Amazing Artisans

Mud Dauber Pottery - Earlysville

We really had a fun time this past Saturday touring eight different art studios in the Charlottesville area during the 16th Annual Artisans Studio Tour.  There were multiple artists work at each studio so we saw a variety of different styles of work - pottery, weavings, jewelry, and woodwork.   

We started out in Earlysville at Mud Dauber Pottery which is a very beautiful studio featuring lovely works of art.  We also encountered new pastry chef, Anissa Walker of Three Baked Goods.  The best nibbles found on the tour offering sweets made in three styles, classic, vegan, and gluten-free.  Anissa's commercial kitchen will be up and running in January.  I may seem to be diverting from the main thrust of my post, ARTISANS, but it's awfully hard not to mention the food we snagged while on this tour.  Each studio provides a finger food assortment and some even provide wine! 



Frederick Williamson Bowls - White Hall



The tour was in town as well as out in the far reaches of Albemarle, Greene, and Nelson counties.
It was a perfectly beautiful, bright and sunny day to meander through the rolling hills discovering  fascinating studios.

The most remote studio that we visited was the Frederick Williamson Art Studio in White Hall.  Driving down the gravel road into the vibrant forest with bold seasonal splashes of yellow and orange was gorgeous.  Dotted along the road were huge logs of wood awaiting their turn to be made into bowls. 



Mary Beth Bellah's quilting fabric viewed through an aquarium



We were blown away by the 3-dimensional quilting by Mary Beth Bellah.  She has been featured in MANY publications and her work is truly her love and passion.  As with many of the artist studios along the tour, the bottom floor of their home was transformed to studio space and featured her works of art.

Two other interesting studios were located in little neighborhood hideaways where normal "city" life goes on amid the business of making art.  Hawksbill Pottery in Key West is dedicated to half of the family home, produced by both artists in residence.  The Andrea Korotky Studio was also hidden away in a busy but peaceful downtown neighborhood nestled among the trees.

Jewelry artist Anita Whitney displayed pretty works of art.  Especially lovely was a Pelican necklace and little silver beaded earrings hoops.

Anita Whitney Pelican Necklace

All artists along the tour were friendly and eager to share explain how their works were crafted.  It was a fun and interesting day!      - Rebecca