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All the news fit to print

50 States illustration by Chandler O'Leary on Shoppe by Scoutmob

Already 2015 is shaping up to be a year of new projects and lots of changes—I have a barrage of new things to share with you, but rather than bombard you with everything all at once, I’ll stick to just a couple for now. For one thing, I’m excited to announce that a selection of my prints and stationery is part of the Shoppe collection at Scoutmob! So these days my normal stack of packages leaving the studio each week has gotten considerably taller.

Chandler O'Leary's shoppe on ScoutmobArtwork by Chandler O'Leary on Shoppe by Scoutmob

Scoutmob is a curated online marketplace of goods by independent makers all over the country. Everything on Scoutmob is made by artist-entrepreneurs—small businesses run by makers like me. So when they invited me to be a part of the collection, I felt like I was in good company. I’m inspired by the diversity of goods being made by independent artists—Scoutmob has everything from cards to art to jewelry to housewares to food and drink—and the collection is constantly changing and being updated. So whether you’re new to Scoutmob, or you’re a seasoned shopper looking for new favorites, stop by my Shoppe!

Collage of farm illustrations by Chandler O'Leary

In other news, I’ve been selected for a Tacoma Artist Initiative Program (TAIP) funding award from the Tacoma Arts Commission! This is the second time I’ve been funded by the Arts Commission (the first time was for my Local Conditions artist book)—and this time I’ll be creating a new body of work called Farm to Table.

As you can see above, I’ve been interested in agricultural imagery for some time, and the subject has been creeping into my work for years. This time, though, I’ll be focusing an entire series of illustrations on local, sustainable farming. I’ll be developing a collection of prints and cards in the next two years, and the project will culminate in a solo exhibition in October 2016. Look for more info and new images soon!

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Wild, wild west

Barn photo by Chandler O'Leary

The Tailor and I took a road trip to a friend’s farmstead wedding in North Dakota this month.

Rocky Mountain National Park photo by Chandler O'Leary

We figured that while we were at it, we might as well make a mountain (read: 750-mile) detour to complete our vacation.

Rocky Mountain National Park photo by Chandler O'Leary

So off to the Rockies we went,

Rocky Mountain National Park sketch by Chandler O'Leary

sketchbook in (my) hand,

Buckhorn Exchange photo by Chandler O'Leary

with our eyes peeled for roadside attractions,

Devil's Tower photo by Chandler O'Leary

and the camera ready to capture every perfect moment.

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Just in case I missed the rain

San Juan Islands ferry sketch by Chandler O'Leary

I think Washington was jealous that I left it for Texas last month—

San Juan Islands ferry photo and sketch by Chandler O'Leary

—because when my best friend Elizabeth came out for a trip to the San Juan Islands, we were treated to endless rain. That’s okay, though—the San Juans are absolutely gorgeous in any weather.

San Juan Islands photo by Chandler O'Leary

The place could not be more different than what I saw in West Texas—not the landscape,

Orcas Island photo by Chandler O'Leary

not the culture,

San Juan Island photo by Chandler O'Leary

not the flora or fauna, either.

San Juan Islands whale-watching sketch by Chandler O'Leary

What it had in common with the desert, though, was that it made me fall in love in exactly the same way.

San Juan Island photo by Chandler O'Leary

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Sunday drive

Washington farm photo by Chandler O'Leary

Sunny days are getting fewer and farther between around here, and Mt. Rainier is M.I.A. more often than not. So the gorgeous weather and the threat of an early nightfall (thanks to the end of Daylight Saving Time and living at 47.25° N latitude) were enough to coax me out of the studio and into the car, in hopes of capturing another image for my book.

As far as research goes, the day was a total bust (the Mountain was glorious; I just couldn’t find the right vantage point), but I did come away with an expanded mental map and one good shot.