Weekend art tours offer closeup view of area’s talent

Discover the creative spirit of area artists at two self-guided tours this weekend: • Take a self-guided tour of artists’ studios in Sidney, Central and North Saanich at the Artsea Spring Studio Tour, Saturday and Sunday at various locations on the peninsula.

Learn more about the creative process from visiting 21 painters, sculptors, jewellers, weavers, potters and carvers as they open their doors to visitors.

There is no charge to join the tour. Studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

A map showing the location of the various studios, profiles of the various artists and their media can be found at artsea.ca. • Appreciate culture, creativity and community at the Fernwood Art Stroll, Saturday and Sunday in one of Victoria’s oldest neighbourhoods.

This is the 11th year of the event, which includes 19 artists in the community.

Enjoy a walk around Fernwood, drop in on artists’ studios to admire work in a variety of media: oils, acrylics, watercolours, printmaking, seaweed baskets, woodwork, collage, encaustic, giclee, photography, Ikebana, poetry, calligraphy, art prints and cards.

Afterward, you stop in one of Fernwood’s cafés and pubs to unwind.

The self-guided tour is free. For more information, or a map of the event, go online to fernwoodartstroll.ca.