A studio tour is an art show unlike any other. It not only offers art admirers  a view of an artist’s most personal workspace, but also collects a region’s array of artists into one area, making it quite easy to experience them all over one day.

Or even three days. The Bainbridge Island Studio Tour is Kitsap’s most current such event, on Dec. 5-7.

“The Bainbridge Island Studio Tour is a fun, self-guided art tour of local artists’ studios, and a few community halls,” said Dinah Satterwhite with the tour.

“It’s especially fun for everyone to meet the artists and talk about their work, their style, and what inspires them.”

The event is akin to a wine tasting tour, but instead of driving from one location to another to experience a range of vintages and flavors, participants hop from one studio to the next, getting a taste of regional art.

Though, flavor won’t be entirely absent from the tour.

“Each studio provides refreshments, like hot apple cider and butter cookies,” Satterwhite said. “And some of the studios will have live music from regional musicians.”

“So the atmosphere will be festive and the studios will be full of wonderful holiday gift ideas and fun-loving local artists,” she said.

Bainbridge Island has two studio tours each year, one in the summer and one in the  winter. North Kitsap also has its own tour called Art in the Woods, usually held each November.

The artwork is not just for looks, but also for sale, and in time for the gift-giving season.

“The studio tour has a fairly wide variety of fine art, including pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, metal art, encaustics, garden art, glass, fiber, wearables, mosaics, and whimsical work,” Satterwhite said. “There is also wood art and sculpture, and wood furniture. And several block print artists with very different styles.”

“One artist who weaves cedar to make the most fascinating creations. A new artist this year makes these very unique fiber and textile mixed media sculptures,” she said. “Another one-of-a-kind art medium is our metal clock artist who uses gears and parts from motorcycles.”

Artists are screened  by tour organizers, Satterwhite said. Once accepted, the artist gets a place on the tour.

“So our customers are very loyal and know they can count on original, hand-crafted art that is unique and made locally,” Satterwhite said.

How it works

The tour is self-guided. Participants hop in a car and traverse the island; from the Robert Spangler Studio near Lynwood at the south end of the island, to Seabold Hall at the north end. In all, nine locations are included, each with a collection of artists. Sites include: The Robert Spangler Studio; the American Legion hall; the Filipino-American Hall; Strawberry Hill gym; Waterfront Park Community Center; Grange Hall; Siebert Pottery Studio; Hidden Cove Pottery; Seabold Hall.

A map of the tour can be found online at www.bistudiotour.com. Brochures with maps and artist information can be found at any of the nine sites.

Bus tours will also be available. The bus will stop at each location, and will bring folks to breakfast in Winslow. The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association has tour bus information at 206-842-2982, option 3. The association can book a seat on the bus.