The Bend Artists’ Studio Tour is returning for the second year. The free, self-guided event is spread throughout Bend at seven locations from Deschutes River Woods to northeast Bend. It’s an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look inside the studios of 15 artists representing fused glass, oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastels, photography and mixed media.
Barbara Alford’s pastel paintings blend impressionistic realism with a contemporary edge. Her subjects reflect the landscapes of the southwest and the pacific northwest, giving viewers the opportunity to finish her paintings in their own mind’s eye.
As a retired aerospace engineer turned fused glass artist, Lercari says a hobby has grown into a full-time artistic pursuit. He creates functional art — ranging from night lights and dishes to clocks, mirror frames and wall hangings. His designs draw inspiration from local flora and fauna, as well as the vibrant sea life of Maui, where he once lived.
Bob Rowley – oil, pastel, watercolor
With a background in marine biology and a Ph.D in kelp-bed ecology, he brings a scientific curiosity and sense of exploration to his second career as a painter. He works primarily in oils and pastels, drawn to the drama of local landscapes — especially the high desert, lava flows and Cascade range.
Based in Sunriver, watercolor artist Dianne Lay captures the quiet beauty of everyday life through the fluid and expressive nature of transparent watercolor. Her work is rooted in personal memory and a strong connection to place — from the open skies of her Nebraska childhood to the high desert light of Central Oregon.
Jesica Carleton – glass & mixed media
Jesica Carleton is a multidisciplinary artist whose diverse artistic journey spans sewing, quilting, batik, ceramics, welding, acrylic pours, glass fusing and more. Mosaic art is her current focus as she pushes its boundaries, blending abstract, representational, and whimsical elements across varied scales and settings.
Karen Bandy – acrylic & oil painting
Karen Bandy’s abstract paintings are inspired by the bold colors of nature and expressive beauty of wildlife, especially birds. She weaves animals and natural elements into imaginative scenes.
Karen Mcquown’s relationship with clay spans back to 1979. She likes to make people smile with work that’s whimsical and silly. An arm injury prompted her to switch from wheel throwing to hand sculpting as her primary mode of creating.
Kathleen Veenstra – oil painting, ceramics
Inspired by the vivid colors of trees, water, shifting skies and the layered textures of the Oregon landscape, Kathleen Veenstra expresses her vision through oil painting and stoneware ceramics. She often sketches or photographs scenes outdoors, then develops the work in her studio.
Kay Baker – oil, pastel, watercolor
Kay Baker’s work reflects a rich tapestry of travel. Spending her formative years in North Africa deeply influenced her creative spirit. She studied oil painting and developed a successful art career, later expanding her practice to include watercolor and pastels after relocating to Bend.
Ken Meyer is a nature photographer whose work is driven by a deep personal connection to the outdoors. His favorite subjects include colorful blooms, vivid sunsets and reflections in alpine lakes.
Laura Jo Sherman’s passion for art led her to a 30-year career as an art teacher before becoming a full-time professional pastel artist. Working quickly on sanded surfaces, Sherman embraces spontaneity, often revising and reworking pieces. Her subjects range from animals and flowers to the striking landscapes of Central Oregon.
Melissa McGlenn is a mixed media artist whose work serves as a channel for healing and transformation, inspired by dreams, hypnotic visions and a profound connection to nature. She explores beauty through painting, jewelry design, digital art, clay sculpting and mixed media collage.
Shana Laursen is a versatile artist whose work spans acrylic, soft pastel, encaustic, printmaking and mixed media to capture the essence of ideas, moods, and the natural world. For Laursen, art is a journey of discovery — a dynamic dialogue between intention and material that reflects life’s rhythms and transformations.
Inspired deeply by the landscape’s light, rhythm, and quiet mystery, Susan Hood works primarily in oils, both en plein air and in the studio, to translate the natural world into a compelling visual language. Immersed in the environment, painting outdoors keeps her connected and responsive to the moment.
Denise Rich – acrylic and watercolor
Denise Rich specializes in painting cows and cattle. In 2006 she received a commission to create the art for the “Real California Milk” campaign. She was drawn to cows from the moment she first photographed them, realizing they were individuals with unique and charming personalities.
Bend Artists’ Studio Tour
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 13-14 11am-4pm
Six locations in Bend
sagebrushersartofbend.com/bend-artists-studio-tour
Free
This article appears in the Source September 11, 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
