Orange County Artists Guild

Here is a preview of a few Carrboro artists' studios which are open this weekend and next. This information (but not all of the photos) also appears in the free November print issue.

From David Annis, Board Member, Orange County Artists Guild:

The Orange County Artists Guild is putting on its 31st annual studio tour during the first two weekends of November. The tour showcases the work of over a hundred members at 81 locations throughout Orange County, including 16 locations in Carrboro. Artist will open their studios and/or homes Saturdays from 10AM until 5PM and Sundays from noon until 5PM.

More information about the tour, including a tour map can be found at https://www.ocagnc.org

The guild is also looking for new artists to join. Members are required to be juried into the guild. Membership is limited to artists that live or maintain a studio within Orange County. Applications will be accepted Between October 31, 2025 and January 31, 2025. “Young Adult Emerging Artists” between the ages of 21 and 30 can be considered for membership with fees waived for one year. New applicants’ information sessions on January 5, 2025 and January 19, both at 3:00 pm at the Drift coffeeshop in Chapel Hill (near Whole Foods).  Please email Deborah Harris (dharris118@nc.rr.com) if planning to attend. More information on joining the guild can be found at https://www.ocagnc.org/join/ 

From Nancy Smith (Studio #43):

Visit studio #43 and experience a world of vibrant color and imagination let loose. Nancy Smith, a mixed media painter, displays works inspired by her memories and dreams including landscapes, figures, and birds.

When entering her studio, one can explore the many different mediums she uses in her creative process including acrylic products, watercolor paint, beeswax collage, and pastels. She describes her studio space as organized chaos. “I allow myself to use any material I can lay my hands on to create an image. This allows for magic to happen on the surface.”

Ask questions and you will receive on-the-spot demonstrations of how she achieves certain effects in her multilayered paintings. “It’s much easier to show people how I use techniques rather than try to explain it all.”

Whether you come to this studio to look or to learn, you’re certain to leave inspired.

From Becky Broun (Studio #38):

In my book arts studio in Carrboro, I make handcrafted books and boxes throughout the year, for showing at local galleries and at the OCAG Open Studio Tour in November. I am happiest when creating art in this light-filled space, and look forward to the tour as a way to share with the public how the boxes are constructed and the tools I use. I love meeting and chatting with visitors and seeing firsthand which pieces folks like the most. Please note I am open only the first weekend of the tour.

From Elizabeth Krome (Studio #42):

Elizabeth Krome (Studio #42), a first-year participant on the Tour, will display her high-fire porcelain and stoneware. A native of North Carolina, she spent most of her life in Virginia. After nearly five decades making pots in Virginia, she returned to North Carolina at the beginning of the pandemic to care for grandchildren. Now she works in a studio newly built as an addition to her home on Morningside Drive.

The studio and porch will be full of Elizabeth’s baking dishes, pitchers, bowls, colanders, mugs, and platters. Her work, featuring clean lines and simple design, is meant to add grace to everyday routines in the home. She says, “I want to make your favorite bowl, and the mug you reach for first.” Elizabeth will have pieces in progress to be viewed as well, and if time permits, she will demonstrate simple bowls to be donated to Empty Bowls. You can find more about her work at www.morningsidepottery.com.