Thank you and happy holidays!

It's the end of another fantastic Artist Studio Tour here in the desert foothills of Arizona. Many thanks to the participants, organizers and art lovers who created this wonderful art-filled experience!

Go forth and make/enjoy/collect art!

The Images Studios, No. 29

Studio host Gullwing welcomes you to this incredible space that features unique sculpture, glass, jewelry and paintings. Seeing is believing, so take a quick look at this video tour of Images Studios in Scottsdale!

If the video doesn't appear on your screen, just click HERE to see it on the Sonoran Arts League YouTube channel!

Jossy Lownes Studio, No. 24

View this short video to get a little taste of what visiting this studio is like. It's the first year for this studio on the tour ~ come on out! You'll meet mixed media artist Jossy Lownes in her charming New Mexico style home and garden, along with jeweler Carol Canter, acrylic artist Sandy Tracey and Gil Gustavesen and Cheryl Stapleton, fine art photographers.

If you're not seeing the video, click HERE for a good look.

Kazu Hideaway Studio, No. 26

Fine art photographer Kazu Okutomi welcomes you to his hideaway hidden in the hills. Please take a look at this short video to get a sense of what you will find there from Kazu, another wonderful photographer, Richard Rubenstein, mixed media artist Pat Stacy, and gourd artist Reg McCormick.


If you don't see the video, please click HERE to take a look.

Linda Budge Studio, No. 5

That's a might big balloon! No excuses about hidden in the hills!

One of Linda's wonderful wildlife oils

Studio host Linda Budge welcomes you: "Come and visit us! Have some artsy conversation in a very relaxed beautiful setting. We'll be doing some demos and would love to answer your questions. Look for the big yellow balloon."

Carolyn Sato wants you to know that her sculptures emerge from within and beyond ... "from my soul, my muse and the spirit itself." You should see for yourself.

Exquisite Sato sculpture

Kyle Hobratschk's work is drawing based so to better understand the structure of buildings and botanicals and their relation to space and one another's form. Kyle is an amazing young artist.

Kyle shows his etchings and watercolors

As you may know, Linda's subjects usually have 4 legs and a variety of ears, noses and tails. Sometimes they can be found looking at you through the mesquite trees or just standing in someone's backyard. Linda says, "I try to capture their look, their expression and their attitude in my paintings."

Creative U, Studio No. 13

Amazing work by Jennifer Hansom

Jennifer Hanscom hosts studio 13 this year at Creative U. Jennifer Hanscom is debuting her cast jewelry designs this year. Come and see how the wax is carved. She also has some great new fabricated pieces.

Patricia  Shepherd's exhibit

Playful layering by Denise Paradis

You will find a wide array of jewelry and home decor at this studio that is crafted with metals and glass. Come and see lots of live demos:

Denise Paradis will be doing live demonstrations at (or around) 11AM, 2PM, and 4PM each day. She has a wonderfully organized style to her beads; she plays with layering the colors and interesting shapes. Her jewelry utilizes reticulated and fused silver to showcase and accentuate her beautiful beads.

Patricia Shepherd's exquisite designs

Patricia Shepherd readily shows the use of a jeweler's saw. Her mastery of this skill is utilized both in her home decor and her jewelry. Influence of the Southwest is apparent in all of Pat's work, and her history as an oil painter shines through in her command of proportion.

Mixed media by Judy Carr

Judy Carr will demo her glass painting technique. This is the technique she uses to portray her whimsical animals onto some of her glass service-ware.   Judy also creates amazing mixed-media sculpture and jewelry.

Susanne Flowers Studio, No. 35

Studio host Susanne Flowers displays her figurative artwork in the charming setting of her studio and back garden. But you'll also find fine art photography by Ari Plosker and amazing glass art, both functional and decorative, by Lea Plosker.


Take a look at this 1-minute video to get a delicious taste of what you'll find at Studio 35! If you don't see a video below, click HERE!

T & J Designs, Studio No. 36

In the video below, you'll see studio host Tom Gallob demonstrating his new charcoal techniques for portraiture. Tom is also exhibiting terrific oil paintings. His guest artist Kathryn Darner shares his space with her distinctive jewelry. Across a charming bridge to the guest house, watercolorist and colored pencil artist Karel Armstrong is exhibiting and demonstrating, as is John Armstrong with his delicious woodwork. Denise Trastek creates her Heartsong Weavings with waxed Irish linen thread, beads and silk thread (you really must see her at work).


