Boundary County Artist Studio Tour returns Sept. 13-14

The Boundary County Artist Studio Tour is back Sept. 13-14, opening the doors to the creative spaces of local artists and offering visitors a rare chance to see where art is imagined, created and brought to life. 

The self-guided tour runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and will feature a variety of mediums, including fiber arts, acrylic and oil paintings, scroll saw art, tattoo and graffiti-style spray paint art, pastels, drawings and watercolors. 

“This isn’t a craft fair,” said organizer Hannah Sucsy, owner of Teascarlet Fine Art. “It’s an opportunity to witness the heart of the artistic process, ask questions, and collect original work directly from the source.” 

Sucsy, who co-founded the tour with Tamara Wagner of Wood Thief Art, said last year’s event drew visitors from surrounding towns and cities, and even a traveler from Oregon who said he has attended many artist studio tours in different areas and that this was his favorite he had ever been to. 

Local residents were also surprised by the hidden creative talent in their own neighborhoods. One attendee told Sucsy she had driven by artist Diana Stover’s studio for years, thinking it was “just a shed,” only to be “flabbergasted at the magic being created inside.” 

The tour was launched to help elevate fellow artists and enliven the community, Sucsy said about the tour. “We actually have dozens and dozens of artists living in our county, hundreds or maybe thousands if you consider the many builders, woodworkers, metalworkers, artisans, and other creatives, but many are quietly tucked away in the trees without much presence or visibility to others.”  

A free Artist Studio Tour Preview will be held Aug. 22 from 5-7 p.m. at Teascarlet Fine Art, 6389 Kootenai St., in downtown Bonners Ferry. Visitors can meet the artists, see a sample of their work and enjoy an evening of mingling and inspiration. 

More information about the tour and preview event is available at teascarlet.com.