July 28, 2016 at 8:45 a.m.
Northwoods Art Tour to feature seven new artists
Northwoods Art Tour to feature seven new artists
By Kayla Thomason-
More than 30 Northwoods artists, including seven artists new to the event, will open their studios during the three-day event.
Midnight Production Studio in Boulder Junction offers oil paintings that capture realistic regional landscapes as well as contemporary figurative work.
Fraboni Chainsaw Art in Lac du Flambeau has chainsaw-carved sculptures of local wildlife.
Those who are interested in collage and printmaking should visit iMAGINETHAT! Studio in Woodruff.
"She does original print so she'll have a press at her studio and be demonstrating too, which is kind of neat because I don't think people get to see original print very often," said Ann Waisbrot, public relations coordinator for the Northwoods Art Tour.
Those looking for a stunning quilt to bundle up in, or unique metal jewelry, can visit Outback Studio in Irma.
Artists at Blossoms Studio in Land O' Lakes design, create, paint and woodburn their artwork.
Northwind Pottery in Land O' Lakes features functional artistic pottery with hand-carved pieces.
For a unique bit of art, LaDeDa Gourds in Lac du Flambeau uses hard-shelled gourds to make crafts. A variety of techniques, such as wood burning, carving, pigment inks, acrylic paint and waxes, are used.
Bear Paw Pottery - which features stoneware, porcelain and raku - has moved to St. Germain. The artist has been a part of the tour in the past, and according to Waisbrot, has a nice following of people who may want to know the studio has moved.
These forms of art are only a small selection of the mediums portrayed on the Northwoods Art Tour.
"I think we have a really nice mix of artists for people and a really rich variety of things for people to explore so I'm thinking it will be a great tour for people to go on," Waisbrot said.
Participants can watch the artists demonstrate their techniques and are welcome to ask questions.
"I think being able to explain (the process) to people (is helpful), because all of us demonstrate on the tour, so I think the act of demonstrating sparks conversation," Waisbrot said.
People will ask why the artist uses a particular technique, why they do things the way they do, or are inquisitive about the whys and hows of the artform. Waisbrot thinks artists like to be a part of the tour because of this unique interaction with art lovers.
"I think probably all the artists like the same thing, we work kind of in solitary because creating is kind of a solitary thing, and so that we get feedback and we get to share what we do and what our thinking and stories were behind it and we get the reaction of people to that," Waisbrot said.
Waisbrot is an oil painter and has been on the tour since 2011. She appreciates the feedback and learning what attracts customers to certain pieces.
"I think the feedback and sharing of information is probably the strongest for most of us," she said.
"I get people that are interested in painting and maybe are afraid to start or maybe make their first brush stroke, to do that and I like encouraging those people and giving them some ideas and just letting them know they can paint for 20 years and facing a white canvas you'll still find reasons to put it off."
Not only do the artists share their style and open their studios, some like to ask the tourists which studios they've been to, what they liked and how they like the tour.
Waisbrot said there are a lot of people that schedule a vacation around the tour and will do a cluster, then the next year another cluster. Some like a particular medium and only want to visit those artists who produce their favorite items.
"It's sort of like a great big open house so if you come and peek your head in and you don't like paintings of landscapes you peek around and you wave goodbye and you go. It's not a big deal you're not captive anywhere, so if you go to check something out and it isn't your thing you just move on," Waisbrot said.
For more information visit http://northwoodsarttour.com.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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