Two dozen local artists will be showcasing their work at various homes in Saanich and Victoria this weekend, as part of the Scattered Artists tour.
The annual tour invites art enthusiasts and average Joes to take in artwork of all types and styles by dropping in at 10 different locations in the area. The tour is bounded by Mount Douglas, Swan Lake, Hillside Avenue, and Blanshard and Shelbourne streets.
“We have potters, photographers, painters,” said Jim Dodd, one of the participating artists. “We have painters working in acrylic, ink, watercolour, from abstract to contemporary.”
Dodd, who joined Scattered Artists about 14 years ago, said the tour draws everyone from art connoisseurs to everyday people, displaying some amazing pieces by local artists.
“Most people that come out are amateur artists looking to see what other artists are doing,” said Dodd. “People are curious about what you’re up to.”
Dodd specializes in nature scenes and has worked with watercolours, but has shifted his focus to acrylic paint, adding clay to create more textured works of art.
“As an artist, I think you have to keep playing,” he said. “I like experimenting with my work.”
This year’s tour was organized by Shelby Assenheimer and Anne Bowen, who are featured with Dodd as well as the following artists: Peggy Acomba, Lorna Bergen, Linda Butcher, Victor J. Crapnell, Christine Crawford, Nancy Dolan, Jan Dong, Nancy Fraser, Marie Green, Judith Hale, Barry Herring, Marnie Hueston, Sherryl Hustins, Virginia Hutzuliak, Lois Kissinger, Joanne McGachie, Steve Milroy, Julianne Mullin, Elfrida Schragen, Sheila Watson and Barbara Willock.
Dodd said the tour is an opportunity for him and other artists to foster new ideas and evolve in their artwork.
“The more you look at art, and the more you know of the people that are doing it, the more you realize that they put their heart and soul into what they’re doing,” said Dodd.
The Scattered Artists tour runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is free. Many pieces will be for sale, with artists accepting cash and cheques, as well as credit and debit transactions where available.
For a map of the tour or for more information, visit scattered-artists.ca.