service and also for the legendary hotelier Harvey of the Santa Fe Railroad, Colter produced buildings that have endured and are now recognized as masterpieces of Southwestern architecture.”
Elmo Baca
Our work is an elegant statement of the West, of Native American design elements, and of those who have come before us. Our furniture is included in Rio Grande High Style by Elmo Baca, Interior Furnishings Southwest By Sazanne Deats and John Villani, and Better Homes and Gardens Woodworking Projects.
TOP ROW ABOVE /Left to Right
Lightning Trunk w/hand carved wood applique and rope trim / Photo Al Payne
Western Loveseat w/hand carved ball finials and rope trim / Photo Al Payne
Western Dining Table w/Western Star Chairs / Photo Al Payne
BOTTOM ROW / Left to Right
Spanish Mustang Heirloom Wildlife Rocking Toy – Detail / Photo Connie Doughman
Eldorado Community School Library Furniture and Shelving / Photo Connie Doughman
Bison Heirloom Wildlife Rocking Toy / Photo Connie Doughman
Our studio in Lamy, NM produces art and wonderfully styled furniture that’s comfortable, durable, and designed to last for generations. The surfaces we create are inviting to touch, yet they seem old like an antique. Flintwood Ltd., Woodwright, and then Rock Ridge Studios created furniture, custom cabinets, architectural components, store fixtures, doors, and windows, as well as the design and construction/remodeling of buildings and homes.
The Doughman family has been in business together in the quiet rural setting of Lamy, New Mexico since 1975. Robin had an MFA degree and Connie has a BS degree in art education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Ryan has developed and fine-tuned their unique surfaces and finishes. They share a strong interest in art and history that is apparent in the furniture and houses they design and build.
Before we came to New Mexico we explored several places on an adventure of discovery. We spent a year, 1971/72 in Oberlin Ohio where I taught art. We were exposed to Shaker styles and sensibilities in Ohio. We moved to Massachusetts in 1972 for the art, architecture, history, and the sea. We absorbed all we could the year we were there. Robin worked for an engineering company where he met a man well versed in accomplishing what seemed like impossible tasks with ease and intelligence. At times it seemed almost magical, but it wasn’t. It was clear thinking. Bill’s mentoring was a guide for Robin the rest of his life. It was a factor in forming Robin’s ‘can do’ approach to projects and life in general.
In Salem, Massachusetts a large room of our spacious 2nd floor apartment was our studio. Robin continued to paint. My focus was poetry. My work was published in Gone Soft, a book edited by Alan Ginsburg. Robin showed locally. The seacoast was a wilderness like no other. As there are few coincidences, meeting Bill Martowsky, along with our exposure to old surfaces, ancient architecture, the Peabody Museum, and places like it were a year-long study program preparing us for our life’s work together.
A friend was convinced we needed to move to Santa Fe. He discovered a job opening at Santa Fe Door Company. An interview was arranged. We decided our friend might be right. We packed up our belongings, our son, our cat and made our way to the land of enchantment. Santa Fe Door sold to Lamphere Door and we ended up with the contract to build the doors and windows of the Loretto Hotel, our first job. Our business was launched. Our focus was on furniture, cabinets, doors, and art. We started a contracting business and built new structures, additions, and we remodeled houses. I started landscaping for Harvey Mudd in 1975. Later I worked on large landscaping projects with the Goulds, Bernard Pomerance, and Doug Lanham. We designed and built environments reflective of our design principles where our clients could live in a style that delivers comfort and contentment. We collaborated on nearly every project each of us had. Design was part of our vocabulary. Our body of work together covers nearly fifty years.
Our work can be seen at rockridgestudios.com and santafescreendoors.com.
BELOW / Left to Right
French Country Kitchen/Island, hardwood counters, cove moulding and utensil rack / Photo Michael Datoli
J. Koledin-Tenorio Job/Poplar-Southwest Deco 1988 / Photo Paula Hendricks
Hardwood cabinets w/painted island unit w/oak countertop / Photo Michael Datoli
Latilla Island and Alder Cabinets / Photo Michael Datoli
Custom Painted Alder Cabinets / Photo Michael Datoli
Custom Alder Vanity / Photo Michael Datoli
Robin was my buddy that I will miss dearly everyday.
He had stories that were remarkable about things he had done and experienced that really captured your attention. He lived a full and potent life. Robin was the kindest, gentlest, most compassionate person I have had the pleasure to know. I loved him.
Jaye Lasko
Robin was a friend. We worked, played, laughed-Talked about our families, dreams, lives-Cherished time, I miss him, but I will remember-
He's in my heart.
Andy Scharf
He was in his own way a true renaissance man.
