Perth Autumn Studio Tour

We thought it was a good time to remind you that, though the Tour is over, the members of the Perth Autumn Studio Tour are still here! Our studios doors may be closed to the public due to Covid restrictions, but behind those doors are hives of activity. Our hands remain deep in the process of creating new work. And it is more important than ever to support our local, small businesses - to sustain the services and creativity that add 'culture' and beauty to our lives and comm...unities. Many of us have 'opened' online stores. So, consider checking them out when shopping for unique and lasting gifts for the special people in your lives. Find links to all of our websites and online shops at www.perthstudiotour.com

If you're looking for a way to slow down this busy, holiday season head to the Perth & District Union Public Library where our member artist, Catherine Orfald has an exhibit of encaustic and oil paintings. Take your time browsing this collection of landscapes, wildlife, portraits, and still-life. Catherine's work is known for capturing the true essence of person, animal or place. This exhibit will be up until the end of March, and Catherine will be donating 10% of all sales ...to the library. @catorfald @perthlibrary 30 Herriott St. Perth Currently, the library’s hours are: Monday: 10-4 Tuesday: 1-6 Wednesday: 1-6 Thursday: 1-6 Friday: 10-4 Saturday: 10-4

A big thank you to everyone who participated in our virtual tour this year! It's been quite a strange year, not having you visit our studios in person. We hope that things return to normal next year. In the meantime, keep us in mind when you're searching for a special, handmade gift for yourself or a loved one. You may be hearing from us before not too long, when the holiday season is upon us! Wishing you all the best and many thanks for your continued support over the years. It keeps us going and means a lot.

It's the final weekend of our virtual studio tour. Head to our website to find links to our member's online shops and websites. Some of us are still scheduling appointments and taking custom orders too. Don't miss this opportunity to shop our artist's unique collections of pottery, leatherwork, paintings, feltwork and woodwork.... www.perthstudiotour.com ...and while you're at it, see what the following members have been busy doing and sharing on their own pages :) Zoë Emily Fibre & Felt @ritaredner Susie Osler Ceramics Willa Murray Design Catherine Orfald: Artist, Designer, Educator Anne Chambers Pottery

A huge thank you to Jon Aarssen for spending time in our studios, making us feel so comfortable and turning out such wonderful videos. If you haven't had the chance to watch these, please do. Come spend a few minutes with each of us! www.perthstudiotour.com/meettheartists

It's Thursday! That means throwback to last year's tour. Here's Brent Kirkham's studio is full swing.

A huge shout out to the Riverguild Fine Crafts for all their support to the Perth Autumn Studio Tour and the tour artists over the years. Its a wonderful artists cooperative thats been active in the Perth community for over 40 years. Visit the Riverguild in downtown Perth to see some of our member's work. www.riverguild.com

Franc van Oort - Etchings & Watercolours Franc was born on August 20, 1953 in Soest, The Netherlands. He is mostly known for his etchings, a life-long pursuit. During this virtual Studio Tour however, his focus will be on new watercolours from 2020, the result of a winter trip to Italy and spring/summer on Christie Lake. ... www.francvanoort.com

We have great news! You don't have to miss out on Brooke Valley School's delicious Harvest Lunch this year. They will be offering up the following: frozen chili (vegetarian or local beef) and roasted squash soup; GF brownies and lemon squares; and pumpkins. All these goodies will be available for pickup at Zoë Lianga's studio, on her front porch. Don't miss out! The school's Harvest Lunch during the Perth Studio Tour is one of their biggest annual fundraising events, so please considering supporting them, while enjoying a homemade meal. Get in touch with Sarah Wright ([email protected]) to make your orders, and the sooner the better.

Dunn Sohn - Woodworker Dunn creates unique, custom designed furniture as well as artistic sculptures and turnings. Ergonomic rocking chairs are a specialty, and the turned bowls and hand-carved forms explore the organic nature of wood. He also carves wooden sinks that are turned from a solid block of hardwood and finished with completely waterproof epoxy.... www.dunnsohn.com

Anne Chambers - Potter Anne Chambers creates colourful, elegant porcelain pieces for everyday use and special occasions. She has been working with primarily porcelain clay for the past 30 years. Whether she is using the elegant translucency of a celadon glaze or multiple sprayed glazes combined with slip decoration and stamping on her work, these surface treatments create visual depth. The gas firing reduction process enhances these surface qualities.... Anne Chambers Pottery www.annechambers.ca

Big thank you to our local sponsors. You have supported us for years and made the large format brochure and map possible. The tour is about craft and community, thank you so much for your support.

