Turquoise cuff by Bonnie Boardman of Davidson.
I’ve only been on one studio tour before. It was a big adventure and the art was amazing. We were in Santa Cruz, Calif., a bohemian beach town where artists living in beachside bungalows or expansive farm tracts. My husband, Jerry was “the driver” and I was “the navigator.” We fueled up – our car with a full tank of gas and our bellies with a big breakfast and coffees to sip in the car. It was a treat to meet the artists in their home environments. Seeing their surroundings was as amazing as the art itself.
Talking with each artist in a relaxed atmosphere helped us to understand their inspiration and motivation behind their pieces. We bought two large paintings that had to be professionally shipped back to our home. Shipping was costly, but well worth it, as we paid a reasonable price for the work, and now it hangs in our bedroom as a pleasant reminder of our great adventure!
Shoreline scene by Nancy Marshburn of Davidson.
On Oct. 15-16 in Mooresville, the 2nd annual Lakeside Artist Studio Tour takes place. Artists from throughout the Lake Norman area are featured, including few from Davidson. My advice is to visit the website at LKNStudios.com, print out the map and look at some of the samples of artwork, pottery and jewelry. Most of the homes are on Brawley School Road and a few displays are in homes for sale at The Point. Davidson artists include jewelry artist Bonnie Boardman (I could wear her stuff every day!) and pastel artist Nancy Marshburn (perfect for over that fireplace!).
Artist Sandie Bell told me there were more than 400 people last year, “and this year we are expecting lots more!” This is a good time to think ahead for some great Christmas gifts and artwork to help fill that empty space.
Sorry to say, I probably won’t make it to the tour, as I’ll be up in Asheville at “Art In The Park.” It’s that city’s biggest art show of the year, with 60 artists from around the region and around the world. It’s located in the center of town in Pack Square. I’ll be sure to “share” with you what I pick up. (My husband is worried his wallet will take a big hit.) For information on “Art In The Park” go to Exploreasheville.com.
Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category
"Shells" by Sandie Bell.
