Stirring social time with sharing ideas with a day of creating, area artists immerse themselves in their creative visions at the Art Center Traverse City's weekly Open Studio.
Held every Thursday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., the Open Studio welcomed four painters last week during the holiday break and more are anticipated weekly as the year begins. With easels provided, attendees bring their canvases, paints, brushes and whatever other accessories they need, including beverages or lunch for the dedicated. The Open Studio for Art Center members but non-members are welcome to attend as guests.
Friends and painting buddies Melodee Rupert of Traverse City and Diann Benoit Jameyfield of Imlay City often attend Open Studio, drawn to the companionship with fellow artists that the day provides. Rupert, a member of the Art Center Plein Air group, said many members just come indoors to the Open Studio during cooler months to continue being together.
"We just keep coming in the winter because we can't stop painting,” said Rupert, who introduced Jameyfield to the local Plein Air group.
The regular gatherings can help artists, who work solo and often in isolated settings, counter natural hermit tendencies.
"Art can be a lonely thing because you're doing it by yourself,” Rupert noted. "So it's important to have other artists to paint with, not even necessarily to talk but just to paint next to each other.”
Art Center Traverse City manager Stephanie Starner-Grenier is hoping to expand the Open Studio concept this winter by presenting video demonstrations by famous artists. For a part of each Thursday, attendees will be able to view and discuss a video as sort of a mini-seminar.
"We have DVDs of all our summer artists,” said Starner-Grenier of the center's noted workshop program that draws attendees from around the nation and world.
Linda Starner, Starner-Grenier's mother, began painting about four years ago inspired by her son-in-law. He made her some canvases for her birthday and the next day she painted the scene outside her window and was hooked.
"It gets under your skin, it really does,” said Starner, who is a regular at Open Studio if the weather is not bad. "When you start painting, time does fly. Usually you're here three or four hours and you might not finish it.”
Starner worked in oils last week to create an outdoor scene, but she is also fond of acrylics and is learning more about watercolors. She is always eager to paint regardless of what's on her brush.
"I like them all so far, I'm just thrilled with every one of them” Starner enthused. "I don't know if I'll settle on one at all.”
With intense concentration, Mary Ellen Thero added fine details to her watercolor painting of the Old Mission Point Lighthouse Thursday afternoon. A member of the Art Center for about ten years, she also paints with the Plein Air group during the summer and often attends Open Studio sessions the rest of the year.
"It's the camaraderie, it's fun to be with the others and see what they do,” she said.
Open Studio is held every Thursday at the Art Center Traverse City from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and attendees may bring their own materials and even a lunch to spend the day. The center is located at 720 S. Elmwood at the corner of 11th Street. For more information on the Open Studio or membership in the Art Center, call 941-9488.