Richard Mahar is an imposing man. At 78-years-old, his lanky frame is easily 6’5”. His commanding baritone voice rivals the timbre of James Earl Jones. He’s apt to break into song at the recollection of a lyric that comes to mind through ordinary conversation. And, Mahar is an artist.
“I’ve been drawing since I was seven,” Mahar said.
Born on July 27, 1937, he’s been told his birthdate contains lucky numbers although he doesn’t gamble. “The Lord, He doesn’t like that,” said Mahar. “I am not a gambler, I’m a rambler.”
His ramblings take him to three local eateries in Centralia. “I draw in public spaces,” Mahar said.
Mahar works with ink and oil pastels, carting around a 2’x3’ artists attaché.
At around 9:00 a.m., according to Marian Manzer, owner of The Centerville Café, Mahar starts his day at her restaurant.
“I go there and eat my breakfast, and I draw,” said Mahar. He has a regular table just off the end of the bar counter where he sits each day. It’s typical of him to order from the daily breakfast special menu.
Mahar begins a piece drawing in ink. He reproduces pictures from children’s books, photos, and currently a 2016 Boy’s Town calendar. His drawings have a childlike quality, yet the short pen strokes are reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh’s brush technique.
“Richard’s been coming here ever since we opened,” said Manzer. Marian and her husband, Morris, bought the former Jersey Diner three years ago. “I think he was coming before. We also own The Restaurant at Sunbirds and Richard was making his way there too, when he could,” Manzer said.
During Mahar’s drawing time, he may eat a little lunch. “Sometimes I’ll have some soup if I feel hungry,” Mahar said, and he’s always sure to drink coffee. “Coffee doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t keep me awake.”
According to Manzer, hers is not the only restaurant Richard Mahar visits. “He goes across the street to The Olympic Club later in the day. He goes home in between,” she said.
Mahar’s ramblings are done on foot. Home is a studio apartment nearby in the Lewis and Clark Hotel. From the fifth floor he can see the Centralia Police Station and The Chronicle.
In the afternoon, Mahar makes his way to Santa Lucia Coffee Roasters. There he is known as Grandpa Richard to owner, Justin Page’s children. “He produces five or six pictures a day,” said Page, whose business displayed Mahar’s work last December.
Late afternoon and early evening Mahar ambles over to The Olympic Club where he also has a regular seat. By then, he’s retired his art supplies for the day. He may order the soup of the day and he definitely orders coffee. “I like their mac and cheese,” Mahar said.
It was at The Olympic Club where Mahar had the most success selling his artwork. “I feel fortunate when I sell one of my pictures,” Mahar said. “I sell them at The Olympic Club. One man bought nearly $50 of my pictures for his wife because she liked my pictures.”
He’s a champion of his art, taking the pictures of other artists and making them his own. His reproductions include embellishments and additions which he sees belonging there. He perks up when given the opportunity to talk about his drawings.
Before spending the bulk of his days in cafés, Mahar made his living in a variety of ways.
“I was a handyman. I went around and did work for people. I worked in the hay, mowed a few lawns. The best job I liked was working for an old lady in her flower garden,” said Mahar. For the latter job, he was paid in both cash and food. “She paid me well,” Mahar said.
Mahar was married once when he lived in Morton. His wife died of a heart attack. “Sometimes the one you really love is the one you can’t have,” Mahar said.
Mahar, himself, is a survivor of two heart attacks. His first attack landed him in Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. “It happened when I was working in the woods at home. I thought I was going to die,” he said.
He’s also had two heart surgeries. The first stripped his legs of blood vessels that fixed his heart, and the second surgery was a five-way bypass.
Neither of these has slowed him down. In fact, even at the age of 78, Mahar is open to dating. “I’d like to meet a good woman,” he said. Somewhat disheartened, he admitted that many women just care about money and a car. “I’m pretty smart at least I am with money,” Mahar said, “but I don’t have a car.”
In the meantime, he continues to visit his daily haunts, converse with the locals, and draw his pictures. “Through my art, I’ll always be alive,” Mahar said.
