Spend the day, or even the whole weekend, with other art lovers during the Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance's seventh annual Coeur d'Alene Artist Studio Tour in early June.

Nearly 40 local artists representing a colorful array of styles and media will welcome members of the public into their creative spaces to share their processes and stories as they exhibit their works for this free 16-studio, two-day event.

"The studio tour is the rare opportunity for artists or enthusiasts, of any age, to see art being created and to meet the artists creating it," said world-renowned painter and writer Stephen Shortridge, who will be featured at Kevin and Patti Jester's studio and garden. "If it's not magic, it's passionate work. Come and see!"

New this year is the 2019 Collector's Edition, which will feature one unique piece per artist that will be available to purchase for just $75. Each piece will have a special label commemorating this year's tour.

"This year I'm just really excited because it's growing," said Arts and Culture Alliance executive director Ali Shute. "It's not just growing in popularity with the public, but it's growing in popularity with the local artist community. We’re getting more and more artist involvement, and I just love that."

Also new this year is the VIP tour experience. For $45 (for one day), VIP guests will begin their adventure at 9:30 a.m. at the Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave., for a light breakfast, coffee and mimosas. The bus will depart at 10 a.m. and VIPs will enjoy bottomless mimosas and fun facts about the artists they are about to visit as they are shuttled to eight of the studios. Each day will be different. Saturday lunch will be at Radicci Italian Bistro, Sunday at the Greenbriar Inn. Lunch is included in the $45.

The Artist Studio Tour will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 8 and June 9. Studios are located mostly in Coeur d'Alene but also Hayden and Post Falls.

The Coeur d'Alene Artists Studio Tour exhibit is on display in the Human Rights Education Institute, 414 Fort Ground Drive, through June 3, "which is an amazing show, by the way," Shute said. "I am so proud of it."

A preview reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. May 31 at HREI. Guests will get to meet and mingle with the artists while previewing samples of their work. Tour maps and VIP tickets will be available at the reception.

Visit www.artsandculturecda.org to purchase tickets or to view the studio map.