30th Year of Countryside Artisans
By Dalis Davidson
It’s a bright sunny day with a slight breeze; a view of fields and the mountains rises serenely in the distance. Susan Due Pearcy of Sugarloaf Studio sets up her portable easel, chooses her palette of pastels, and begins to put the colors she sees on her paper. The light is changing quickly, and she captures the clouds, the greens and golds of the corn in the field, and the dark teals, greens, and even purples of the Catoctin Mountains. This moment of painting in situ is plein air painting. Susan is just one of the artists on the Countryside Artisans’ Autumn Studio Tour, and her recent paintings will be for sale at the upcoming tour, October 13 to 15.
Countryside Artisans is celebrating its thirtieth year of offering pottery, paintings, prints, fiber, sculpture, blown glass, quilts, craft wine and beer, jewelry, and even tea. From humble beginnings of just a few artists, the tour has grown to fifteen studios and many more artists. In 1993, Dalis Davidson and Peg Coleman organized a few artists in the area surrounding Sugarloaf Mountain to showcase their art on their farms and studios. The Countryside Artisans studio tour was born. They host studio tours three times a year, in April, October, and December.
Just an hour’s drive from Washington and Baltimore, folks can take a free self-guided tour of the studios and view the art or drink the beverages and get a glimpse of the rural landscape that inspires the artists. Many of the stops have farm animals grazing in the fields, the very same animals that produce the fiber that is then made into clothing (wearable art).
You may catch David Therriault of Alden Farms carving away on one of his stone sculptures. He has a beautiful two-acre sculpture garden where you can meander and view his outstanding pieces. Stop in the gallery to see current work for sale and meet guest artists.
Paintings, prints, and pastels can be seen at Cynthia Jennings’s studio, Windsong Studio, and next door at Tina Thieme Brown’s log cabin which is home to Morningstar Studio, both in Barnesville. The above-mentioned Sugarloaf Studio is just around the corner. Another fine artist, Kristen Morrison of Gallery East, offers her paintings in her converted barn. Becky Carr of Sugarloaf Quilting offers handcrafted quilts showcased at historic Darnell Farm.
If fiber is your interest, stop in at Dancing Leaf Farm where Dalis hand dyes many types of yarn, paints with wool from her sheep (which she calls “Lambscapes”) and felts artsy shawls. Visit the gallery at Tiewyan Farm, where Bev Thoms has curated a collection of artists, creating wool wearables and home goods. Heather Lysantri of Breezy Hill Farm sells handcrafted wearables, many made from her herd of alpacas.
A studio tour would not be complete without ceramic studios. Jennifer Hamilton of Dusty Road Pottery sells functional stoneware in her converted dairy barn. If you’d like to learn to make a mug or plate, she also offers classes. Mud Pi Studio, located at Heron’s Mead Farm, is the home of artist Lori Baker. Teapots and mugs are her forte, and these can be paired with a fresh crop of home-grown tea. Linda Phillips is the owner of Something Earthy, a pottery studio (also offering classes), and she showcases the works of a group of local artists in her gallery.
As for what is hot right now, take a look at Art of Fire. Watch Josh, Todd, or Bruce create a vase using a free-blown technique. Their gallery is stocked with colorful glass goblets, vases, ornaments, and more.
After a day of driving through the countryside and visiting with the artists, stop in at Waredaca Brewing Company for a cold locally-crafted beer or at Rocklands Farm and Winery for a glass of award-winning wine and take home some of their pasture-raised meats.
Help us celebrate our thirty years of bringing art and crafts to the public and to see where the artists live and work. Art makes a home!
For information on the tour and a map to the studios, visit www.countrysideartisans.com and please sign up for their newsletter.
In Memory of Foster Holcombe
It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of our long time friend and member of Countryside Artisans, Foster Holcombe. Foster is the founder of Art of Fire contemporary Glass Studio in Montgomery County, Maryland, which has been a favorite and memorable stop for thousands of visitors throughout the years.
Foster’s interest in glass began in 1976 with his stained glass studio in Denver, Colorado. While attending a summer seminar in enameling techniques at Pilchuck in 1978, Foster became interested in hot glass. In 1980-81 he studied glassblowing, decorating and technology in Stourbridge, the heart of England’s glass industry. In 1985, Theda Hansen joined Foster and together they have designed a line of glass uniquely their own. Between them, Foster and Theda bring you more than 65years experience. Todd Hansen joined the studio in 1999, Bruce Ferguson in 2000 and Josh Ries in 2003. Each brings his own individual and collaborative style to Art of Fire while assisting with production and instructing glassblowing classes. They also assist with classes at Corning Glass Studio in New York.
You will be pleased to know that Art of Fire will remain open and continues operations in memory of Foster.
Spring Tour 2023
The Countryside Artisans Host their annual spring studio tour this year, April 21 -23. Artists open their studio doors to visitors so you can see their latest work, and learn more about where and how it’s done.
View our tour page for more information.
The Countryside Artisans Host their annual spring studio tour this year, April 21 -23. Artists open their studio doors to visitors so you can see their latest work, and learn more about where and how it’s done.
View our tour page for more information.
3/24/23
Looking for some COVID Relief?
The Countryside Artisans are opening for the Spring Gallery|Studio Tour - Fri-Sun, Apr 16-18, 10am-5pm
Mask up and spend an art day in the country on this self-guided driving tour of recognized artist studios in and around Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve. Follow winding roads with beautiful views around every turn to discover charming studios of the Countryside Artisans filled with inspired pottery, stoneware, glass, oil, watercolor, wood, glass, stone, fiber and more. Stop at an artisan winery and brewery along the way. Enjoy the weather, enjoy the space, enjoy the day!
