#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time in my grandmother’s painting studio, a generously sized sunroom with plenty of light pouring in, so she didn’t fight shadow-casts on her canvases or inaccuracy in paint colors.

I’m not so lucky. My puny jewelry working area has such poor lighting that sometimes I must step outside to daylight to ensure there’s a match in the colors of my beads. I work from an end table with my supplies in a couple of baskets nearby. Other supplies and my display equipment are stored under a table in another room. Call it controlled chaos.

It’s a mistake to believe that every artist has a spacious studio with abundant light, work and storage areas. Some are lucky enough to have bedroom or garage space to work in. But there are more than a few — some of them award-winning artists — who find workspace in little more than utility rooms or large closets.

You won’t be seeing any of these “studios” when traveling the Joplin Regional Artists Coalition’s Studio Tour this weekend. The tour will spotlight those artists with professional studio and gallery space or who have studios converted from home spaces.

The tour is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

This is an opportunity for people to see where artists do their creating, offering an opportunity to become acquainted with local artists, view their varied workspaces, and explore the tools and processes of their profession.

“The studio tours provide a unique behind-the-scenes experience, offering the public a chance to see where the magic happens,” said Daria Claiborne, a potter who is coordinator of the tour. “It allows potential customers a way to connect with a variety of artists and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation for the creative process. And possibly get that one-of-a-kind gift.”

The tour will feature the works of 21 artists at eight locations throughout Joplin and in rural Carthage, Diamond and Oronogo, said Claiborne.

Some of the host artists will share their studio space with those who do not have work areas that are conducive to tours. Four such artists will be showing their works at the tour headquarters, Martin Luther School, 26th Street and Connecticut Avenue.

Tour maps will be available at the school, where there will also be a display of artwork that can be won in drawings.

Each artist on the tour has donated a piece to the drawings. Tour visitors may purchase $10 signature cards to be signed by artists along the tour, qualifying visitors for the art drawings. Every 10 artists’ signatures on a card qualifies for one entry in the drawings. Get all the artists’ signatures and you get three chances to win. Multiple signature cards may be purchased to increase chances of winning one of the donated artworks, said Claiborne, noting that the winners will be drawn Monday.

Visitors may start from any of the tour locations, where tour maps will be available, in addition to those at Martin Luther School. There will be directional signs posted near tour stops and at the stops.

Initiated in 2019, the tour is the brainchild of Claiborne, who first experienced a studio tour while visiting London a few years ago.

She liked the concept so much that she pitched it to JRAC in part as a fundraiser, but primarily to give artists exposure and to take the public to where art is created, rather than only viewing finished pieces in galleries and exhibits.

This could be an enlightening experience for the public and particularly for new artists desiring to see how professional studios are set up or carved out in untraditional spaces. It’s just another way to support local art.

The tour will include the following studio locations and artists:

Martin Luther School — Angel Brame (clay), Brooks-Elizabeth Billings (mixed media), Des Hernandez (Dystopia Art), and Ann Leach (spirit dolls).

2106 S. Connor — Andrew Batcheller and Linda Passeri (painters) and Mary Passeri (glass).

4225 Wisconsin — Steve and Valerie Doerr (woodturning).

501 Foxfire Court — Kristin Girard (jewelry), Dianne Miller (glass) and Brenda Hayes and Neva Rowland (mixed media).

4897 W. Fountain Road — Connie Miller (painting).

11737 County Road 220, Oronogo — Ginger Copeland (glass and painting), and Barbara Hicklin and Mary Parks (painters).

11217 Eider Lane, Carthage —April Davis (painting and mixed media).

19099 Aspen Road, Diamond —Brent Skinner, Melody Knowles and Ashley Brown (clay, stoneware and porcelain).

#inform-video-player-3 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }