If you’ve ever wondered where artists dream, sketch, and create – you won’t want to miss this incredible experience. The Artist Studio Home Tour is a self-guided tour that takes place annually, this year on the weekend of September 20 & 21.
It is a backstage pass to where inspiration lives - we get to step into the creative heart of local artists - from sunlit studios to backyard workshops. The tour takes you inside the working spaces of some of Strathcona County’s most talented local artists and creators. It’s one thing to see the art. It’s another to see where it’s born and learn the stories and inspiration behind the work.
The Artist Home Studio Tour gives you the opportunity to interact with the artist, explore their space and their art without any pressure to purchase (although that is welcome, too, of course!).
Earlier this month, I caught up with Carleen Ross, spokesperson for the tour, to learn a little more and she was generous enough to invite me in for a conversation and sneak peek.
“What’s unique about the Artist Home Studio Tour vs. a Traditional Art Show?” I ask…
“During the Artist Home Studio Tour, we put out everything, you get to see the growth of an artist. You get to see the whole background and learn the artist’s story; the legacy and it brings a realness to the art – you get to see and understand its personal uniqueness.” Ross explains.
While art shows are curated and specific pieces selected to show and sell, the Artist Home Studio Tour offers a little more authentic interaction for both experienced and novice art collectors. Ross explains that it is also less transactional than an art show, with a variety of skill level and range of prices being offered. People get to see a variety of art and the artists do a lot of education during the studio tour; you can ask questions about techniques and styles and how they got started. There is no pressure to buy, people are welcome to come, look, and leave – and hopefully you leave inspired.
The tour is also community building - artists work mostly alone - social feedback is important to their growth, and this gives them more motivation to continue to create. “One of the hardest parts of making art is questioning whether or not anyone will like your pieces,” Ross says. “There is a vulnerability to it.” Ross herself struggled with confidence in the beginning of her artist journey. “Artists can be too hard on ourselves.”
How big is the tour?
The Art Society started the Artist Home Studio Tour in 2016, this year marks the 9th tour. The inaugural year started with just four artists so it has certainly grown. Today, over 25 artists are participating, each might expect to have about 100 people through the weekend, based on previous year’s traffic.
Ross has been participating in the tour for four or five years, this year will be extra special as her husband’s work will also be featured. The Society allows up to two artists per location – that helps to support emerging artists or those without a physical location that would be conducive to a tour. It truly is a Strathcona County community event; studio hosts need to reside in Strathcona County, artists from Edmonton can join only if they partner a Strathcona County resident artist. The studios also have to be a home studio and not a retail studio or gallery.
What’s the first thing you remember creating?
I ask this question while I am in Carleen Ross’s studio - surrounded by stunning paintings of sea turtles and completely distracted by the painting of a bear that I totally love. If you are not already familiar with her work, she is an award-winning artist and published author, an educator and speaker, and a prolific painter of sea turtles. She has created over 70 paintings of sea turtles and published a book, Journey to the Sea Turtle.
When she was young, Ross would sit and sketch animals. Later in life, when she was in university, taking her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, she had to fulfill her fine art requirements. Sadly, she had a teacher who tore her down and Ross didn’t create art again until after she had her first child. Then when she got started again, she was doing children’s portraits but found herself continually drawn to animals. When Ross was commissioned to do a painting of a sea turtle, she was terrified that she might not have the technique right, but that shift in her journey has happily led her down the path she is on now. As an advocate and champion of endangered animals, and renowned for paintings of sea turtles, Ross wants her work to be meaningful and she wants to feel a connection to the subject she is painting.
Art should invoke something in you – whether you love it or hate it – then it’s done its job.” – Carleen Ross
How does an artist monetize their work?
“There is no easy answer for that,” Ross explains. “Some artists charge per square inch, some charge hourly – it could be a mix and more established artists are obviously more sought after – they tend to command a higher price. It also has to do with self-confidence and appreciation for their own work.” She also points out that it is a profession and paints are expensive, just one of her preferred styles of paint is $60/tube. Sometimes the price of a piece might also be determined by the quality of paint. Collectors with smaller budgets might benefit from purchasing directly from the artist, or the artist may offer a layaway programs or reproductions. Reproductions are generally cheaper than the original piece.
5 Quick Questions...
- Colour you love right now? Turquoise
- Favourite restaurant in Sherwood Park? Saigon Cuisine
- Favourite other artist? Annette Sicotte
- Favourite art show? This one, the Home Studio Tour
- Favourite beverage? Coffee (with cream, no sugar)
One thing you'd like people to know?
Artist Home Studio Tour is not only free – it is community building.
If someone was to leave your studio with one feeling, what would you hope that to be?
Inspired and hopeful.
The Artist Home Studio Tour is not just an art show - it’s an invitation into the heart of our local art scene. You can explore studios, meet the artists, and see creativity in motion. Some studios are tucked in backyards. Others fill a whole room with light. All are overflowing with creativity. Join the Artist Home Studio Tour and find your inspiration. Pop into any one of the featured artist’s home studios between 10 am and 5 pm on September 20 or 21, 2025.
For More Information:
- Interactive Guide
- Map to the Studios
- Website - Art Society of Strathcona
- Website - Carleen Ross