Blog

Share it!

Gorge-ous

Columbia River Gorge photo and sketch by Chandler O'Leary

We’ve had a string of unseasonably sunny days lately—so rather than stay cooped up inside the studio, I headed down to Portland to do a little drawing. Just east of town is the stunning Historic Columbia River Highway, which serves up vista after vista of the Columbia River Gorge. All I had to do was sit back, open up the sketchbook, and enjoy the view.

Share it!

Water off a goose’s back

Tacoma Wayzgoose photo by Chandler O'Leary

Don’t be distracted by Ric’s smile—see the puddles everywhere? See the winter gear people are wearing? Sunday was the craziest Wayzgoose yet, hands down. That’s because we had both the biggest crowd ever and the worst weather imaginable. So that smile is one of triumph: getting a decent steamroller print that day required beating some serious odds.

Tacoma Wayzgoose photo by Chandler O'Leary

It rained sideways while Jessica inked.

Linoleum block for "Park Place" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

It hailed while we lined up our block.

Tacoma Wayzgoose

Photo by Dr. Jamie Brooks

It froze while we peeled our prints up.

Detail of "Park Place" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Photo by Dr. Jamie Brooks

It blew a gale while I painted.

"Park Place" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Still, despite the mishaps, I think it turned out alright. Jessica and I are calling our print “Park Place”—created in gratitude over the passage of a bond that would fund our city park system. The map in the center shows most of Tacoma’s parks, with twelve of our favorites called out like properties on a Monopoly board.

Tacoma Wayzgoose photo by Chandler O'Leary

We even took a snippet of the illustration and sent it over to the talented screenprinting booth folks, who turned it into a t-shirt design during the event (you can just see a peek of it in the upper left corner).

Steamroller prints from the Tacoma Wayzgoose in the Woolworth Windows

Since the rain and wind prevented us from hanging the finished prints outside during Wayzgoose, most of the people who came that day didn’t get to see anybody’s finished print. So today Ric, Jessica and I remedied that.

Steamroller prints from the Tacoma Wayzgoose in the Woolworth Windows

Thanks to Spaceworks Tacoma, all of this year’s steamroller prints are on exhibit in the Woolworth Windows downtown…

Steamroller prints from the Tacoma Wayzgoose in the Woolworth Windows

…where you can see them—in fair weather or foul—now through August 21.

Thanks to everyone who visited or volunteered at Wayzgoose this year, and to King’s Books and the Tacoma Arts Commission for making it all happen!

Share it!

Puzzling Puget Sound

WA State ferry puzzles photo by Chandler O'Leary

Our local ferry system is a major part of public transit around here. But unlike a bus or a train, the ferries provide plenty of room to spread out while you pass the time. So we have a little tradition that happens on nearly every vessel: communal puzzles.

WA State ferry puzzles photo by Chandler O'Leary

I think this is one of the most charming things about Washington.

WA State ferry puzzles photo by Chandler O'Leary

As a puzzle fan myself, I know how easy it is to get sucked in—but I love how it’s something that anybody can work on for awhile, and then leave (or dismantle) for the next person to come along (or come back to yourself on the return trip!).

WA State ferry puzzles photo by Chandler O'Leary

Once I got delayed on a ferry for almost two hours in the San Juan Islands, waiting for a dangerous bank of fog to clear. This guy was at his puzzle the entire time—I never saw him look up once. I wonder if he even noticed the time passing…

WA State ferry puzzles photo by Chandler O'Leary

Even Candace got sucked in when she was here.

Actually, I wonder if the ferries ever have trouble getting passengers to actually leave the vessels—just one more piece, and then we’ll go, I swear!

Share it!

Kindred sketchers

Chandler O'Leary sketching

Photo by Candace Rardon

If you know me at all, you know this is how you’re likely to find me. But I’m not the only one known to be seen with a sketchbook and paintbox.

Sketching photo by Chandler O'Leary

My friend and fellow travel sketcher Candace has been in town visiting lately, and we’ve spent most of our time together with sketchbooks in hand.

Candace Rardon sketching photo by Chandler O'Leary

In addition to showing her my favorite haunts, it’s been fun to introduce her to some other Urban Sketchers I know.

Sketching photo by Chandler O'Leary

And I have a feeling you can guess what happens when a bunch of sketchbook nuts get together.

Share it!

Home (work).

Odometer photo by Chandler O'Leary

We got home from our holiday road trip last night—and the number on the trip odometer feels like an accomplishment.

What was waiting for me, however—

Post photo by Chandler O'Leary

—feels a bit like a Sisyphean task.

Share it!

Let’s get this snow on the road

Rocky Mountains photo by Chandler O'Leary

The Tailor and I are off on a winter road trip to spend the holidays with family and friends. I chose this picture out of pure wishful thinking, in hopes that the mountains in our path will be bare of snow…

Olympic Mountains photo by Chandler O'Leary

…though I have a feeling they’re going to look a lot more like this.

Blue spruce photo by Chandler O'Leary

Wherever you’re spending your holidays this year, may the short days be filled with bright winter sunshine—

Holiday lights photo by Chandler O'Leary

—and may the nights glow with warm, festive light.

Happy holidays!

Share it!

Maritime meandering

Sketch by Chandler O'Leary

I just got back from a glorious trip to the Canadian Maritimes with my best friend. We got to spend lots of time catching up,

Prince Edward Island lighthouse photo by Chandler O'Leary

live our childhood Anne of Green Gables fantasies,

Prince Edward Island lobster photo by Chandler O'Leary

eat our weight in lobster (and sport the latest bib fashions),

Souvenirs photo by Chandler O'Leary

contemplate hilarious souvenirs (I don’t think the polar bears are for sale, dude)—

Cape Breton photo by Chandler O'Leary

—as well as the inexplicable—

Cabot Trail sketches by Chandler O'Leary

—and of course, have plenty of time for sketching. I’ll be posting the occasional sketchbook drawing from the trip over at my Drawn the Road Again blog, so feel free to follow along!

Share it!

Packing the important stuff first

Photo by Chandler O'Leary

I’m leaving for a fall vacation in a few days, so my to-do list has things like passports and battery chargers on it. But the things I took care of first? Refilling my watercolor set, and knitting up some mittens for the trip.

Because, you know, priorities.

Share it!

Island cure

San Juan Islands photo by Chandler O'Leary

If you’re like me, and you need a break from the studio every once in a while, I’d recommend hopping on a ferry and heading for the San Juan Islands.

San Juan Islands photo by Chandler O'Leary

Spend a few days soaking up the sights,

Orcas Island sketch by Chandler O'Leary

and maybe bring along your paintbox.

San Juan Islands photo by Chandler O'Leary

I guarantee, you’ll leave refreshed and good as new.

San Juan Islands photo by Chandler O'Leary

Share it!

Five.

Mt. Rainier and Apple Orchard letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

I moved to Washington five years ago today. In that time, I’ve enjoyed a whole lot of apples,

Mt. Rainier and Tacoma Balcony letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

beheld countless spectacular views,

Mt. Rainier and Gig Harbor letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

stared out to sea a zillion times,

Mt. Rainier and Pt. Robinson Lighthouse letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

stood beside many lit (and unlit) beacons,

Mt. Rainier and Nisqually River letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

memorized every crag of my favorite mountain,

Mt. Rainier and Space Needle letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

lost count of all the city sunsets (even in the rainy Northwest!),

Mt. Rainier and Ruston Way Waterfront letterpress illustration by Chandler O'Leary

and numbered my lucky stars over and over again that I get to call this place home.