The Winter Studio Tour on Bainbridge Island is celebrating its 30th anniversary on Dec. 6, 7 and 8. More than 60 local artists will be on hand showcasing their work in nine local artists’ studios and community halls, in the free, self-guided art tour.
There will also be a free raffle for a basket of art at each studio.
The studios are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days, with live music provided by regional musicians and carolers. Each studio will be festively adorned for the holiday season, and full of hand-crafted artwork.
Artist profile:
Michelle Vukic, Sandbox Cards and Gifts
206-910-0435, mvukic2@msn.com, www.sandboxcardsandgifts.com
“Creations from Sandbox combine my love of the artisanship from old-world traditions with a modern sensibility,” Vukic said.
“I have always been at home in a garden and in the woods — collecting leaves and flowers to press into books, picking strawberries and making jam with my grandma in the spring. And I have always been a painter, painting on rocks from the beach when I was very young, to writing poetry with illustrations as a teenager, to now putting watercolor to paper as an adult.”
Vukic’s paintings are mostly inspired by the beauty of Bainbridge Island, including birds, flowers and farms.
“I have always liked to paint small, what I call “vignettes,” so the idea of creating cards from my paintings made perfect sense. With the prints I create collage-style backgrounds using vintage ephemera from a variety of sources, including my own family’s genealogy and postage stamp collection, as well as postcards, ledgers, advertisements and various old papers from all over the world,” she explained.
“You will certainly see my love of all things French as well. After I have created the final design, I then distress and antique the surfaces to create an old-world feel. I use high quality papers and envelopes, and strive to use mostly recycled papers and materials.
“In my jewelry, I concentrate mainly on wirework using fine silver and sterling silver. Hoops, charms and pendants are my own creations, made by fusing, soldering and forging hand-formed silver, as well as firing Precious Metal Clay. I prefer an aged look, so I like to oxidize my pieces in order to make them look vintage.
“I also like to bring in old charms and rosary components when I find them, as well as representations of natural elements, like birds and leaves. I like a feminine, traditional look reminiscent of simple French and Victorian styles, with a deep, rich color palette,” she said.
For complete details on the Winter Studio Tour, including a list of studios, artists, photos, and a map, go to the studio tour website at www.bistudiotour.com.
Brochures can be downloaded from the website, or found at the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and regional stores.
