The annual County Arts Studio Tour features 38 studios and 55 artists ready to welcome you into their working spaces for a glimpse of the creative process. 

“We received three times the usual number of new applications this year,” said one of the artists, Heather Kerr. “I’m excited about the truly outstanding line-up of new artists. I’m in awe of all the talent.”

Ms. Kerr uses layers of acrylic paint, collaged photos, India ink, crayons and charcoal to interact with the local landscape on the page. She is presenting her new “Heartbeat of the Dunes” series during the tour weekend.

Two new artists making their debut on the 2024 Studio Tour are Vincenzo Paolucci and Julie Seddon.

At the Studio Reale gallery at 331 Picton Main Steet, a space he shares with his partner, Terri, Mr. Paolucci paints in oils in a style reminscent of 17th-century Italy. His collectors include actors Robert Downey Jr. and Danny Trejo.

“Coming to the County, I’ve found so many kind and like-minded artists and residents. I feel very warmly received and I am really excited to participate in this year’s tour,” said Mr. Paolucci.

For over 20 years, Ms. Seddon focused on figurative painting, but the last decade has turned to abstracts. She welcomes visitors to her studio at 25 Johnson Street in Picton.

“I made the leap from figurative to non-figurative while photographing a store window in the hopes of capturing a vignette of the mannequins inside. The photograph revealed an instant abstraction combining the interior and exterior of the building, both melting in the glass reflections,” she explains. The juxtaposition was intriguing enough to move her to paint. 

See pecstudiotour.com for the artists and all the studios.