Throwback to Zoë Lianga's studio last fall. Our virtual tour is just around the corner, but we will miss seeing all your smiling faces.

It's throwback Thursday! Here's Franc van Oort's studio, with guest artists Ellen Fraser and Gary Barr.

Susie Osler - Ceramic Work and Drawings The practice of reverence and offering, and how connection to place inspires creativity are central themes in Susie's work. So too are the 'between' spaces where the domestic and the wild co-mingle. Pleasure, reverence and appreciation for ritual and ceremony are responses she hopes to provoke in her ceramic and 2D work. ... www.susieosler.com

Catherine Orfald - Painter Catherine has been painting most of her life. Her artwork has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Canada and Mexico and her commissioned work is in many private collections. She focuses on painting from the natural world that inspires her including people, pets, landscapes and other subjects.... www.orfald.ca Catherine painting en plein air photograph by Scott Haig

Franc van Oort's collection, Italy in Watercolour, will be on display at the Riverguild, in downtown Perth, until the end of this month. Don't miss the chance to see this exhibit of Franc's most recent work, inspired by a winter trip to various parts of Italy. https://www.riverguild.com/events-1

Rita Redner - Potter Form, colour and texture are the defining features of Rita Redner's stoneware pottery. Wheel-thrown, sometimes altered, carved or fluted, her work is a joy to use every day. She fires to cone 6 in a 40cu ft. sprung arch kiln using a mixture of sodium chloride and borax when "salting" towards the end of the firing process. ... www.riverguild.com/pager

Each of our artists will be gauging their own comfort level when it comes to scheduling in-person appointments this year. Get in touch with the artist whose work piques your interest and have a conversation about the best approach to seeing and purchasing their work. This many include an in-person studio visit to purchase or commission a piece. If this is the case, appointments will be made from October 10th to 18th. For instances where in-person meetings aren't a possibility, we still welcome you to get in touch and sort out the best way to view our artists' work and make purchases. Many of us will be offering "curbside pickup" or mail delivery.

Brent Kirkham - Boat Builder With a long and varied history working with wood and a rower/paddler from an early age, it was only a matter of time before Brent Kirkham combined those two interests and started building boats. Twenty years ago he started doing just that. Now, with boats distributed across North America and Europe, Brent is well known for the detail of his work, the cutting edge building techniques he has developed and the personalized inlays that accompany many ...of his projects. All canoes, kayaks and rowing skiffs are custom built, unique to each customer and ordered on a commission basis. www.kirkskanoes.com

Throwback Thursday! Thinking back to last year when Dunn Sohn's studio was open to guests. We're looking forward to a future where we can open our doors to the public again.

Throwback Thursday! Remember when we could all mingle and shop inside our artists' studios? Here's Anne Chamber's studio in full swing during last year's tour. Anne Chambers Pottery

This year our Virtual Tour will showcase the work of our members only. Though this won't include guest artists, our 9 members are excited to bring you their latest and greatest work - online and by appointment. Our members include Anne Chambers, Brent Kirkham, Zoë Lianga, Willa Murray, Catherine Orfald, Susie Osler, Rita Redner, Dunn Sohn and Franc van Oort.

Starting October 10th our artists will have their online stores stocked with their most recent work, our new website will feature video tours of our artists' studios and links to our shops. We will also be scheduling appointments for small groups to purchase artwork in person from October 10th to 18th. COVID protocols will be in place. Each artist will also be offering "curbside pickup". Though our studios won't be open to the general public, we encourage you to come enjoy the fall colours in your car (or on a bike!) while picking up your handmade items.

Our meetings are looking a little different these days, and so is the tour itself. Our Virtual Studio Tour launches on October 10th. We are busy in our studios, stocking our online shops and preparing for COVID-safe appointments. More details to come!

Perth Studio Tour Covid News It has been a time of decision making, and we have decided to go virtual this year. We will be posting updates here and on our website, so please stay in touch - virtually.

There is still time to apply for this fall's studio tour, on Thanksgiving weekend. You have until midnight on March 31st to apply as a guest artist. This is our 28th year running and our tour has earned a solid reputation for its calibre and diversity of work. Over the 3-day weekend approximately 3000 visitors travel between our studios. Come be a part of it!