If you don't see the video, please click HERE to get a feel for this wonderful studio!

Two Sisters Studio, No. 31

If you are not seeing the video above, please click HERE for a sampling of what you'll find there.

Two Sisters Studio is the coming together of two sisters, back together and now in Arizona... joining history, talents, and laughter. Christine Warjone (www.cwarjone.com) and Kathleen Turner (www.highdesertcreations.com) showcase images in acrylic on canvas and metal (Chris) and jewelry beadwork and metal-smithing (Kathi) in their north Scottsdale studio.

Joining them as guest artist is Paul Jones (www.pauljonesart.com) who paints original oils from the Heart of the West.  Paul is a renowned artist with works featured in national publications and numerous corporate installations.

With their inaugural participation in Hidden in the Hills, the sisters are thrilled to be part of this 17 year old exhibition of talent and passion of artists.  Their studio tour includes refreshments, and the opportunity to see intricate beadwork in process!

Chris, a self-taught photographer and mixed-media artist, uses original images as the foundation for her art of acrylic layers on canvas.  She travels extensively and uses the images she captures at home and abroad as her inspiration. She enjoys her joint studio inspiration in both Sun Valley, Idaho and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kathi, a jewelry artist specializing in wearable bead and metal art, has been beading and making jewelry since the age of 13. Her work has been featured in numerous publications and she embraces the phrase, "From Western Swing to City Bling." A retired rancher, Kathi spends much of her time creating new designs in studios located in Winnemucca Nevada, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Linda Blumel Studio, No. 25

Beautiful work by studio host Linda Blumel

Presents anyone would want!

The artists of Linda Blumel Studio are pleased to once again be participants in the Hidden in the Hills Studio tour. This is the 3^rd year in a row they are joining together to share their creativity, work and friendship.

Linda's studio provides a wonderful desert setting for her to create her fine natural stone jewelry. Her work is well made and her style is timeless. Her love of beautiful stones is obvious in each piece. 

Happy artwork from Pat Bozek

Oil and watercolor painter Pat Bozek is also once again showing her work. She has new pieces inspired by the desert locale. She loves to work with watercolor and pushing the limits of its vibrancy and luminosity. Working with oil presents a change in direction and a new and fresh perspective. 

Distinctive jewelery by Sally Watters

Sally Watters work is a wonderful and creative mix of both the found and the traditional. Much of her jewelry incorporates beach glass that she discovers on the shores of her summer home on Lake Superior in Northern Michigan as well as other found treasures. She also has some wonderful decorative pieces including mirrors and tables that are made with driftwood and other found pieces.

Marg Nelsson's whimsical artwork

Mosaics that are unlike any other are just one of the many talents of Marg Nelsson our other artist. Her paintings are both bold and whimsical. Her creativity knows no limits ~ you'll look forward to enjoying the results of her endless imagination and unique style.

So look for the studio mascot “Bob the Bull.” The studio looks forward to sharing their work, conversation and this lovely desert which inspires us all.

Betsy Glatz creating art in her Balancing Rock Studio in Cave Creek

Abstract acrylic by Betsy Glatz

Betsy Glatz has been active in the art and design communities in Cave Creek, Las Vegas and Chicago for over 40 years. Her focus is large format abstract acrylic paintings and glass wallscapes that are inspired by her energy and interpretation of the movement of color.

Gary Fabbri fine art photography

Now retired from the corporate world, Gary Fabbri has rekindled his passion for photography which began in the 1970's alongside his former father-in-law, a Veteran WWII Combat Photographer. Through his lens, Gary has captured a wide range of images from barns to butterflies, wildlife to natural wonders, aircraft to collectible car collages.

Watercolor by Joan Milman

This is the 15th year painter and jeweler Joan Milman has participated in the Tour. She delights in unusual textures, subjects and vivid colors. Besides watercolors, Joan also creates wearable jewelry sculptures that include fine and eclectic materials, including watch parts.

Batik by Catherine Ross

Catherine Ross is reinventing herself as a practicing artist after an illustrious career as an arts educator of 34 years. The forms and texture of the terrain is reflected in the color, texture and shape of her art.