Ann Luther Dexter
BELOW / Left to Right
Custom Screen Door w/salt cedar grill / Photo Paula Hendricks
Custom Screen/Storm Door w/salt cedar grill/ Photo Paula Hendricks
Custom Screen/Storm Door w/salt cedar grill / Photo Paula Hendricks
Exterior Pine ‘Rain’ Door / Photo Michael Datoli
Exterior Entrance Gate w/Speak Easy Door / Photo Michael Datoli
Exterior Entrance Gate w/Speak Easy Door w/custom handles and closers / Photo Michael Datoli
BELOW
First Village Addition-South façade w/entry / Photo Paula Hendricks
BELOW / Left to Right
FVA-view of auto-operational sky lights above chimney / Photo Paula Hendricks
First Village Addition-view from existing dining / Photo Paula Hendricks
FVA-view from balcony / Photo Paula Hendricks
FVA Fire place with Pueblo element chimney / Photo Paula Hendricks
FVA – Banister detail / Photo Paula Hendricks
FVA – Banister detail / Photo Paula Hendricks
NOTEWORTHY PROJECTS
Rio Grande Inn, Albuquerque, NM, reception desk, room furniture, lobby pieces, bar, restaurant furniture, executive and computer desks, and office furniture.
Roadrunner Casinos, Las Vegas, NV, restaurant furniture and accent pieces.
Neiman Marcus, heirloom rocking toys.
F.A.O Schwartz, heirloom rocking toys.
Halls, heirloom rocking toys.
Woodstone Custom Homes, Santa Fe, NM, custom hardwood cabinetry, awarded best craftsmanship, best kitchen, and other awards in the Santa Fe Parade of Homes for four consecutive years.
Major Development Inc., Santa Fe, NM, custom hardwood cabinetry, custom doors, architectural components, design services.
Harvey Day Construction, Santa Fe, NM, custom hardwood cabinetry, custom doors, custom pine flooring, architectural components, restaurant doors.
American Motor Inn, Albuquerque, NM, lobby pieces and room furniture.
Bazaar Del Mundo, San Diego, CA, bar furniture.
Loretto Hotel, Santa Fe, NM, doors, and windows.
Eldorado Elementary School, Santa Fe, NM, library furniture and shelving.
Girls Ranch, Lamy, NM, custom room furniture.
EXHIBITIONS
Gallery Chartreuse, 216 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, NM, 2009 - 2011
Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, Juried, 2008
Southwest Design Conference, Santa Fe, NM, Juried, 2004
Desert Caballeros Western Museum, The Art of Western Living, Wickenburg, AZ, Juried, 2001
Santa Fe Furniture Expo, Santa Fe, NM, 1996
Santa Fe Furniture Expo, Santa Fe, NM, 1995
Santa Fe Furniture Expo, Santa Fe, NM, 1994
Cloudcliff Gallery, One Man Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM, 1994
Oasis Furniture Exposition, Phoenix, AZ, 1994
Oasis Furniture Exposition, Phoenix, AZ, 1993
Dallas Market Furniture Exposition, Dallas Market Center, Dallas, TX, 1992
Dallas Market Furniture Exposition, Dallas Market Center, Dallas, TX, 1991
WESA Exposition, Denver, CO, 1991
Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, NM, Juried, 1991
Best of the Southwest Furniture Exhibition, Dallas Market Center, Dallas, TX, 1990
Governor’s Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 1990
El Gancho, Santa Fe, NM, 1990
Governor’s Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 1989
El Gancho, Santa Fe, NM, 1989
Governor’s Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, 1988
El Gancho, Santa Fe, NM, 1988
Winfisky Gallery, One Man Exhibition, Salem State College, Salem, MA, Juried, 1973
Salem State College, Gone Soft Poetry Publication, Salem, MA, Juried-Allan Ginsburg, 1973
Up Art Gallery, Dual Exhibition, Oberlin, OH, 1972
Dayton Art Institute, All Ohio Painting Show, Dayton, OH, Juried, 1972
City Walls Exhibition, Carl Solway Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, Juried, 1971
Miami University, One Man Exhibition, Oxford, OH, 1971
Dayton Art Institute, All Ohio Painting Show, Dayton, OH, Juried, 1970
Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1970
Cincinnati Biennial Exhibition, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH, Juried, 1970
North Carolina Print Show, Chapel Hill, NC, juried, 1969
Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1969
Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, 1969
Rike’s Salon Exhibition, Dayton, OH, Juried, 1969
Wright State University, Fairborn, OH, 1968
Montgomery Art Exhibition, Montgomery, OH, Juried, 1967
Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1966, 1965Art, Furniture, etc., In the Collections of:
Santa Fe and New Mexico Area: Lee and Donna Brown, Grove Burnett, Joe Carr, Chrysalis Art and Design, Marcie Davis, Frank Croft, Linda Dunhill, Alexandra Eldridge, Mona Enfield,, Fenn Gallery, Steve Flance, Alan Gould, Marty Groos, Habitat, Hugh Hagen and Jaye Lasko, Guy Hayden, Paula Hendricks, Marlow Hotchkiss, Inn at Loretto, Jaime Ivey, Johnson and Benkert, Chester Johnson, James Koledin, Francine Landau, Doug and Julia Lanham, Lovelace-DeVargas Medical Group, Priscilla MacInnes, Lee Martinez, Mudd/Carr Gallery, New Mexico 2000, Carolyn Ogden, Jack Parsons, Sierra Perkins, Raymond Planke, Bernard Pomerance, Galisteo, NM; Rancho, Christopher Selzer, Simply Santa Fe, Sleepy Eye Gallery Jim Sloan and Donna Mitchell, Smith and Associates, Studio Arquitectura, Christopher Thomson and Susan Livermore, Mildred Vaintrub, Nancy Wardle, Whitney Publishing.
