
Two Weekends: October 8 & 9, October 15 & 16
As an artist, I welcome solitude to work on my paintings. As a person, I miss all the interaction that happens when I am able to meet art appreciators and other artists.
This Open Studio Art Tour has been happening for over thirty years, and I have been a participant since my first time in 1998 – over 20 years. Last year, after the Covid pause, the tour came back strong. I had a great time meeting so many old friends and making new friends. Thanks to all my new collectors! I expect this year may be even better. I’ll have a strong selection of new paintings to show in my spacious Soquel, CA art studio.
This tour is a chance for visitors to see my working space: paintings in various stages of completion, my palette and favorite paint colors, framing materials, art making tools, and speak in person with me.
Enjoy a wide range of art on your tour of Santa Cruz County Art Studios:
I will be open from 11am to 5pm, on October 8, 9, 15, &16. You can plan your tour with the guide magazine, available at many locales in Santa Cruz county, and see various other art forms from metal sculpture, glass, jewelry, collage, woodworking and many more. The tour is also an opportunity to visit less traveled locales in our community. The “south county” weekend is October 8 & 9. If you miss this weekend, many of us will return for the all county weekend on October 15 and 16. If neither weekend works for you, you may contact me anytime to arrange a private visit. Please drive carefully on my street, Cherryvale Avenue, as it is a favorite place for neighbors to walk and bike, and it has a few twists and turns.
I will probably not be providing food this year, at least not indoors. Last year I tried out having both an outdoor exhibit in a booth in front of my studio, and larger displays inside the studio itself. I’ll set up this way again this year – it helps keep the inside space from becoming too crowded.
Nearby, there are many fine restaurants in Soquel that offer outdoor seating or a take out menu if you need to find a break from art touring during the day. There is also a park with picnic tables and bathrooms on Old San Jose Rd., just past Soquel High School, Anna Jean Cummings Park (the park with the giant blue ball art installation.)
Plan a fun outing with friends in our beautiful coastal county, and definitely stop in to see me.

Looking forward to your visit,
Michele and Richard