Category: Country Mouse

Field geometryOn the western edge of the Sacramento Valley, CA

California carrot field sketch by Chandler O'Leary

Wednesday’s post reminded me that like lighthouses, I seem to have a whole collection of farm field drawings—like this sketch I did last year. I always thought the inherent lesson in one-point perspective (sketching nerds unite!) is what made these fun to draw. But now I think it’s the geometry. There’s just something so satisfying… More

Comments (1) Pin it!

Bright and earlyMt. Rainier from Tumwater, WA

Mt. Rainier sketch by Chandler O'Leary

I’m generally a morning person—especially when it comes to sketching. But I live at 47 degrees north latitude, where for months at a time, being a morning person means spending a lot of time in the dark. Right now I’m still shaking off that lazy Northwest winter-mode version of “early,” where 8 am still feels… More

Comments (3) Pin it!

For the wearyPenland, NC

Wingback chair sketch by Chandler O'Leary

This might be a holiday weekend for a lot of people, but some seriously looming deadlines mean it’ll be a working weekend at my house. So while I might normally imagine traveling to exotic locales to pass the time in the studio — this time I have a feeling I’ll be dreaming of nothing more… More

Comments (1) Pin it!

B.P.O.E.Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Rocky Mountain National Park sketch by Chandler O'Leary

Probably the most spectacular thing about Rocky Mountain National Park is the alpine tundra landscape above the treeline. The Tailor and I found a well-marked hiking trail up there and struck out, hoping to catch a glimpse of a pika or two among the glacier-strewn rocks. What we got instead was a little more than… More

Comments (3) Pin it!

Basin & rangeNear Brigham City, UT

Wasatch mountains sketch by Chandler O'Leary

There are plenty of places in the West where you don’t reach the mountains until after you cross miles and miles of foothills. Well, not here. There’s something about the sheer scale of this part of Utah—of perfectly flat valleys abruptly cut off by steep mountain slopes, of towering peaks dwarfing farms and towns and… More

Comments (2) Pin it!

Only a paper moonNear Missoula, MT

Moonrise sketch by Chandler O'Leary

It’s difficult enough to sketch from the passenger seat of a moving vehicle: keeping a steady hand, drawing quickly enough to keep pace with a changing landscape, etc. But when you throw in trying to sketch by moonlight… Well, I guess you just have to be willing to embrace imperfection—and wait until morning to see… More

Comments (0) Pin it!
« Older Posts Newer Posts »