Welcome to the local artist’s mindset.
Defined by books of inspiration, the beauty of the mountains and waters or the people in their backyards, some of Sequim’s top artists are revealing their sanctuaries of creation this weekend.
Sequim Arts brings together 19 local artists at 12 locations for the free sixth annual Sequim Studio Tour on July 20-22. Cynthia Thomas, a sculpture, pastels and mixed media artist, said the event has expanded not necessarily in the number of artists but in the amount of hands-on and informational events at each studio.
“Almost all of us are working and showing our different techniques and educating people about what the artist does,” she said.
“This is a whole other experience, seeing someone’s work in their studio (rather) than their gallery.”
Susan Gansert Shaw, a watercolor, pastel and media and stick sculpture artist, enters her fourth year with the tour and is welcoming four other artists in her studio — Lynne Armstrong, Mary Franchini, Ed Crumley and Brian Butain, branding themselves the Fabulous Five.
“Some don’t have a studio and others not the space for traffic, so this gives them a new kind of exposure,” she said.
“(The tour) gets a diverse group of people together with some with diverse goals. Some visitors know my work, or others know Mary, and some come to see what we’ve done. It really is a dynamite event.”
Whimsical metal sculpture artist John McBride participates every year and only in this event.
“It’s not a money-making venture, but the response has been fantastic,” he said. “Everyone seems to enjoy themselves and gets a chuckle out of it.”
He plans to continue doing the tour but he might not one year so he can travel to the other studios and see their talent.
Thomas said the tour is definitely not something people can just enjoy in one day.
“This will give them a better understanding of how and where art comes from,” she said of the event. “We’re normal people who happen to create something out of nothing.”
Other participating artists include Janine Hegy, rock projects; Sunny Benham, acrylic and mixed media; Watercolorists Patricia Gordon and Richard O’Connor; Fused glass artists Renee Mullikin and Susan O’Brian; Roberta Cooper, gourd art; Sally Cays, watercolors; Steve Portner, woodworking; Chuck Stern, woodworking; and George Zien, watercolors.â¨For more information, visit www.sequimstudiotour.org or pickup brochures at the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1192 E. Washington St., or its annex at 163 W. Washington St.
