I’m not exactly sure when I started attending Open Studios, but I know I’ve spent at least a decade devoting my October weekends to visiting local artist studios.
Open Studios is my personal favorite annual event in Santa Cruz, and much of that can be attributed to the returning artists whose studios I visit each year. There are a handful of artists who are on my must-see list every year. Paul Fortis, Barbara Bailey-Porter, Marie Gabrielle, Paul Zaretzky, Sandra Cherk, Mary Offerman, and Ea Eckerman (before he stopped showing his work in Open Studios two years ago), just to name a few.
A funny thing happens after visiting the same studios year after year though.
It’s kind of like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering your “usual.” You go back because you like the atmosphere, you know what your’re going to get, and it never disappoints.
Some years you see a lot of the same work, other times maybe a favorite artist surprises you with a great new series. Either way, you leave satisfied at the very least.
While I’m happy to spend many of my October weekend days visiting my favorite artists, there’s something incredibly energizing about finding great new artists, whether they are new to Open Studios or just new to you. I stumbled upon two 1st time Open Studios artists last year whose work I absolutely loved (Lisa Fernald Barker and Cristina Sayers – sadly, neither are participating in Open Studios this year).
In an effort to help those of you looking for some new artists to visit this year, we put together a list of all the new artists who are participating in the Open Studios Art Tour for the first time. There are a total of 42 first time Open Studios participants in this year’s tour.
Please continue to support your favorite returning artists, but while you’re out on the tour this year give some love to these 42 newcomers. Who knows, a few of them might just make your must-see list for years to come.
Numbers listed below next to the artist’s names are their Open Studios numbers. Grab the Open Studios Guide or App and you will be able to look up the artists by their number or their name.
Okay, it’s time to welcome the newest Open Studios artists:
55 – Joao de Brito
De Brito uses colors that elicit light, life, energy and interpretive landscapes to stimulate the senses to produce emotion and dialogue with the viewer. De Brito’s painting philosophy is to awaken hope,invoke a sense of well-being and share the colors of life.
South County
Encore: Yes
84 – Paul Mlyniec
Paul will be showing 3D paintings that float brush strokes in space to build volumes of colorful abstract images. His studio, 10 minutes from Soquel, houses more pieces like the one featured at the Preview Show, as well as much larger 3D paintings. He will also be showing limited-edition prints on paper – 2D versions of his 3D images.
South County
Encore: Yes
86 – Joe Ortiz
Joe Ortiz uses oil and acrylic to depict landscapes and cityscapes on canvas and paper.
South County
Encore: Yes
105 – Brian Bowes
Brian Bowes has worked professionally as an illustrator, and art instructor since 2006. He graduated with Distinction from the California College of Arts and Crafts in 2006 with a BFA in Illustration, and is currently enrolled at Hartford University for his MFA in Illustration. Brian is the Illustrator Coordinator for the San Francisco North & East Bay region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.)
His natural and vibrant passion shows in his illustration and sincere focus on his craft. If you are a person who shares a passion for well-crafted images, feel free to see him during Open Studios.
South County
Encore: Yes
106 – Beth Mastrude
“I have a passion for color and surface design on textiles. Each piece begins as a piece of white natural fiber cloth. Many processes are used such as dye, discharge, screen and block printing on each piece. I also hand and machine stitch beading on my more elaborate pieces. Current project has me designing, hand dyeing and stitching a line of kimonos in time for the holiday season.”
-Beth Mastrude
South County
Encore: Yes
108 – Laurel Bushman
Laurel Bushman manipulates natural and mythological forms in multiple media, including charcoal and oil paint.
South County
Encore: Yes
129 – Hank Niles
Color and Black & White fine art nude photography from Big Sur and the American Southwest.
South County
Encore: Yes
130 – Nancy Niles
Nancy Niles is a ceramic artist who creates bowls, cups, teapots, vases, bottles, and garden sculptures. Many of the ceramics are fired in a traditional Japanese-style wood kiln for 8 days, leaving them with exceptionally beautiful surfaces.
South County
Encore: Yes
131 – Eric Hoffman
“I design unusual wooden toys and puzzles that are fun for all ages. I am a long-time teacher and playground designer. Come play!”
-Eric Hoffman
South County
Encore: Yes
143 – Jory Post & Karen Wallace
Jory Post and Karen Wallace are dedicated to the investigation of the book, in its many forms, experimenting with book art, assemblage, paper products, and more. As first year Open Studio artists, they are excited about sharing their work and speaking with fellow artists about collaboration, process, and the creative impulse.
The first 150 visitors can expect to crank the Vandercook press to print and take home a commemorative broadside!
South County
Encore: Yes
160 – Alon Brandman
I am a plein air oil painter inspired by old growth trees and pets. All my paintings are “portraits.”
-Alon Brandman
North County
Encore: Yes
303 – Vanda Lavar
“I am a native of Santa Cruz and my current series features mermaids, although I am known for my animal art.”
