Traditional landscapes, pop-surrealism paintings, three-dimensional art made only from paper, bronze sculptures, and more were among the types of art that could be seen during the Santa Barbara Studio Artists’ 22nd annual Open Studios Tour over Labor Day weekend.
Each year since 2001, the Santa Barbara Studio Artists — formed in 2000 by local artists Mel Zaid, Ruth Ellen Hoag, and Hedy Price Paley — have welcomed visitors into private studios to interact with local artists and view their work and creative process in a self-guided tour.
“Our purpose is to increase the audience for individual artists, and to promote awareness of Santa Barbara as an art destination,” the organization’s website said. “By doing so, we aim to have a positive influence on the incomes and reputations of the many artists who have chosen to live here.”
Francis Scorzelli, Santa Barbara Studio Artists president, said the organization also likes to bring in a variety of artists to showcase several different types of art and appeal to a wide range of interests.
“We try to let people into artist studios because a lot of people want to see where they create, and that’s why we do this,” Scorzelli said. “We try to make it an art destination for Santa Barbara.”
This year, 26 artists opened their work spaces for the tour, with studios located in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Montecito.
While artists featured on the tour all currently live and work in Santa Barbara, many of them have come from all over the world with varying levels of experience.
“Most of our artists have gravitated to Santa Barbara from all over the United States and abroad, as well as from many different schools, because they find it a congenial and inspiring environment in which to conduct their business,” the Santa Barbara Studio Artists website said.
For example, husband-and-wife duo Stan and Tricia Evenson moved to Santa Barbara from Oregon about three years ago. Before living in Oregon, though, the two led Evenson Design Group in the Los Angeles area, creating brand identities and advertising.
Stan Evenson also designed over 150 album covers for artists such as Tom Petty, Tina Turner, and more.
He said they “reinvented [themselves] from graphic designers to fine artists” in 2014.
Another artist, Isaure de la Presle, who creates abstract paintings and etchings, came to Santa Barbara about four years ago after moving between North America and Europe, where she was born in Paris, France, since she was 9 years old.
“I love it here,” de la Presle said. “Santa Barbara is very healing, and it’s got a lot of creative energy in the artist community.”
Art showcased in the tour ranged from contemporary landscape paintings, portraits, and still life to sculptures made of bronze, clay, metal, or porcelain and surrealism and abstract.
And just as the types of art varied, so too did the media, with some artists using oil paints or pastels, and others working in watercolors or mixed media.
Proceeds from ticket sales this year benefited Alpha Resource Center. Past beneficiaries of the tour include the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital’s Healing Arts Program, and more.
More information on Santa Barbara Studio Artists and its annual Open Studios Tour can be found on the organization’s website here.
