Studio tours gives art-lovers a unique art experience

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The Wayne County Arts Alliance (WCAA) studio tours saw many talented local artists showcasing their work and interacting with art-lovers.

Over at the arts alliance's gallery in Honesdale, art-lovers could see a preview of works from the many different artists that were participating in the studio tour. If participants wrote their name on the sign in book at various participating locations, they entered a raffle to win an art piece from one of the participating artists.

Previews of works included sculptures, oil paintings, ceramics and more.

A couple blocks down from the arts alliance, the Bodhi Tree, an art school and studio, was participating in the studio tour where they showcased a mix of ceramics and prints.

James Spencer, co-owner of the Bodhi Tree and maker of many of the ceramics on display, told the River Reporter that he had been molding pottery since the 80s, when he was in high school. 

“It’s about the experience,” Spencer said about his experience creating ceramics, explaining that sometimes the journey is more satisfying than the finished product. “Sometimes you get feedback from the clay.”

Spencer added that working with pottery has also taught him not to get too attached to his artwork, as things can go wrong in the kiln.

“Bad things happen to good pots,” he joked.

Bodhi Tree co-owner Heather Hogan-Spencer chimed in, joking that sometimes her husband Spencer can look like “a squirrel whittling wood” when crafting pottery.

Heather had created prints for the tour, some being of ravens and some having UFOs suck up various items.

“I wanted it to be anything that I would want to sucker in the outer space. Pizza, chicken, guitars, dinosaurs just to make things interesting,” she told the River Reporter. 

Also in Honesdale, painter Alan Wood opened up his home to showcase his landscape oil paintings. 

As attendees approached the home, a small light-colored dog named Rufus could be found sitting by Wood’s feet on his porch.

“I was happy to have it here,” Wood explained to the River Reporter about why he was willing to have his home open during the weekend for the studio tour. “I thought people would enjoy the beautiful antiquities of the apartment,” 

Wood, who has enjoyed creating art since he was in kindergarten, said he has had a background being a graphic designer and a fine artist, but loves all art mediums equally.

Wood described his artistic process as being very go-with-the-flow, similar to Spencer's.

“I basically create things with charcoal on canvas. And if I really liked something, I paint it.” he explained. “It [the painting] makes suggestions,”

One painting can take Wood months, which Wood said he loves doing.

Other than painting, Wood added that he also likes creating ceramics with Heather and Spencer, and often creates creatures such as bears and dogs. 

The WCAA can be found at 959 Main Street.