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Studio Tour History

HISTORY OF THE STUDIO TOUR

The Camano Island Studio Tour began in 1999 with 14 venues listed on a single sheet of yellow paper.  Some of the grassroots artists from that original studio tour continue to participate in the event today, more than 20 years later.  Those artists are John Ebner, Jack Gunter, and Karla Matzke.  The Camano Island Studio Tour was the original “studio tour”, where artists invited guests into their working studios on Camano Island.  This unique experience has been deemed as North Puget Sound’s most celebrated art-related experience. “We work together to make art a meaningful part of everyday life in our communities.”

Take a walk through history by looking at the posters from our past studio tours.

Our Poster History of the Studio Tour

2000: Second Annual Studio Tour

Diane Hill’s watercolor of a woman painting plein aire was the poster art for the tour.

2001: Third Annual Studio Tour

Karla Matzke’s “Cama Beach Cabins, Camano Island” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 22 studios and galleries with 43 participating artists on the tour this year.  Karla continues to be a member of CAA.

2002: Fourth Annual Studio Tour

Maxine Englands’ “Puff Balls” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 22 studios and galleries on the tour and 37 artists participated. Vicki Dodge, Betty Dorotik, Renate Trapkowski, and Sue Uhrich were new in 2002. Nine of the artists from this year are still participating! Still on the tour are: Chaim and Yonnah Bezalel, Dotti Burton, Betty Dorotik, Jack Dorsey, John Ebner, Mark Ellinger, Liz Hamlin, and Susan Rothschild.

2003: Fifth Annual Studio Tour

Bezalel-Levy’s “Seeds” , a mixed collaboration was the poster art for the tour.  There were 23 studios and galleries with 44 participating artists on the tour this year.  This creative husband & wife team continue to be members of CAA.

2004: Sixth Annual Studio Tour

Mark Ellinger’s “Glass Floats” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 27 studios and galleries with 55 participating artists on the tour this year.  Mark continues to be a current member of CAA.

2005: Seventh Annual Studio Tour

Jeanine Borree’s “View from Pebble Beach” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 29 studios and galleries with 59 participating artists on the tour this year.

2006: Eighth Annual Studio Tour

Jillian Mattison’s acrylic was the poster art for the tour.  There were 29 studios and galleries with 54 participating artists on the tour this year.  Jillian is a current member of CAA.

2007: Ninth Annual Studio Tour

Donald Miller’s, “Eibe Farmhouse” mixed media was the poster art for the tour.  There were 33 studios and galleries with 65 participating artists on the tour this year.

2008: Tenth Annual Studio Tour

John D. Muhler “The Portal” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 32 studios and galleries with 58 participating artists on the tour this year.  John Delzell (Muhler) changed his name to Delzell.  He continued to paint and participate in the Studio Tour until his sudden death in 2015.

2009: Eleventh Annual Studio Tour

Ann Cory’s “Song of Summer” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 35 studios and galleries with and 60 participating artists on the tour this year.  Ann is currently showing on the tour with her family at The Sunnyshore Gallery.

2010: Twelfth Annual Studio Tour

Dianna Shyne’s “Bay Road” was the poster art for the tour.  There were 35 studios and galleries with 61 participating artists on the tour this year.  This year hallmarks the “Encore Weekend”, a full 5 days of exploring the island and visiting with the artists.

2011: Thirteenth Annual Studio Tour

For the second time, Jeanine Borree’s artwork is featured as the poster artwork.  Her”Sunny Garden” was the poster art.  There were 39 studios and galleries with 52 participating artists on the tour this year.

2012: Fourteenth Annual Studio Tour

For the second time, the team of Bezalel-Levy is featured as the poster artwork.  “Low Tide”, a mixed collaboration, was the poster art.  There were 37 studios and galleries with 62 participating artists on the tour this year.

