Why You CAN Do North Coast Open Studios

Are you a local artist or fine crafts person? Have you thought about doing North Coast Open Studios, but decided you couldn’t because your studio is in your home, or you don’t have a business license or reseller’s number, or you just aren’t sure if it will work for you?

Here’s your chance to ask questions and find out whether or not Open Studios will work for you! NCOS participating artist and Artist Marketing Extraordinaire Victoria Ryan will facilitate this workshop along with local jewelry artist and style maven Christina Swingdler.

Find out what is required to participate in Open Studios, get tips and suggestions on how to arrange your home based studio to open it to the public, learn how NCOS can help you market your art, and much more. NCOS Coordinator Taffy Stockton will also be on hand to answer questions.

The workshop will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 pm att the Ink People Office (517 Third Street, Suite 36, Eureka). Questions? Want to reserve a spot? Call (707) 834-6460 today. You can also reach us by email at contact@northcoastopenstudios.com.

North Coast Open Studios 2012

It's time to start preparing for the 2012 North Coast Open Studios!

The 14th Annual North Coast Open Studios will be Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3 & 9-10.

Want to participate in NCOS? Visit our website: www.northcoastopenstudios.com to download the application form and directions. The deadline to apply is March 20th.

NCOS participation includes a full color listing in our annual guidebook, the option to participate in the Preview Art Show & Reception, access to artist marketing workshops and personal marketing assistance and much more for only $95!

Not sure if Open Studios is right for you? Have questions on how to participate in Open Studios or whether or not you are eligible? Attend out workshop “You CAN do Open Studios” with on Tuesday, February 28th. Here’s your chance to ask questions and find out whether or not Open Studios will work for you! NCOS participating artist and Artist Marketing Extraordinaire Victoria Ryan will facilitate this workshop along with local jewelry artist and style maven Christina Swingdler.

Find out what is required to participate in Open Studios, get tips and suggestions on how to arrange your home based studio to open it to the public, learn how NCOS can help you market your art, and much more.

Do you have questions? Want to find out more about Open Studios? View our facebook group page, website or contact NCOS coordinator Taffy Stockton by email at contact@northcoastopenstudios.com or by phone at (707) 834-6460. Remember to check back often for more on what's going on with NCOS 2012!

North Coast Open Studios Winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 North Coast Open Studios Benefit Drawing:
Lora C. won a painting by Julia Bednar
Rachel S. won a wire sculpture by Elizabeth Berrien
Bob F. won a trio of vases by Peggy Loudon

We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the attendee and participant surveys! As a thank you, there are two lucky survey winners as well:

Orr M. won a wood lazy susan donated by Arcata Exchange
Elizabeth B. won a free listing for the 2012 North Coast Open Studios

Congratulations to everyone, and thanks so much for all of your support for Open Studios! We will see you at Open Studios 2012!

Open Studios Continues This Weekend!

The Thirteenth Annual North Coast Open Studios (NCOS) continues this Saturday & Sunday with Weekend 2! NCOS showcases local artists and art businesses, drawing thousands of local and regional visitors to the many studios, workshops, galleries and businesses.

Missed last weekend? Want to see more art? This is your chance to meet the artists firsthand... explore types of work that are both familiar and new to you... and purchase work directly from the artists! Artist are open throughout the county, from Trinidad to Redway.

During this free showcase for the arts, mid-career and emerging artists working across a broad spectrum of fine art styles and craft media – including painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass, fiber, jewelry, furniture and ceramics – will display and sell their work to the public.

For a complete list of participating artists, visit our website www.northcoastopenstudios.com. Or pick up one of our 2011 guidebooks at arts friendly businesses throughout the county. For more information, contact Taffy Stockton, NCOS Coordinator by email at contact@northcoastopenstudios.com, or by calling (707) 834-6460.








Top Image: Gigi Floyd in her studio in her Arcata studio & a piece of her artwork. Gigi, NCOS artist #57, will open her Arcata studio for Weekend 2 of North Coast Open Studios.

Bottom image: John Wesa is his studio. “Fernbridge” serigraph by John Wesa. John, NCOS artist # 81, will open his McKinleyville studio for Weekend 2 of North Coast Open Studios.

Open Studios Starts This Weekend!

The Thirteenth Annual North Coast Open Studios starts this weekend, June 4&5. Weekend 1 of NCOS will feature 70 artists opening their studio for the weekend.

Here is your chance to visit the places where art is made as Humboldt County artists open their studios and their creative process to you. Meet the artists firsthand... explore types of work that are both familiar and new to you... and purchase work directly from the artists!

