River & Timber

This time in early 2025, I was given the opportunity to document the painting of a mural in downtown Longview. Start to finish, it took just a few days. A blink of the eye — if you never drove by that specific wall during that specific timeframe, you’d never see a single stroke, scissor-lift, or drop of wet paint. It would simply be a new mural.

Traditional artists create new art every day. Typically in the privacy of a home, a medium is prepared, instruments are set out, and materials opened. For most pieces, the first time the art is seen is upon completion and in a gallery. There is anticipation and excitement to this type of unveiling, but there is also humanity and connection in witnessing the process.

Leon Lowman is a multi-talented artist based out of Kelso, Washington. This post is the first part of two-part series exploring his creative prowess. Join us in exploring the brush strokes and wet paint of one of his latest pieces.

To see more of Leon Lowman’s painting, visit him on Instagram. He is represented by Alki Arts and Dragonfire Gallery.