SLO Arts Council Hosts Open Studios Tour

Every year the San Luis Obispo County Arts council hosts the Open Studios Art Tour. The events kicked off early October.

The purpose of this program is it allows for fine artists and crafters to showcase their art to the public.

Attendees of the kickoff event, Julie Brennan and Robert Ballo, attended the event to get a taste of the local art scene and enjoy good company. 

“I was really looking for some art and some culture and some company and this could not be a finer event,” Brennan said.

As for Ballo, he said the event is “all about expressing ourselves and creativity.”

Local artist Carol Paulsen had a landscape oil painting of Whalerock Reservoir featured at the kickoff event. She says the majority of her pieces are inspired by outdoors settings.

“A lot of my paintings are landscapes, they’re very nature based,” Paulsen said. “For example, we were just at Lake Powell, and I couldn’t wait to get home and paint.”

She went onto explain that her husband, three children, and children-in-law are all artists as well.

One of her daughters, Emelia Loomis, is an electrician by day and artist by night, with her own pieces being featured at Paulsen’s studio on the art tour. Many of her pieces featured were mystical animal figurines or elaborate collages.

Although her job keeps her busy, Loomis finds value in making time for her creative side and is impressed by how many local artists signed up for the tour.

“It is really inspiring how many artists around the county signed up. I love when people find the thing that brings them joy and do it. I’m in all support of people expressing themselves creatively in whatever way they choose,” Loomis said.

More information about Paulsen’s art can be found on her website carolpaulsen.com.