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Understanding artists on tour

By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer

To know the person behind the paint brush, camera lens, pottery wheel or blowtorch often requires a trip to the studio where they create.

During the South County leg of the 10th annual Open Studios Art Tour Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct., 19, the public can gain that understanding.

Laurel Sherrie, accomplished plein air artist, said opening her rural Arroyo Grande studio — a small garage-turned-painting studio — during the tour lets people see her work and get to know a little about her.

“You get to see where the artist works,” Sherrie said about the benefit of participating in the Open Studios Tour. “You get more of an understanding of the artist (when you go to their studio). I live in the country. It’s me; it’s who I am.”

Sherrie has been interested in art her entire life — she’s the only artist in her family — and remembers sketching profiles of students during class in elementary school while trying to listen to her teacher.

“I think I just got it all ... the kids in kindergarten would ask me to draw their Christmas trees,” she said, with a laugh, about her artistic talent. “It’s just a natural interest. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and I’m still learning so it’s never boring.”

Sherrie, who grew up in Illinois and moved to California in 1969, began working with oil paint in high school, worked as a graphic designer after college and went back to painting in oils in 1987.

“I love to paint,” she said from her studio that opens to a “secret garden,” where the sound of happy hens and a crowing rooster can be heard just outside the back door.

“For me, the process isn’t complete until (the painting) is hanging in someone’s house. I’m trying to communicate something when I paint,” she added.

Sherrie paints most of her work on location — plein air painting — but is somewhat limited by the ever-changing light in the sky. She uses a digital camera to take pictures of the area and finishes the painting in her studio, using the photograph as a reference.

“Very rarely do I finish a painting on location,” Sherrie said, adding she loves to paint outdoors and painting from life. “After about two hours, the light has changed so much you’re just painting by memory.”

Most of Sherrie’s work depicts San Luis Obispo County landscapes and seascapes, but she also paints still lifes — her rooster paintings are very popular — and original paintings can be commissioned.

As an artist, Sherrie, who is inspired by nature, wants to share her work with the public and encourages people to participate in the upcoming Open Studios Tour.

“It’s a way to help support your local artists.” Sherrie said. “I can also put out everything because I am at home.”

She plans to put special prices on some of her works during the tour. Sherrie will also open her studio from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26, when North County artists open their studios to the public. Her studio is at 310 Corralitos Road.

Sherrie, and her husband, Bob Harvey, moved to rural Arroyo Grande 10 years ago. The couple previously lived in Santa Barbara and Ventura.

For more information about Laurel Sherrie’s art, visit www.laurelsherrie.com.

TO VISIT THE ARTISTS:

n South County galleries and artists’ studios will be featured on the second weekend of Arts Obispo’s 10th annual Open Studios Art Tour, Oct. 18 and 19. Some of the studios and galleries also will be open on a third Encore Weekend, Oct. 25 and 26.

n Tickets for the self-guided tour are $25, which includes a full color catalog featuring the work of all artists as well as maps to their studios.

n Tickets are available by phone at

544-9251 and online at www.sloartscouncil.org, where samples of artists’ works are on display.

n Tickets are also available at Old Town Nursery in Nipomo, 929-1084; Lund’s in Arroyo Grande, 473-1184; Village

Framing & Gallery in Arroyo Grande,

489-3587; Ron’s Nursery in Grover Beach, 489-4747; and Gold Coast Frames & Supply in Santa Maria, 346-6099.

n For more information, call 544-9251.

acharlton@theadobepress.com