A Treasure Trove of Art!

Seven years ago, Santa Barbara Studio Artists, a consortium of Santa Barbara’s most successful, award-winning artists, opened their studio doors to the public for their inaugural Open Studio Tour. Since then, the event has become a hotly anticipated annual attraction. Offering a veritable treasure trove of art and an insider’s journey through more than 40 artist studios, the tour is widely attended by art collectors and gallery owners, who travel from as far as New York, Paris and New Zealand to have first picks of new works by top U.S. artists that happen to reside in the area. 

Also known as the California Riviera, Santa Barbara is widely regarded as an artists’ colony, attracting artists of all media because of its moderate climate and abundance of subjects from lush foliage to majestic coastlines. With galleries throughout the city and a host of arts events throughout the year, Santa Barbara is also a priority destination for art collectors, enthusiasts and gallery owners as well.  Santa Barbara Studio Artists Annual Open Studio Tour accommodates both groups in one large annual event showcasing a variety and breadth of work by award-winning artists, whose works are showcased in some of the nation’s most prestigious galleries and museums, and held in notable private and corporate collections world wide.

The Annual Open Studio Tour reflects a growing trend in art showcasing. Open studios are creeping up across the country as alternative venues enabling artists to highlight their own work, and providing buyers with opportunities to interact with the artists directly and purchase original art at more accessible price points than high-end galleries.  Artists and aspiring artists benefit by having an opportunity to visit professional artists in their studios, ask questions about their journey and discuss practical matters such as how they market their works or organize their business.

Santa Barbara Studio Artists is a highly selective and competitive member-run organization consisted of top-rated, professional studio artists. To be considered for membership, applicants must be established career artists, who have achieved recognition in their field. Nearly all members have showcased their works in top galleries, museums and major private and corporate collections throughout the world.

The 7th annual tour commences with a Gala Exhibition from 6-9 pm on Friday, August 29th at The Arts Fund Gallery, 205 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara. Featuring artwork ranging from stone sculptures and mixed-media abstracts to pleine-air landscapes and whimsical scenes in oils and watercolors by participating artists, the Gala offers ticketholders an opportunity to meet the artists, and decide which studios to visit on the tour, Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31, 11 am-5 pm.

Proceeds from this year’s event benefit The Arts Fund of Santa Barbara, a non-profit organization supporting artists and arts programming in Santa Barbara County.  For tickets, maps and information call 805-899-8854 or visit www.santabarbarastudioartists.com <http://www.santabarbarastudioartists.com> .