It’s no secret that Bainbridge Island has a rich and diverse local arts culture.

With galleries that outline downtown Winslow and studios that speckle the whole island, local artists and collectors make up a large part of our community.

But it’s not every day that the community’s artists come together for viewers to see pieces straight from the studio.

Next weekend, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 9, 10 and 11, the Bainbridge Island Studio Tour will open its 13th annual summer event.

“Artists are continually working on pieces,” said Sylvia Carlton, a plein air painter who is participating in the tour. “There are a lot of pieces that are never shown outside of the studio.”

The weekend tour will feature 46 local artists at six studios located in various spots around the island.

The art will include such hand-crafted work as watercolors, jewelry, pottery, furniture, metal art, garden art, mixed media, fiber art and photography.

“Not only do you get to meet a lot of outstanding artists who do outstanding artwork, but you get to meet people who you wouldn’t meet in any other circumstance,” Carlton explained.

Carlton is an arts instructor with the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District. She has been teaching oils and acrylics, abstract painting and expressive drawing for eight years.

In plein air, Carlton draws in the beauty of our physical surroundings and captures the exquisite, elegant and grandeur of floral and natural landscapes.

Her art was recently on display at Blackbird Bakery and is also featured at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.

Carlton has participated in the tour for several years. This year will be the first time she will open her garden doors as an outdoor studio location.

Along with Carlton, another long-time participant will also open her garden as a location.

Jewelry artist Anne Briggs uses metal-smithing techniques with mixed metals, copper, gold-filled and silver materials to create her jewelry. Her work combines contemporary design with timeless shape and tone. Each piece contains an ancestral quality that creates a feeling that it has been around for a while.

Briggs, who is also an avid gardener, said that a lot of her pieces emulate nature and come to life like mini sculptures.

Briggs’ studio, located on the north end of the island, will include seven other artists. Their work will vary from outdoor furniture to gemstone jewelry.

“I love supporting local art and supporting local business, and it’s a chance to interact with the public, where you don’t with galleries,” Briggs said.

“I just look at it as an extension of the local farmers market.”

The Studio Tour is a chance to meet the artists in your neighborhood. All the studios will be located outdoors at various home gardens. There will be live music and art available for purchase. There is no entrance fee.

For more information on the participating artists and studio locations, visit www.bistudiotour.com.