30th Year of Countryside Artisans
By Dalis Davidson
It’s a bright sunny day with a slight breeze; a view of fields and the mountains rises serenely in the distance. Susan Due Pearcy of Sugarloaf Studio sets up her portable easel, chooses her palette of pastels, and begins to put the colors she sees on her paper. The light is changing quickly, and she captures the clouds, the greens and golds of the corn in the field, and the dark teals, greens, and even purples of the Catoctin Mountains. This moment of painting in situ is plein air painting. Susan is just one of the artists on the Countryside Artisans’ Autumn Studio Tour, and her recent paintings will be for sale at the upcoming tour, October 13 to 15.
Countryside Artisans is celebrating its thirtieth year of offering pottery, paintings, prints, fiber, sculpture, blown glass, quilts, craft wine and beer, jewelry, and even tea. From humble beginnings of just a few artists, the tour has grown to fifteen studios and many more artists. In 1993, Dalis Davidson and Peg Coleman organized a few artists in the area surrounding Sugarloaf Mountain to showcase their art on their farms and studios. The Countryside Artisans studio tour was born. They host studio tours three times a year, in April, October, and December.
Just an hour’s drive from Washington and Baltimore, folks can take a free self-guided tour of the studios and view the art or drink the beverages and get a glimpse of the rural landscape that inspires the artists. Many of the stops have farm animals grazing in the fields, the very same animals that produce the fiber that is then made into clothing (wearable art).
You may catch David Therriault of Alden Farms carving away on one of his stone sculptures. He has a beautiful two-acre sculpture garden where you can meander and view his outstanding pieces. Stop in the gallery to see current work for sale and meet guest artists.
Paintings, prints, and pastels can be seen at Cynthia Jennings’s studio, Windsong Studio, and next door at Tina Thieme Brown’s log cabin which is home to Morningstar Studio, both in Barnesville. The above-mentioned Sugarloaf Studio is just around the corner. Another fine artist, Kristen Morrison of Gallery East, offers her paintings in her converted barn. Becky Carr of Sugarloaf Quilting offers handcrafted quilts showcased at historic Darnell Farm.
If fiber is your interest, stop in at Dancing Leaf Farm where Dalis hand dyes many types of yarn, paints with wool from her sheep (which she calls “Lambscapes”) and felts artsy shawls. Visit the gallery at Tiewyan Farm, where Bev Thoms has curated a collection of artists, creating wool wearables and home goods. Heather Lysantri of Breezy Hill Farm sells handcrafted wearables, many made from her herd of alpacas.
A studio tour would not be complete without ceramic studios. Jennifer Hamilton of Dusty Road Pottery sells functional stoneware in her converted dairy barn. If you’d like to learn to make a mug or plate, she also offers classes. Mud Pi Studio, located at Heron’s Mead Farm, is the home of artist Lori Baker. Teapots and mugs are her forte, and these can be paired with a fresh crop of home-grown tea. Linda Phillips is the owner of Something Earthy, a pottery studio (also offering classes), and she showcases the works of a group of local artists in her gallery.
As for what is hot right now, take a look at Art of Fire. Watch Josh, Todd, or Bruce create a vase using a free-blown technique. Their gallery is stocked with colorful glass goblets, vases, ornaments, and more.
After a day of driving through the countryside and visiting with the artists, stop in at Waredaca Brewing Company for a cold locally-crafted beer or at Rocklands Farm and Winery for a glass of award-winning wine and take home some of their pasture-raised meats.
Help us celebrate our thirty years of bringing art and crafts to the public and to see where the artists live and work. Art makes a home!
For information on the tour and a map to the studios, visit www.countrysideartisans.com and please sign up for their newsletter.