– Vanda Lavar
South County
Encore: Yes
171 – Devi Pride
Devi Pride portrays reflective, authentic black & white personal portraits.
North County
Encore: No
178 – Marian Disperati
“I am a retired Registered Nurse/Public Health Nurse who has always migrated toward art either as a Nurse, Mom, Grandmother, Student, Photographer, and Artist. I pursued art more vigorously after a ski accident over 20 years ago when I was off work over a year. My acrylic and watercolor paintings are representational but not necessarily realistic. I love to paint and create. I have procrastinated applying for Open Studios until this year.”
– Marian Disperati
North County
Encore: Yes
194 – Sophie Webb
Sophie Webb has travelled from the Antarctic to the Arctic and numerous places in between to both draw and study birds. She has co-authored, illustrated or contributed to several field guides (birds and marine mammals) . In recent years she has written and illustrated three children’s books about research projects she has worked on (Houghton Mifflin Co). Her favorite pastime is to travel and sketch wildlife in the field. She is a director of Oikonos: ecosystem knowledge and a research associate of Point Blue.
North County
Encore: Yes
196 – Raf Strudley
“Since retiring from being an elementary school principal and having been a long time wood enthusiast, I have been able to pursue my interest in woodturning. I use indigenous woods whenever possible; eg. cypress, black acacia and redwood. And, on occasion, friends or travel have provided opportunities to use other wood like koa, milo, olive etc for my turnings.”
– Raf Strudley
North County
Encore: Yes
206 – Shandra Hunt
Berserk Glassworks offers unique and affordable handcrafted jewelry and gifts. We offer many different styles that blend old and new materials to create one of a kind wearable art.
North County
Encore: No
215 – Vincent Waring
Subtle works on paper layered with drawings, washes & illustrated notes.
North County
Encore: Yes
230 – Wendeanne Ke`aka Stitt
Wendeanne Ke`aka Stitt is a master quilt maker and a maker of Hawaiian kapa cloth- the ancestral bark cloth of Hawai`i. She makes quilts from kapa cloth that she produces. Her quilts are in collections worldwide.
North County
Encore: Yes
240 – Shelly Errington
Shelly’s work is the opposite of iconic scenes. They are images of what you’d seldom notice because you’re looking at something else. Featuring patterns of nature, the play of light on unstable surfaces, intimate landscapes, natural abstractions, and other unexpected but often beautiful surprises.
North County
Encore: No
246 – Tauna Coulson
“What I find most compelling is that ordinary things which you wouldn’t expect to necessarily live together – do. And in a very interesting, beautiful way. I’m most excited about color, texture, type and irony.”
-Tauna Coulson
North County
Encore: Yes
247 – Rachel Kulchin & Steven Herbert
“We are dedicated to exploring the world in pursuit of the ultimate image. No matter where we are, whether in the jungles of Southeast Asia, the glaciers of Patagonia, the plains of the Midwest, or the boulders and crags of the Eastern Sierra, we venture into the unknown with the desire to capture powerful moments to share with you.”
-Rachel Kulchin &: Steven Herbert
North County
Encore: Yes
249 – Sydney Zentall
My oil paintings are worked in layers to capture the depth and underlying currents and colors of the sea. The final work is interpreted through childhood recollections of the sea, with a magnified perspective that is especially appealing to contemporary artists.
-Syndney Zentall
North County
Encore: Yes
272 – Cindy Mori
“I have not really shown my work in such a huge way and I am so excited to be part of this great event. I paint with acylics on canvas, paper and wood. I also use pencil, oil pastel, some collage and inks.
I like to meditate a bit before I paint and am grateful for the time, space and resources that are available to me. I am loving life! I now teach yoga and fitness at UCSC, and have been teaching there for 30 years. All is well, life is grand, I hope my happiness spills over into my works.”
-Cindy Mori
North County
Encore: Yes
282 – Giorgia Siriaco
A research scientist by day, Giorgia has been creating for most of her life. She recently started painting; her artwork is mostly mixed media, using paper, fabric, gold/copper leaf, pencils, pastels and clay paints. She paints using an intuitive process, building and stripping away each layer, finding balance between colors and shapes, until she can articulate a sensation.
North County
Encore: Yes
Additional 1st-time Open Studios Artists
South County
- 5 – Deborah Cross
- 58 – Yumiko Aso
- 65 – Don Maxwell
- 114 – Susan Paull
- 144 – Taylor Reinhold
- 302 – Janice Elizzabeth
North County
- 149 – Patrice Ballou
- 161 – Daniel & Sam Wenger
- 176 – Scott Hamill
- 181 – Kat Moseley
- 182 – Emerson Murray
- 183 – Amy Clark
- 186 – Rhea O’Neill
- 216 – Melody Overstreet
- 221 – Lin Hundt
- 266 – Flair Goldman
- 305 – Serene Silva