Mixed media by Judith Rothenstein-Putzer

Judith Rothenstein-Putzer has been working with Alcohol Transfers embellished with Pen and Ink as a spin off her love of photography. This mixed media technique is a hybrid between photography and printmaking which yields one-of-a kind images of the world around her.

Catherine Sickafoose watercolor

Catherine Sickafoose captures the colors of nature in both sunshine and shadows in her transparent watercolors for vibrant representations of landscapes, florals and still life arrangements. You can't be Studio No. 3 for variety and unique artwork!

Lonesome Trail Studio Video (from Friday)

Hot off the camera, here's a little taste of what you'll find at Lonesome Trail Studio, no. 32.

Host Marjorie Posson is a sculptor of whimsy, and her guest artists are talented jeweler and bookbinder Zoe Sayer and painter of every medium June Lerman. If you are not seeing a video right below here, please click HERE. Such variety and talent!

Make a Custom Tour of Your HITH Favorites!

Okay, folks, it's time to do a little art research and design your custom tour map.

Start by clicking HERE.

Click on a studio number and take a gander at the artists showing there. Click on a name and you'll find examples of their art.

Add your favorites artists and studios to your tour with the links provided. 

Print it out when you're done! The studios you chose to visit will be highlighted on the map printout!

You can even save your custom map and come back later to change it. Pretty cool, huh? We love our website. So will you, and ....

See you this weekend!

Darbyshire Pottery, Studio No. 48

This studio is in one of the loveliest parts of Cave Creek.

One of Judy's javelinas

Bobcat painting by Judy

Darbyshire Pottery welcomes you to the Hidden In The Hills Artist Studio Tour. A regular on the tour since its inception 16 years ago, Judy Darbyshire is always excited to see her annual visitors return along with a whole host of newcomers.

Lynda's metal embossing

Repujado by Lynda Abare

Judy has been especially industrious in the studio and has an unusually large and diverse collection for this year's tour. Her pottery, whether wheel-thrown, coiled, slab-built, or sculpted is influenced by her connections to Southwestern archaeology, animals, and an affinity for Craftsman style. Judy's paintings, no longer offered to galleries, are in a retro, “illustration-y” manner and each one is cradled in an appropriate box frame also made by Judy. Some handicrafts are fashioned from botanical materials gathered during her forays into the mesas and canyons.

Lynda Abare is a relatively new addition to the tour and a guest artist at Judy's studio this year. Her artform is uncommon yet centuries old. Lynda is a Repujado artist and enjoys working with metal – pewter, copper, brass and aluminum. Handmade with simple tools, her desire is to create artwork that can be handled, perused, enjoyed … beautiful and functional. Lynda offers a nice selection of journals, holiday ornaments, tea boxes, pewter switchplate covers and fine metal tooling.

One of the Sonoran Art League's missions is to share art with the community, and Lynda and Judy are looking forward to doing just that. Judy's studio is a working studio, her painting and pottery tools are evident, and she doesn't hold back on sharing “technique.” Lynda will be demo-ing Repujado (the fine art of metal embossing) throughout both weekends.

The Sculpture Studio, No. 45

Just a little sampling from Mark Carroll's sculptural offerings.

Visit The Sculpture Studio, the place for contemporary sculpture in wood, stone, and metal by sculptor Mark Carroll. An exciting new development in Mark’s sculptures this year is the combination of materials, such as stone and stainless steel, and stone and cast glass. There are also new stainless steel standing mobiles.  See and overview of Mark’s sculpture at thesculpturestudio.com. Also enjoy Mark's video demonstration of stone carving!

Also exhibiting at The Sculpture Studio will be Vala Ola with her beautiful bronze figurative sculpture. www.valaola.com.

To learn more about stone, steel, bronze and cast glass sculpture, The Sculpture Studio is your first stop!

Karen Leeds & Bela Fidel Studio, No. 21

Karen Leeds and Bela Fidel welcome you to their working studios!

Bela Fidel

Coming to Hidden In the Hills from the south? Consider starting your tour at Studio #21 (off of Dynamite between Scottsdale & Pima Roads) for informative silk painting demos by Karen Leeds and encaustic (hot wax) tips by Bela Fidel. Their guest artist this year, painter and ceramicist Arlene Meyer, will also be on hand for artistic tips ~ each Friday and Sunday of the tour!

