Stretching – 11x14” Male Nude Gay Figure Drawing, Crayon & Watercolor on Tan Rives BFK by Kenney Mencher
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Stretching. It’s one of those pieces where the pose says everything—it’s about tension, recovery, vulnerability, and physical presence. The figure is bent forward, head low, in that kind of moment right before or after exertion. It could be stretching after a workout, bracing for something emotional, or just lost in thought. I wanted to leave it open.
I worked in crayon and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper. The tan surface sets the mood—it gives everything a warm undertone and helps the black and white stand out without needing a full background. The figure is carved out with expressive, scratchy lines, but the gesture is still soft and introspective.
The way the back curves and the legs stretch shows off musculature, but it’s not idealized. The body has weight. The shading is layered and done with loose crayon hatching and a warm gray watercolor wash in the background. I added white pastel to pick out the light, especially on the leg and shoulder—almost like studio lighting from a moody black-and-white photo.
This piece lives somewhere between classical figure drawing and contemporary queer art. It nods to old master studies—like something Sargent or even Ribera might sketch—but with a rawer, more intimate energy. There’s also a connection to gay art history: the interest in real bodies, real postures, and the quiet moments between action.
For me, this is one of those drawings that reflects back whatever the viewer brings to it. It can feel erotic or meditative, strong or tender. That ambiguity is what I love. It’s not about posing for attention—it’s about catching someone in the middle of being human.
Details:
Title: Stretching
Medium: Crayon, white pastel, and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper
Size: 11 x 14 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “KMM 2025” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival protective packaging
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Stretching. It’s one of those pieces where the pose says everything—it’s about tension, recovery, vulnerability, and physical presence. The figure is bent forward, head low, in that kind of moment right before or after exertion. It could be stretching after a workout, bracing for something emotional, or just lost in thought. I wanted to leave it open.
I worked in crayon and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper. The tan surface sets the mood—it gives everything a warm undertone and helps the black and white stand out without needing a full background. The figure is carved out with expressive, scratchy lines, but the gesture is still soft and introspective.
The way the back curves and the legs stretch shows off musculature, but it’s not idealized. The body has weight. The shading is layered and done with loose crayon hatching and a warm gray watercolor wash in the background. I added white pastel to pick out the light, especially on the leg and shoulder—almost like studio lighting from a moody black-and-white photo.
This piece lives somewhere between classical figure drawing and contemporary queer art. It nods to old master studies—like something Sargent or even Ribera might sketch—but with a rawer, more intimate energy. There’s also a connection to gay art history: the interest in real bodies, real postures, and the quiet moments between action.
For me, this is one of those drawings that reflects back whatever the viewer brings to it. It can feel erotic or meditative, strong or tender. That ambiguity is what I love. It’s not about posing for attention—it’s about catching someone in the middle of being human.
Details:
Title: Stretching
Medium: Crayon, white pastel, and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper
Size: 11 x 14 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “KMM 2025” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival protective packaging
FREE SHIPPING
Shipping takes 3-4 Weeks
This ships from Round Lake Beach, Illinois. A suburb outside of Chicago.
I use UPS and sometimes US Post.
This drawing is called Stretching. It’s one of those pieces where the pose says everything—it’s about tension, recovery, vulnerability, and physical presence. The figure is bent forward, head low, in that kind of moment right before or after exertion. It could be stretching after a workout, bracing for something emotional, or just lost in thought. I wanted to leave it open.
I worked in crayon and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper. The tan surface sets the mood—it gives everything a warm undertone and helps the black and white stand out without needing a full background. The figure is carved out with expressive, scratchy lines, but the gesture is still soft and introspective.
The way the back curves and the legs stretch shows off musculature, but it’s not idealized. The body has weight. The shading is layered and done with loose crayon hatching and a warm gray watercolor wash in the background. I added white pastel to pick out the light, especially on the leg and shoulder—almost like studio lighting from a moody black-and-white photo.
This piece lives somewhere between classical figure drawing and contemporary queer art. It nods to old master studies—like something Sargent or even Ribera might sketch—but with a rawer, more intimate energy. There’s also a connection to gay art history: the interest in real bodies, real postures, and the quiet moments between action.
For me, this is one of those drawings that reflects back whatever the viewer brings to it. It can feel erotic or meditative, strong or tender. That ambiguity is what I love. It’s not about posing for attention—it’s about catching someone in the middle of being human.
Details:
Title: Stretching
Medium: Crayon, white pastel, and watercolor on tan Rives BFK paper
Size: 11 x 14 inches
Year: 2025
Signed “KMM 2025” on front
Unframed
Ships flat in archival protective packaging