Other Locations: Robert and Karen Anderson, Lexington, KY; The Arrangement, Dallas, TX; Bazaar Del Mundo, San Diego, CA; Better Homes and Gardens, DesMoines, IO; Michael Brinneman, Atlanta, GA; Sam Burke, Dayton, OH; James and Jeanne Calvert, Worthington, OH; J W and Thelma Calvert, Miami, FL; Carriage House, Corpus Cristi, TX; Michael Corrigan, Las Vegas, NV; Alter Dahl, Cincinnati, OH; Hoshoni, NYC, NY; Paul and Karen Jones, Lexington, KY; Rose Kendall, London, England. Martha Lowe, Oberlin, OH; Karen Meyer, Ltd., Tulsa, OK; Montana Territory, Whitefish, Mt; Harvey Mudd, Paris, France; Robert and Diane Nelson, Jefferson, KY’ Oberlin Art Museum, Oberlin, OH; Ralph S. O’Conner, Houston, TX, Judy Ott, Chapel Hill, NC; Richard and Carole Phillips, Moreno, CA; Harbison Poole, Oberlin, OH; Burt Snyder and Susan Burgholz, NYC, NY; Umbrello, NYC, NY; Westwood Gallery, Inc., Westwood Hills, KS; Sheila Witham, Rye, NY; XOXO Gallery, Washington, DC; Charles Ziegler, Washington, DC; Laura Ellis, Harmony, PA.; Raji Drame, Charlottesville, VA.
Selected New Construction Projects
Morris/Olson Studio, Lamy, NM; Booth/Sommers residence, Rowe, NM; Letner residence, Eldorado, Santa Fe, NM; Gould residence, Santa Fe, NM; Doughman residence #2, Lamy, NM; Doughman residence #3, Lamy, NM; Pomerance residence, Galisteo, NM; Burnett residence, Vallecitos, NM, Burnett residence, La Cueva, NM, Flance residence, La Cueva, NM, Mudd residence, Vallecitos, NM; Hart residence, Lamy, NM; Parson residence, La Cueva, NM
Selected Renovations, Cabinetry, etc.
The Shop, A Christmas Store, Santa Fe, NM; Hendricks residence, Corrales, NM; Tori Warner and David Shepherd residence, Santa Fe, NM; Doug and Julia Lanham residence, Santa Fe, NM, Hugh Hagan and Jaye Lasko residence, Eldorado, Santa Fe, NM; Hugh Hagan and Jaye Lasko residence, Santa Fe, NM; Hugh Hagan and Jaye Lasko residence, CO; Dwight and Jane Hume residence, Santa Fe, NM; Dana Tate and Linda Valentine residence, Santa Fe, NM; Vitagliano residence, Eldorado, Santa Fe, NM; Vikki Woodruff residence, Santa Fe, NM; Red Dog Construction, Santa Fe, NM; Woodstone Custom Homes, Santa Fe, NM; Major Development, Santa Fe, NM; Harvey Day Construction, Santa Fe, NM; Hagan Builders, Santa Fe, NM; Johnson and Benkert, Santa Fe, NM; Ivey residence, Santa Fe, NM; Rehorn residence, Santa Fe, NM, Martinez residence, Santa Fe, NM; Martinez rentals, Santa Fe, NM; Chrysalis Art and Design, Santa Fe, NM; Vaintrub rental, Santa Fe, NM; Hotchkiss residence, Santa Fe, NM; Frank Croft Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, Guy Hayden and M A Brady residence, Lamy, NM; Blackwood residence, Galisteo, NM; Girl’s Ranch, Lamy, NM; Bradley residence, Santa Fe, NM; Flance residence #1, Santa Fe, NM; Flance residence #2, Santa Fe, NM, Follingstadt residence, Santa Fe, NM; Cook residence, Santa Fe, NM; Candyman Strings and Things, Santa Fe, NM; Sundance Originals, Santa Fe, NM; Judy Chicago, Santa Fe, NM; Groos residence, Santa Fe, NM; Marcie Davis residence, Santa Fe, NM; Hackman residence, Santa Fe, NM; Mudd residence #1, Santa Fe, NM; Mudd residence #2, Santa Fe, NM; Mudd residence #3, Santa Fe, NM; Dewey residence, Santa Fe, NM; Carr residence, Santa Fe, NM; Selzer residence, Santa Fe, NM; Springer residence, Santa Fe, NM; Abel rentals, Santa Fe, NM; Glenn Green Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; Mudd/Carr Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; Berger Jewelry Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; Lee Brown residence, Santa Fe, NM; James Koledin Construction, Santa Fe, NM.