CONEJO VALLEY : Art Fans Visit the Studios of 24 Local Artists

More than 250 art aficionados meandered the streets of the Conejo Valley and surrounding area to watch lumps of clay be molded into pots and blank canvases become awash in color during the Open Studio Tour on Sunday.

The self-guided tour to raise funds for the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery allowed individuals to visit 24 artists’ studios between Camarillo and Agoura Hills. Each participant designed their own tour with maps of the studios and a list of times when artists would give demonstrations.

“We have just terrific, nationally known artists in the Conejo Valley,” said Thousand Oaks resident Linda Nelson, who organized the event for the Thousand Oaks Art Assn.

Before embarking on their personalized quests, community members wandered the Thousand Oaks Art Assn.’s Membership Show, on display at the Community Gallery through Nov. 26.

Patrons examined the vibrant colors of painted silk scarves, the sharp lines and edges of still-life oils and the blurred beauty of impressionist-style landscapes. Many jotted down the names of the artists whose works they admired, so they could visit their studios and watch them at work.

“I’m an artist myself,” said Lovita Vandenberg of Westlake, as she examined Terry Spehar-Fahey’s watercolor landscape “Wildwood Dusk.” “I do portrait oil painting, so I wanted to see what is going on in the community. The quality of artwork is better than I had assumed.”

Clare Moebius of Camarillo said she decided to come to the exhibit as a way of thanking the artists for their contributions to the community.

“Some of them have been very gracious and shown their work at local hospitals,” she said. “I felt I should come out and support them.”

Tish Brennan, president of the Thousand Oaks Art Assn., said that the group planned to make the tour an annual event, similar to tours in Ojai and Santa Barbara.

“This is a great way to create an awareness of art in the community,” she said.