Find a complete list of participating artists at our website: www.northcoastopenstudios.com.

the Studio Ready to Show

Only two weeks away and its time to take stock of my studio. I am lucky enough to have a good sized studio - 14’ x 8’ - but there still never seems to be enough space. I have a well-thought-out system for storing my materials and books, however when I see it through the eyes of a visitor it doesn’t seem very organized at all. Early on I figured out that everything needs to have a designated place or things get lost so I have hooks, containers, cabinets, and shelves filling my studio. It works pretty well for me, but I need to do some tidying up before Open Studios.

First, I need to remove extraneous objects that have crept in over the year. Why do I have the sleeping bags and Packers cheeseheads in my studio? Next I’ll remove my 24” x 24” homemade photography cube which takes up way too much room. New white paper covering my work tables will go a long way towards making the studio clean and fresh. I’ll shake out the rugs, sweep and mop the floor, and maybe tackle cleaning the sliding glass doors if I am really ambitious.

Part of my attention is on finishing a few more fused glass pieces before the big weekend. Just back from Portland with my new assortment of Bullseye glass I am eager to use some new colors and design some brand new pieces. I usually don’t have my artwork hung up in my studio, but I like to do it for Open Studios. So out with my Jamie Wyeth poster and up with some glass. Finally, there is the yard and garden to consider, as my visitors have to walk around to the back of my house in order to get to my studio.

Its really not going to be all that much work, but I do like my studio to look its best for the big weekend. Now its back to the studio!

The Open Studios Preview Show & Reception Will Be Saturday May 7th

Join North Coast Open Studios participating artists for an Artists’ Show and Reception featuring 60+ Open Studios participating artists. The Reception will take place Saturday, May 7th from 6 to 9pm during Arts Alive at the Adorni Center (1011 Waterfront Drive Eureka).

This free event is open to everyone! Take this opportunity to preview artwork, ranging from paintings and photographs to ceramics and textiles, with everything in between.

Visitors will also get a chance to meet Open Studios artists. There will be live music by Gregg Moore and friends, appetizers and a no host wine bar that benefits North Coast Open Studios. And as a special treat for the night: get an early copy of the 2011 North Coast Open Studios guidebook! The guidebook will also be available in the June 3rd issue of the North Coast Journal and in arts friendly venues throughout Humboldt County.

The event is also a fundraiser for North Coast Open Studios. You will be able to purchase tickets for the 2011 NCOS Benefit Drawing, featuring artwork by three fabulous Open Studios artists: painter Julia Bednar, ceramic artist Peggy Loudon and wire artist Elizabeth Berrien. Pieces by all three artists will be raffled off to benefit NCOS, tickets are available for a $5 donation to NCOS.

The show is a sampling of artists who have signed up for North Coast Open Studios 2011. NCOS will take place two weekends in June; The 4th & 5th and 11th & 12th in Humboldt County. About half of this year’s participants contributed a piece for the reception and gallery show.

The show's participants include: Artstreet Studio * Julia Bednar * Elizabeth Berrien * Lexy Cann * Regina Case * Sheldon Chase * Natalie Craig * Saremy Duffy * Eureka Fabrics * Judy Evenson * The Fire Arts Center * Gigi Floyd * Susan Fox * Karen Chase Frazee * Joan Gold * Shawn Gould * Michael Guerriero * Bernice Huston * Dannion Jones * Joyce Jonté * Kahish * David Kelley * Yvonne Kern * John King * Peggy Loudon * Jennifer Mackey * Kathy Marie * Carrie Maschmeier * Libby Maynard * Valerie McIntyre * Lucien Midnight * Linda Mitchell * Gregg Moore * John Nordberg * Origin Design Lab * Kate Purcell * Cheryl Peterson Rau * Allison Reed * Victoria Ryan * Alan Sanborn * Stock Schlueter * Susan Schuessler * Patricia Sennott * Ann Shackleton * Zachary Shea * Kathryn Stotler * Susan Strope * Shannon Sullivan * Christina Swindgler * Reneé Thompson * Linnea Tobias * Alicia Tredway * Unauthorized Art * Steven Vander Meer * Litzy Venturi * Don R Walker * Hana Walt * John Wesa * Hal Work * Libby Yee * Peter Zambas * Dave Zdrazil * Melissa Zielinski


Pictured above (clockwise from top left):
“The Bird” pen and watercolor by John Nordberg
Musician Gregg Moore
“Big Wave” glass piece by Melissa Zielinski
“Lufenholtz North ” painting by Peter Zambas
Rocking chair by David Kelley
“Street Corner in Eureka ” painting by Alicia Tredway
“Marsh, Early Morning“ painting by Alan Sanborn
Shoe music boxes by Ann Shackleton