Artists and makers have long been inspired by the colors, light and views of the Oregon Coast. You’ll find the results of these muses filling Seaside’s galleries, small shops and markets. Browse paintings and sculptures, ceramics, fiber art and jewelry — all by local makers. If you’re feeling inspired yourself, Seaside has that covered too, with DIY craft kits and sources for vintage bits and bobs. Here are some of the top spots to let your imagination run wild.

Local Makers and Hands-On Crafts

To peruse the largest selection of local makers under one roof in town, head to Crafted in Seaside, where more than 30 artisans show their work. Look for colorful resin-inlaid charcuterie boards; ceramics; and hand-carved driftwood sculptures, honey dippers, mushrooms and trees. For a fun rainy-day activity, consider the selection of paints and sketch pads or the DIY crafting kits for kids or adults — sand-dollar magnets and lip-balm kits are just the beginning. Between September and May, the co-op also offers Craft & Sip Nights hosted by a featured maker; grab a friend and make a junk journal or a resin tray to take home. 

For more hands-on fun, visit Hammer & Stain North Coast, where you can select from a menu of custom workshops or private crafting parties to make anything from mosaic trays to kaleidoscopes. For more spontaneous creations, purchase ready-to-create projects — you can make them at home or hang out in the studio and finish it on the spot. You can also find community art support in knitting circles and access to a ceramic studio through the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District.

A summer tradition, the Seaside Farmers Market offers another treasure trove of local artisans. Held on Wednesday afternoons from June to September outside the Sunset Recreation Center, you’ll find everything from handmade skincare products to sea-glass jewelry. Among the regulars is Glass Gargoyles — offering all manner of glass art — and Sunset Beach Products with wild-crafted, organic soaps and balms. Twisted Sea Witch makes color-drenched, delicate jewelry studded with sea glass, shells and polished stones. 

Art Walk Your Way Through Local Galleries 

A great way to get the flavor of Seaside’s art scene is on the First Saturday Art Walk. This free event takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., March to December, in and around the city’s Historic Gilbert District downtown.

Art enclaves you can visit include Fairweather House & Gallery, showing contemporary regional artists with a focus on oils, watercolors and prints; and the Seaside Public Library, which showcases different Pacific Northwest artists each month. At SunRose Gallery — located inside the Bliss Mercantile & Brocante gift shop — you’ll find creative upcycled art, mosaics, felted art and jewelry by regional artists. Garden Gate has handcrafted terra-cotta pieces and metalwork to spruce up your outdoor spaces. Your art walk might end at The Whet Spot, a showcase for regional crafters — of beer, wine and cider, that is — where you can enjoy a pint while admiring local artists on a gallery wall.

Uncover Vintage Art and Inspiring Treasure

The thrill of the hunt is part of the fun when you hit one of Seaside’s antique and thrift shops in search of artistic treasures. Keep an open mind and your eyes peeled, and you may even find an item to upcycle into your own work of art. Vintage paintings, sculpture, ceramics and other artistic wares are waiting to be uncovered at the nearly 100 booths in the Seaside Antique Mall. Take it or leave it — a painted rock, that is — at Painted Rock Beach, a joyful spot on the south side of town where visitors have deposited hundreds of colorfully decorated rocks. Admire the creativity on display or make your own painted rock to add to the ever-growing collection.

Pictured at top courtesy of SunRose Gallery