It's an encore weekend for the arts

Artists of all kinds will demonstrate their skills at the El Dorado County Artists Studio Tour 2011 that continues 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 1 and 2. This is the second of two weekends for the arts, put on by the Placerville Arts Association.The annual tour has been running since 1999, according to Diane Sewell, chair for the event. While they have had as many as 90 artists participating, this year there are 62."Last year we had 26 or 28 studios, and this year 16," said Sewell. "More people are grouping together. It's easier for people to drive to one spot to see a number of artists." This year there will be a drawing for prizes. Anyone getting stamped confirmations from six studios during the 4 days of the event can be entered into a drawing for:A 32-inch flat screen HD Panasonic TVFlip video slide camcorderCanon Power Shot 12 megapixel digital camera.Since the expected turnout for the event is around 60 to 100 visitors per day, the odds are good for those entering the drawing."We hope that we would have more than that a day," said Sewell. "It's hard to predict."This is the last year that Sewell will be managing the tour, as she is moving to Nevada. Because of her upcoming move, she will not be displaying her art this year.One of the working artists is Lucia Rothgeb, who is president of the Placerville Arts Association, a post she has held for six years."We're really happy to have this opportunity to show off the art we have been creating, and very affordable to the public," said Rothgeb. "It's a neighborhood event, but bigger, and we do pull people from all through the foothills."Prominent Yosemite photographer Sandy Follett will be showing at Studio 2 in Cameron Park. She has worked at the Yosemite Museum and spends time there in the summers. "(The event) goes across many kinds of art," Rothgeb said. "At a studio tour you can visit with people who are creating the art, many different kinds: fused glass, ceramics, and jewelry, also cards, and really affordable small matted pieces that you can't find in other places."Rothgeb utilizes a variety of media: watercolor, acrylics, and oils. "I do landscape abstracts," She said. "I did a whole series trying to recreate what I saw on the Internet of the Hubble telescope and all the galaxies and nebulae. It's a pretty exciting thing to do."The tour book and guide for the tour is 16 pages printed in glossy full color. It pictures sample work from each of the artists and a centerfold map of the studios. Go to PlacervilleArts.com to either download and print the guide, or to see a list of locations where the guide can be obtained in booklet form. Those locations include El Dorado Arts Council at 459 Main St. in Placerville and a number of other places such as Flowers on Main, Gold Country Art Gallery, Pop Art Gallery & Framing, The Printing Press, Rocky's Art & Framing, Sequoia Restaurant, Cameron Park Health Foods, Craft Castle, Heart & Soul Gifts, American Visions Art Gallery, Gallery at 48 Natoma, Procissi Wine & Art Gallery, Fire & Rain Gallery, Our House Gallery, Art on the Divide Co-op, and Wholesale Art & Framing.