The Innisfil Studio Tour has more than doubled since its inception, and as it enters its 15th year, there are more than 23 locations and 35 creative artisans sharing their work.
New to the tour this year is the addition of the Innisfil Public Library, which will host three artists on Saturday and Sunday. Featured will be the watercolour and wildlife work of Nigel Shaw, Marcia Godbuout’s portraiture, and Rosemarie Schenk’s folksy landscapes in oil.
Event organizer, Brenda Wauchope has been participating in the tour for the past 14 years.
“People come back for the things they’ve seen in previous years, but it’s nice to have something different,” she noted about creating new and innovative designs.
Wauchope has been quilting for more than 25 years and has decided to incorporate tartan into her runners, mats and rag rugs for a unique flare.
After receiving a large bag of donated fabric scraps, she took two years to decide how to best use the unique material.
“The colours are quite vibrant because of the colours of the kilts. Because it’s wool, it has texture. When it’s ripped it frays and there’s even more texture and it’s thicker,” Wauchope said, adding all the artists on the tour strive to excel at what they do.
“Each artist tries each year to make people happy and to keep up the level of interest. We also encourage artists to demonstrate some of their technique. People love that.”
Wauchope noted many of the artists have evolved to create magnificent pieces, which are constantly changing.
One such example is Donna Austin and her pottery. Her hand thrown clay sculptures are almost mythological creatures. The masks and wall plaques resemble African woodland creatures, but over the past few years have taken on a life of their own, and are in great demand.
Site 15 on the tour will offer a hands-on opportunity as Marlene Donnelly uses a moulding process to create a personal hand sculpture, on site. She also makes mosaic chess boards, and garden décor.
Frank and Suzanne Daniels are long time tour participants, opening up their studio to the public at site 16, which will feature mineral scenes, jewellery, hand painted porcelain, train scenes and Christmas paintings.
With so many artists, hosts and guests in the studio, it is impossible to mention all the wonderful artistry in Innisfil.
“It’s quite a wealth of creativity,” Wauchope said, encouraging visitors to take the tour at their leisure, choosing a route and dropping in any time on a Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov, 3-4.
The tour spans from Cookstown to Big Bay Point Road and a full schedule is available online at http://www.innisfilstudiotour.com. For more information, call 436-5388