Yo! Emerging and established artists! In between your Zoom meetings and calls, webinars etc. you may have time to APPLY to our studio tour! Deadline is midnight, March 31 (Tuesday). It is a very straightforward online application. Check it out here: https://www.perthstudiotour.com/howtoapply

We're accepting applications for this year's Perth Studio Tour until midnight on March 31st. Perhaps you have more down time than usual right now? Perhaps this is the perfect time to show the world your creative side? We remain hopeful that this year's tour will run and that we can bring you the wide selection of handcrafted work by curated artists that you're used to. Time will tell.... We wish you all health and calm. Find the application here. https://www.perthstudiotour.com/howtoapply

Happy to announce we are accepting applications for the 2020 Perth Autumn Studio Tour. Find the application form here: https://www.perthstudiotour.com/howtoapply We are a collective of artisans who host this annual event Thanksgiving weekend as a place to showcase our abundantly artistic community which is vital to the local economy.... Pleased to announce our emerging artist category to support young and upcoming creative spirits. #perthautumnstudiotour #perthstudiotour #perthontario #artisan #handmade #local #supportlocal #arts #craft #emergingartists #fresh

Congratulations to David McClelland and Jacqueline for spending their $50 gift certificate towards this gorgeous sculpture by John Schweighardt.

Today is the day! Come see us on the tour, its going to be a beautiful weekend. Did you know you can download the map for the tour on our newly updated website. Check it out! ... Link in bio. @susieosler @catorfald @zoe.emily.designs @bridgerydoo @therealmuffleup @willamurray.design @kaajuk @living__stones @claycham @biosphere.ed @spraguewoodturning @justthetiphandpoketattoos @paulustjiang @jvspear @ritarednerpottery @dagmarsdesigns @evan_taylor_design @brent.kirkham @finechocolatebyludwig #Comewander #Perthstudiotour #Perthartisans #Buylocal #meetthemakers #countryroads #lanarkcounty #lanark #craftsmanship #perthontario #fallcolours #artisan #handcrafted #traditionalcrafts #locallymade #countrylife #lanarkcounty #perth #autumncolours #livingfromtheheart #mindfullife #handmade See more

STUDIO 2 Meet Meredith Combs and browse her display of handmade slippers, cozy accessories, pillows made from vintage fur coats, funky poufs and ottomans. Meredith is a new artist on the tour this year. She has been pursuing art her whole life, attended Emily Carr University for fine art (painting and printmaking) and started her textile business 6 years ago. In her words, "Im more driven to make things than inspired. Its an impulse to create. When Im producing art or wearable products, I feel balanced. If Im not creating, somethings definitely wrong". Muffle-Up + M.J. Combs Artworks

We're about to hit the airwaves! Tune into Lake 88.1 right now to learn more about this weekend's studio tour. Lake 88

STUDIO 2 Bridget OFlaherty Textile Artist... Using her sewing machine to delicately lay stitch after stitch, Bridget uses thread to create naturescapes. She gets wool locally and hand felts her background fibres. Now thats a local product! Bridget O'Flaherty Thread Painted Art #threadpainting #textileart #fibreart #Comewander #Perthstudiotour #Buylocal #lanarkcounty #lanark #perthontario #fallcolours #traditionalcrafts

STUDIO 4 Shelley Ball is a biologist, environmental educator and photographer. She uses photography in a creative way to communicate about nature and the environment. She says, "it's a way to connect people to nature and to inspire them to care about it and protect it". Come see her collection of stretched canvas prints, unframed prints on watercolour paper, blank nature notecards, and inspirational postcards this weekend. 44th Parallel Photography

3 days and counting! Be sure to stop at Brooke Valley School for a delicious harvest lunch. Soups, stews, salads, fresh bread and the best treats in the valley will be served by the school's wonderful parents and students. This is the school's largest annual fundraiser so each meal served helps support this small school with big heart. They will have pumpkins for sale too. 190 Seaborn Lane

STUDIO 2 Scott Dobson Split rail fencing is a traditional craft that Scott has held in high regard. His skill has him building fences all over Ontario. ... Come see samples in @susieosler garden to get a sense of the craftsmanship he delivers. #splitrailfence #fencing #yardart #gardenart #Comewander #Perthstudiotour #Perthartisans #Buylocal #meetthemakers #countryroads #lanarkcounty #lanark #craftsmanship #perthontario #fallcolours #artisan #handcrafted #traditionalcrafts #locallymade #countrylife #perth #autumncolours #livingfromtheheart #mindfullife #handmade