2013: Fifteenth Annual Studio Tour

Inspired by the nature of Camano Island, Susan Cohen Thompson’s oil painting “Guardians of the Island” graces the cover of the 2013 studio tour brochure.  48 artists, 31 studios and 3 galleries were participating on the tour this year.

2014: Sixteenth Annual Studio Tour

Camano Island Studio Tour Cover Artist Kathy Hastings draws her inspiration from the watery environs.  She frequents the rusty hulls and draft numbers of anchored fishing vessels at Fishermen’s Terminal and encountered this scowling heron near Salmon Bay.  Encaustic Painting”Who Goes There” by Kathy Hastings.  41 artists, and 3 galleries participated in the 2014 Camano Island Studio Tour.

2015: Seventeenth Annual Studio Tour

John Ebner’s artwork was featured on our poster for the 2015 Studio Tour. John is one of the most collected artists on the tour.  42 artists and 3 galleries participated this year.

2016: Eighteenth Annual Studio Tour

Marguerite Goff’s piece “River Dance” appeared on the poster and brochure cover for the 2016 Camano Island Studio Tour. The graphic photos and layout design was done by CAA Member Kathy Hastings.  Marguerite has been a member for many years, and displayed a large body of functional and decorative pieces for the 2016 tour.  Her studio location was #17 on the map. There were 50+ artists, 25 studios and 3 galleries on the studio tour.

2017: Nineteenth Annual Studio Tour

Nicki Wight’s watercolor “Crabs” was the 2017 Studio Tour poster and brochure image. The bright and lively painting was selected in late 2016 for the honor of representing the entire show. Nicki is new to the Studio Tour and showed her artwork at her home studio during the Mother’s Day event.

2018: Twentieth Annual Studio Tour

John Ebner’s watercolor of Port Susan Bay and the crabbing boats at Country Club Beach was selected as the cover for the 2018 brochure and poster.  This was the 20th Anniversary of the Studio Tour! We are grateful to our visitors who have helped make the Studio Tour one of the most popular events in our region.

2019: Twenty-First Annual Studio Tour

Jack Gunter’s painting of Northwest Native American baskets, graced our tour poster and brochure.  This talented painter is a founding member of the Camano Island Studio Tour. He is well known throughout the Northwest, and we are grateful for his presence on our island!  Approximately 45 artists and 3 galleries participated this year.

2020: Annual Studio Tour

What would have been the 22nd annual art tour, sadly, had to be canceled due to a world wide pandemic. The CAA board voted in early 2020 to cancel the spring tour, which proved to be the wisest decision- as the pandemic continued to devastate people in the United States and around the world.

2021: Twenty-Second Annual Studio Tour

This year, artists held a condensed and voluntary art tour due to the pandemic. The tour was held for  one weekend only, and in June instead of May. There were more than 30 artists at 16 studios, as well as 4 galleries. A big thank you to all of our visitors and supporters who came out despite an historic heatwave happening in the Pacific Northwest.

2022: Twenty-Third Annual Studio Tour

College artist Tasha Smith uses the natural world around her to inspire her artwork. Her image was featured on our Save the Date card, poster, and the brochure cover in 2022. She was a new participant to the 2022 Camano Island Studio Tour and showed her work in her home studio. This bright and cheerful image helped represent the happiness we all felt in returning to our typical two weekends in May. Mother’s Day Weekend and the following weekend known as Encore Weekend.

2023: Twenty-Fourth Annual Studio Tour

This year we are featuring the artwork of four CAA members: Susan Cohen Thompson, Melissa Jander, Nicki Wight, and Susan Foster-Brereton.

We hope these beautiful works of art invite you to come experience the Camano Island Studio Tour in person on  Mother’s Day Weekend and the following weekend known as Encore Weekend.

Also, be sure to stop at the Camano Gateway as you arrive on the island. This landmark at Freedom Park next to Terry’s Corner is now a Camano Arts Association gallery and information center. Pick up a Tour Map and continue on your tour of the island’s many open studios and galleries.  Art lives on Camano Island!