Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour-Plan Your September in Muskoka

September is a special month in Muskoka.  The air cools, the colours change, and the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour continues its tradition of welcoming visitors to experience, learn and acquire work directly from the makers.  This year the Tour runs two weekends; September 22-23, and 29-30, from 10 till 6 each day.

In this, its 34^th year, the tour features a wide range of media including fibre, wood, glass, metal, clay, photography, drawing and painting.  It provides a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to learn how and where they work, and to experience a wide range of creativity.

Mark your calendar and plan to visit Limberlost Woodturning in September.

muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

A Successful Studio Tour

The atmosphere of Limberlost Woodturning during the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was upbeat and postitive as Brian, Carol-Ann and Bob shared their work with the public. 

Visitors entered the studio and expressed their pleasure at being able to experience the beauty of Muskoka as they travelled through the forests and by the lakes in the Limberlost area.  It was the perfect setting to display the Brian's hand-crafted burl bowls and platters, Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Bob McLean's Muskoka paintings.

The 6th year for the Artists of the Limberlost was the busiest ever, with well over 600 people experiencing the tour. All of the artists and their guest artists came to our home on Saturday night for a pot-luck dinner and there was a sense of satisfaction to have a successful tour as a result of the collaboration of so many talented individuals.

From Workshop to Studio, Almost Ready for the StudioTour

It has been a busy week getting ready for the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour.  Some artists have show rooms that are always set up to display the art but touring Brian's actual workshop gives a true insight into the creation of the bowls and platters.

We cleared the floor of large piles of woodchips and shavings, swept and dusted and the workshop has become a show room. 

A year of turning on the lathe has produced art that displays nature at its best.  The deep colour of redwood, live edge pieces with bark inclusions and burls that are almost lacy with  intricate grain patterns show the diverse possibilities of wood.

This is only a beginning as we will be adding Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery pieces and Bob McLean's watercolours to our display.  Carol-Ann has created a special Muskoka series of pottery that includes stone, wood and bronze and Bob has many Muskoka scenes from Rebecca Lake.



We hope that you can join us on Saturday or Sunday, August 18, 19 from 10:00 to 6:00.  Drive up scenic Limberlost Road to 1555 Fieldale Road on Rebecca Lake.  The coffee, lemonade and cookies will be waiting and you are welcome to see our studio and explore our beautiful gardens.

For more information about the tour, go to:

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour

The Artists of the Limberlost is a collective of artists and craftspeople with work which covers a broad range of media and style.  Explore the scenic Limberlost Road, north of Highway 60 in Muskoka and you can see art in the rugged setting of lakes, forest and Muskoka's natural beauty.  Twenty artists will display their work in seven studios along a compact 20 kilometre route.

The artists include:
Jerry Friedman- driftwood sculpture
        with guest Mary Dyer- hand coloured cards

Susan Higgins- fused and stained glass
       with guests Vicki Sharp- jewellery, Clay Brown- artistic blacksmith

Brian Markham- woodturning
       with guests Carol-Ann Michaelson- pottery, Bob McLean- painting

Mark Kulas- acrylic painting
       with guest Dan Hill- pottery

Catherine O'Mara- egg tempera painting
      with guests Cirvan Hamilton-contemporary furniture, Rudi Stade-stone furniture

Brenda Wainman Goulet- bronze sculpture
      with guests Juliana Plukasz- jewellery, Col Mitchell- mixed media

Jeff Miller- oil and acrylic painting
      with guests Rebecca Allen- metal sculpture, Rob Stimpson- photography

For more information about the Studio Tour, go to:

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Form Meets Function- Cheese Platters

Figured maple platter with wood fired pottery centre

Artistic collaboration with another artist can lead to some exciting new pieces.  Brian used Carol-Ann Michaelson's wood fired and tenmoku glaze pottery disks to create stunning figured maple and walnut platters.  Carol-Ann will be a guest artist at Limberlost Woodturning during the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 18 and 19.

Figured walnut platter with tenmoku glaze pottery centre



Black cherry cheese board and cedar burl bowl

Form and function meet when cheese boards are created from wood with raw bark edges, distinctive colouration, and contrasts of sapwood and heartwood. Black walnut, redwood burl and black cherry bring the warmth and grace of nature to your table. Imagine the reaction of guests when you serve your cheese and crackers on such striking platters!

Walnut, redwood burl and black cherry cheese boards

For more information on the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour, go to:

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Artists of the Limberlost- Carol-Ann Michaelson, potter

Carol-Ann Michaelson's Wood Fired bowl

The Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour is pleased to have Carol-Ann Michaelson as a guest potter at Brian Markham's Limberlost Woodturning studio.  The pairing of Brian's wooden platters with Carol-Ann's pottery bowls creates a beautiful display in a woodland setting.

Carol-Ann Michaelson's Tenmoku glaze bowl

Carol-Ann states, "My primary pursuit revolves around functional forms, pieces that are lovely to look at, to hold and to use.  I believe that it is through the handling and use of pottery that its true beauty is revealed.  I design pots with people and their daily rituals in mind.  I have recently purchased a gas kiln and have been enjoying the challenges the new glazes and clay bodies offer me.  I see new forms and ideas rapidly developing with this change.

For more information about the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 18 and 19, go to

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Carol-Ann's website is carolannmichaelson.com

Artists of the Limberlost- Bob McLean, Painter

Preparations are underway for the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 18 and 19 and Brian is pleased to have painter Bob McLean as a guest artist. Bob has a cottage on beautiful Rebecca Lake and he is inspired by the changing seasons and the beauty of the Muskoka landscape. 

Please join us to see how Bob McLean's love of the north with its forests, lakes and rocky shores are reflected in his watercolours.  You can almost hear the call of the loon and feel the mist rising as you see his painting of a canoe gliding on Rebecca Lake.

For more information about the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour visit our website:

artistsofthelimberlost.ca