Mark your calendars! The Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour takes place over four days from October 11 to 14 (10 am – 5 pm daily). Discover exceptional art and the beautiful fall colours of Central Ontario on one of Ontario’s longest-running art tours.
This self-guided tour across Orillia & Lake Country invites visitors to meet artists in their studios or pop-up galleries showcasing talented work in painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, wood-turning, jewelry, and mixed media. This is a rare opportunity to visit some of the most unique properties and studio settings in Simcoe County. Be inspired by the creativity and beauty at the rural homesteads, lakeside properties and funky retreats where Images Studio artists live and work.
With so many fabulous artists across the region, we’ve put together some route ideas for exploring this year’s exciting Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour. We’ve broken down where to go, additional spots through the region to check out, and where to find artists on the Images Tour.
Refer to the Images Studio Tour Digital Map to plan your route!
Road Trip Recommendations
Orillia Route
Discover the beauty of Orillia in the fall while enjoying two stops in the heart of the Sunshine City. James Alexander (Jimi) McKee has been an artist and creative since 1959 and painter Marlene Bulas showcases her bright and whimsical pieces at her home studio. Make a day of it and experience the city that inspires so many artists in the region including Orillia’s own Arts District and public art around the city and downtown. Take a stroll on the Millennium Trail and walk amongst the canopied trees at Tudhope Park. Artists have even been inspired by the late hometown troubadour, Gordon Lightfoot, with art across the city. Explore the diverse foodie scene and relax at one of Orillia’s cozy accommodations.
Stop A: James Alexander (Jimi) McKee
Stop P: Marlene Bulas
View Stops on the Tour Digital Map
Severn Route
Get ready to experience a drive full of beautiful, vibrant colour through winding by expansive farmland and canopied back roads of Severn. Stop at artist studios and scenic properties to see artists work on display. In Marchmont, Paul and Pam Allen’s eclectic creations are nearly as eclectic as their home. Across the road, the gallery of the late Dave Beckett’s continues to showcase his never-ending talent for pastel landscapes. Beckett was a long-standing member of the Images Studio Tour whose art continues to be celebrated by the and local arts community.
Take a break in charming Village of Coldwater at a café or sit down for lunch along the river. Looking for more fall colours? Take a detour to go sight-seeing up to Port Severn and Big Chute along the Trent-Severn Waterway for a beautiful fall drive.
Looping back around, visit artist Tony Bianco, a nationally-renowned painter with art featured by the Canadian Mint along with guest artist Stan W. Tait, whose timeless sterling silver jewelry is in international demand.
End your route with a refreshing brew at a nearby craft brewery!
Stop C: Paul Allen and Pam Allen
Stop B: In Memory of Dave Beckett
Stop D: Tony Bianco with guest Stan W. Tait
View Stops on the Tour Digital Map
Horseshoe Valley Area Route
Traverse the rolling hills of Oro-Medonte to see why so many artists call it home.
The Horseshoe Valley Road is your direct artery to many locations for the Images Studio Tour. As one of the bigger routes in our recommendations, we suggest dedicating a good chunk of time for this stretch and breaking it up with some of Oro-Medonte’s fine dining.
Explore the community of Braestone at the Braestone Event Barn for a series of eclectic artwork surrounded by idyllic autumn landscapes! See Pauline Bradshaw’s detailed drawings and unique subject matter. Charlotte Williams’ dramatic scenic paintings are inspired by memories and vast rural landscapes and skies. Lindsay Smail’s abstract oils and charcoal on wood are colourful explorations of internal and external spaces. Woodworker Arnold Veen uses Ontario wood to discover its inner beauty and diverse grain patterns to create unique one-of-a-kind creations.
Heather Kerslake works mainly in terra cotta, producing pieces that are whimsical, often mythical, and sometimes humorous. Often working with salvaged wood, Xavier’s turned pieces bring out the natural grain and the shapes are often sculptural in form. Step inside the historic Carley Hall, featuring the supremely detailed wildlife photography of Thomas Quint paired along with the dramatic still life paintings of Ralph Siferd.
Heading into Horseshoe Valley proper, discover the hillside studio of glass artist Deb Brown as her creations dazzle against canopied natural backdrops. Visit Rustic Works, the woodworking studio of Keith tribe, where the beauty of reclaimed barn board, live edge and dimensional hardwood comes to life. It’s a quick drive over to the lovely gallery setting for two talented nature photographers, JDN Photography and Art on Stone by Jan Novak and Tamara Scearce. See unique mixed media works by guest artist Debra Shelswell.
Don’t miss stopping in at Vetta Nordic Spa where art meets relaxation. See the work of Francy Forte with her dreamy encaustic landscape paintings paired with Peter Michalski’s detailed and stylized pottery.
Stop J Braestone Event Barn: Pauline Bradshaw, Charlotte Williams, Lindsay Smail, Arnold Veen
Stop R: Heather Kerslake with guest artist Xavier Fernandes
Stop F Carley Hall: Thomas Quint and Ralph Siferd
Stop I: Deb Brown
Stop H: Keith Tribe
Stop K Art on Stone: Jan Novak and Tamara Scearce, with guest Debra Shelswell
Stop N Vetta Nordic Spa: Francy Forte and Peter Michalski
View Stops on the Tour Digital Map
Penetanguishine Road Route
Starting at the north-end of Penetanguishine Road in Hillsdale and see the whimsical pottery of Cory-Lynn Styles.
Want some more art? While you’re in Craighurst, keep your eyes our for the Oro-Medonte Art Trees. This outdoor public art project features a number of Images Studio Tour artists. Take time to stop, shop and dine in Craighurst and reflect on the amazing art on your journey so far.
Continue down into Barrie to the studio of artistic duo Tracey and Derek Martin. Tracey makes ‘clothes worth wearing’ with organic and natural fibres and Derek creates welded steel sculptures of all shapes and sizes.
Stop V: Cory-Lynn Styles
Stop E: Tracey and Derek Martin
View Stops on the Tour Digital Map
South Oro-Medonte Route
Next up, take the winding road of the Old Barrie Road past farm fields and rural vistas to the next set of home studios and galleries. Nancy Jones is an impressionist artist inspired by the natural beauty of Ontario.
Next along this route is new artist to the tour, Alain Amar, whose nearly meditative nature of his art engages with the transitory and transcendent aspects of human experience and perception. Down the road is Shiralee Pottery with Danielle Skentzos featuring detailed pottery inspired by the rural atmosphere of Oro-Medonte, along with guest jeweler Juliana Paige Plukasz whose one-of-a-kind creations are part of an unwaivering commitment to ethical production.
The final stretch takes you along the shores of Lake Simcoe to beautiful artist locations along and near the water. Step inside Gary Brierley’s barn-inspired pottery studio and gallery.
Take a break for a hike along the Lake Country Oro-Medonte Rail Trail to explore the fall colours of Oro-Medonte’s forests!
Stop T: Nancy Jones
Stop W: Alain Amar
Stop M: Danielle Skentzos with guest Juliana Paige Plukasz
Stop O: Gary Brierley
View Stops on the Tour Digital Map
No matter what route you take, the Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour is a fantastic way to spend time discovering new artists, finding treasures to last a lifetime, and make memories along the way in Orillia & Lake Country.
Follow along with our recommendations along the way:
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