Karen Leeds

Karen’s silks are hanging in permanent installations around town and her studio was included on the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s 2006 studio tour.

Bela’s work can be found at the Boulder’s Spa and on display at El Pedregal.

Arlene Meyer

Please come enjoy refreshments and drink, and browse through the galleries. There will be lots of goodies to eat and drink, workshops to sign up for, and many small original treasures under $50 available to purchase for holiday gifting!

Ehling Fine Arts, No. 34

Learn more about batik at Ehling Fine Arts!

Butterflies are Free by Katalin Ehling

Sue Lewis's Dwelling of Hopefullness

Katalin Ehling has been a participant in Hidden in the Hills since year one. This year is her 16th and it is as much anticipated as ever. She offers many new batiks, both on cotton and paper. There are also new themes and old. Of the new, there is a new series of women wearing batik scarves she patterned after ones acquired in Indonesia a couple of years ago. Older series include a continuation of one of her favorite themes, the aspen from Flagstaff. They are depicted during different seasons.

Also on exhibit are some of Katalin's earlier and always favorite Southwest-themed batiks. Finally, her memoir WAXING LIFE will also be available for sale. www.katalinehling.com

Katalin looks forward to having you come by not only to see her work but also for her two guest artists. Morrie Elmer has been a guest fourteen times. Sue Avery Lewis is a new guest this year. Both, she says, are perfectionists in their craft.

Fine jeweler and painter Sue Lewis

Sue is excited to be in a studio space this year where she can add her new mixed media acrylic paintings to her familiar one-of-a-kind silver art jewelry pieces. She calls this year's collection "Energy Dwellings." She says, "The silver and paintings house a defined energy such as Elusiveness, Enchantment, or Hopefulness, all encouraging your own mindful relationship to the concept."  

Wood vessel by Morrie  Elmer

Morrie Elmer, hollow vessel wood turner extraordinaire, returns for his 13th year in Katalin’s studio. His use of exotic woods and precious gems such as turquoise and coral showcase the uniqueness of his creations.

You'll have a splendid time visiting Studio 34!

Laughing Glass Studio, No. 39

Welcome to Laughing Glass Studio!

Laughing Glass Studio has participated in HITH every year for 16 years. At this stop, you can see the original 8 1/2" x 11" hand-drawn map that invited guests to the first event in 1997, along with every map and directory from all 16 years - a historical tour of HITH's evolution.

For the past 11 years, Claudia Robinson has not only been showing her work at Laughing Glass Studio, but Carole, Don and Claudia have been collaborating on unique glass and metal sculptures since that first year together. Every year, a new collaboration of steel and bright colored glass greets the visitors to this studio ~ some over 10 feet tall. Past work includes the original Poppy Gardens, Wind Totems, Hand-stand Kids and Ocotillos. This year you'll find ... well, it's supposed to be a surprise, isn't it?!

Metal Sculptor Claudia Robinson

It is the wild and constant creative synergism among these three artists that assures everyone who visits this studio they will find as many wondrous new pieces as old favorites. That, combined with exceptionally good food and a chance to see many old friends in Cave Creek's most colorful studio, is what makes this the "must see" studio for a several thousand art lovers every single year!

Robin's Nest, Studio No. 41

Water media artist and studio host Robin Ray

Cave Creek artist and high school teacher Robin Ray is a participating artist once again in our flagship event. Actually, she was one of the founders of what has become the largest six-day art tour in the state.

“The idea was born when several local artists and I discussed combining our individual home shows on Thanksgiving weekend.  We collaborated, merged mailing lists and launched the first tour,” Ray explained. “And it’s been a monumental success ever since.”

Ray is known for her watercolors and wall murals found all over the desert foothills on public walls and in private residences. “I love to use lots of colors, to create depth on flat surfaces with texture and pattern,” Ray explained.  “My work is very whimsical.”

Jeweler Beth Benowich

The house Ray moved into nearly three decades ago still serves as her home and art studio “This year I have two new artists joining me,” she said.  “I like to change it up regularly and bring in new talent.” They are Beth Benowich (fine jewelry and bronze) and William F. Colligen (gourds.) Returning to her studio will be sculptor Gordon P. Mischke (metal, stone and wood).

William Colligan, Gourds

Sculpture by Gordon Mischke