Countryside Artisans Opening for 2020 Holiday Gallery|Studio Tour, Fri-Sun, Dec. 4-6, 10am-5pm
Spend a day in the country on this self-guided driving tour of recognized artists’ studios in and around Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve. Follow winding roads with beautiful views around every turn to discover charming studios of the Countryside Artisans filled with inspired pottery, stoneware, glass, oil, watercolor, wood, glass, stone, fiber and more. Stop at an artisan winery and brewery along the way. Enjoy the weather, enjoy the space, enjoy the day!
The studios are following COVID-19 guidelines. Studios that are not open for the Holiday Tour can be visited this season by appointment! See our Artists page.
Linda Phillips of Something Earthy Pottery Studio tells us more about the upcoming Holiday Tour! Watch her here!
See the collection curated by Bev Thoms available at Tiewyan Artisans during the Holiday Tour. Watch here!
Find a brochure/map and google map here!
Countryside Artisans 2020 Fall Tour
The Countryside Artisans are pleased to welcome you to their studios for the Countryside Artisan Fall Art Tour this October.
The Countryside Artisans are pleased to welcome you to their studios for the Countryside Artisan Fall Art Tour this October.
If you have been longing for a drive through the countryside with beautiful and inspiring destinations, please join us for the Countryside Artisan Fall Studio and Gallery Tour, October 9, 10, 11 2020. Studios will be open 10:00 - 5:00, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine.
Before you travel, please check the most recent map to confirm that your favorite studio will be open or open by appointment only, during the tour. Don’t hesitate to contact individual studios regarding precautions they will have in place during your visit. Simply click the links for any Artist studio you wish to visit, to contact that individual studio, and follow the latest map to your favorite destinations.
We look forward to seeing you!
Countryside Artisans has cancelled its 2020 Spring Tour
We look forward to the time when we will see you again. We are hopeful there will be an opportunity to reschedule this event in the summer. Please check back for any updates. Until then, take care of yourselves, your family and each other.
We look forward to the time when we will see you again. We are hopeful there will be an opportunity to reschedule this event in the summer. Please check back for any updates. Until then, take care of yourselves, your family and each other.
To keep you inspired in the meantime, browse our Virtual Art Tour for links to your favorite Countryside Artisan websites and online stores. We also welcome a new member to the Countryside Artisans, Earlywood Design & Services, an artisan in Woodbine that converts local logs into beautiful live edge slabs and furniture.
We feel fortunate as artists to continue to be creative in our own spaces. This slowdown time is a gift to get deeper into so many of the art projects we want to do. As soon as we enter the garden or the studio, the anxiety and fear lessens. Our creative work offers hope for this troubled world.
Best wishes,
The Countryside Artisans
Painting the Town
Photograph by Hilary Shwab
Poolesville and the surrounding Agricultural Reserve have been the inspiration for Claire Howard, whose studio is a converted chicken coop.
Please click here to enjoy the entire article.
Countryside Creativity
Iridized fan vases, created at Art of Fire, a glassblowing studio located in a renovated dairy barn in Laytonsville that will participate in this fall’s Countryside Artisans tour.
Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County highlights Countryside Artisans Fall Gallery and Studio Tour: go to Countryside Creativity!
Country Strong
Susan Pearcy, “Barns and Sheds-Sycamore Hills,” pastel
Chris Slattery perfectly captures the essence of the Countryside Artisans in CultureSpot MC’s article, Country Strong.
A Touch Of Glass
Glassblower Todd Hansen Of Art Of Fire Studios In Laytonville.
“The pastoral setting adds to the ambiance for artists as they create their glass pieces surrounded by natural light, fresh air and a very ‘un-mall like’ experience.”
Read about Art of Fire’s re-purposed dairy barn to a glass-blowing studio and extensive gallery in Montgomery Magazine’s “A Touch of Glass.”
Flowing in Frame
By Jeanne Blackburn | Photography by Turner Photography Studio
Bonny Lundy’s Watercolors Reveal Impressions of Nature
Frederick Magazine highlights Countryside Artisan, Bonny Lundy in Flowing in Frame.“From her Pleasant View Studio in Brookeville she is enveloped by the beauty of nature that inspires most of her work.”
Set in Stone
I try to show in these stones the cost of being dug up, ripped out and manipulated into something that society deemed it to be…
Montgomery Magazine, Set in Stone
Artist David Therriault was featured in Montgomery Arts Magazine.
“I try to show in these stones the cost of being dug up, ripped out and manipulated into something that society deemed it to be. Similar to how culture and society has tried to mold and change who one person might be. I try to show how the stone continues to hold some of its “soul”, even after its been forced to change, like people in culture.”
Check out the article.
Archived Press Releases 2004-2016
Just what do people think of stone sculptor David Therriault and his studio, greenhouses, shop, and sculpture garden at Alden Farms?
This filmmaker finds him #inspirational. Click here.
This landscape designer “saw at least a dozen {pieces} I could envision incorporating into a garden.” Click here.
This journalist has discovered the “Garden of Alden.” Click here.
In this edition of Marilandica we would like you to get to know Tina Thieme Brown and her Morningstar Studio in Barnesville, in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain. In addition to having the mountain for her neighbor, she is surrounded by the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, in which she is an active board member of two civic organizations. To download pdf, please click here.
In the News Again!
This picture of Susan Due Pearcy, one of the artists in the Countryside Artisans Studio Tour, was featured in the Washington Post Local Living section on Thursday, November 29, 2012, to remind all to come to their
Holiday Tour.
Montgomery County Insight magazine features David Therriault of Alden Farms. Click here to read.
Click here to see the April 11, 2004 article about our tour, published in The Washington Post in their Sunday Source Roadtrip column.