I have a particular love (and lots and lots of sketches) of treeless landscapes and endless plains. But I have to admit—after driving cross-country over more than 2,000 miles of the flat interior of the continent, seeing mountains again, at last, feels like a kind of reward.
* “Seeing the Elephant” was a popular (and complicated) American expression in the late 19th century, often used by pioneers to refer to the reward awaiting them at the end of their long wagon journey west.
Ghost domes 
Forgotten canyon 
Twists and turns
As an avid backroads traveler, and lover of America’s high plans, I could NOT agree more. I’m also a former Tacoman. Some now-forgotten google search about the town led me to your site and art, and so glad it did. Your art is wonderful, and your posts are fun.
I never heard the expression “Seeing the Elephant” before and I love it!! 🙂 Chandler, I also really like the sketch above and the one linked! Not sure if I could share your love for treeless landscapes, but it’s certainly a marvellous thing to see plains aligning with the horizon on a lengthy road trip. Still, mountains seem to be the lighthouses of nature…
Best wishes and I hope you will never reach the end of “the road of creativity and inspiration” and may there always be a place to sit down, sketch or simply savour the moment. Or better say turning minutes into moments… 😉
Kind regards, Oliver