The Magic of Open Doors: Orange County’s Artist Studios

ORANGE SLICES

By Laurie Paolicelli
Guest Columnist

Painting by Artist Natalia Adamson

There is something profoundly intimate about stepping into an artist’s personal workspace. It is not the curated setting of a gallery or museum. It is something more personal and revealing. Here, you gain insight not only into the artwork, but also into the person behind it. You see their choices, their tools, their daily rituals and the place where an idea slowly becomes something tangible.

That is why the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour has captivated visitors for more than three decades. This November, the 32nd annual tour will once again open creative spaces across Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and rural Orange County. Visitors can meet artists, see where they work and discover original pieces in settings that are rarely open to the public.

Handcrafted Jewelry by Artist Lynn Burcher

Some studios sit along quiet country roads. Others occupy downtown spaces or are tucked into tree-lined neighborhoods in seemingly ordinary homes. Walk through the door, however, and another world appears: canvases in progress, shelves of clay, metal waiting to be shaped, fibers arranged by color, or the tools and materials behind jewelry, photography, woodwork and mixed-media art.

One of the pleasures of living in Orange County is getting to know the people behind the art, and Chapel Hill ceramic artist Judith Ernst is a wonderful example. A visit to Judith’s studio is as much about conversation and connection as it is about seeing her remarkable sculptural vessels. She is thoughtful, welcoming, and deeply invested in the creative life of this community, including her longtime involvement with FRANK Gallery. Her work draws on nature, geometry, and a sense of wonder, but what stays with you is Judith herself — curious, generous, and eager to share how an idea becomes a piece of art. Supporting artists like Judith means supporting the people who give Orange County so much of its character, beauty, and soul.

Ceramic Artist, Judith Ernst

What makes these visits remarkable is not only the quality and variety of the art. It is the conversation. Artists are there to talk about why they create, what inspires them and what led them to their work. Creativity rarely follows one path. For some, art represents a reinvention later in life. For others, it has been present since childhood. The common thread may be the courage it takes to share something so personal with a stranger.

Many visitors return year after year to see favorite artists and meet new ones. The tour can become a full day of discovery, with stops at studios as well as nearby galleries, restaurants, coffee shops and local businesses. It is also an inviting way to begin holiday shopping while supporting local artists and taking home work with a genuine connection to Orange County.

Photomontage by Artist Catherine Carter

The Orange County Open Studio Tour began in 1995 when jewelry maker Monnda Welch organized the first event. By 2000, the tour had grown enough that the Orange County Arts Commission helped initiate the Orange County Artists Guild. Guild members continue to volunteer their time throughout the year to organize and promote the event.

The tour has grown, but it has not lost its intimacy. These are not artists performing for an audience. They are people welcoming visitors into their homes and working lives and offering a glimpse of how they have chosen to spend their days. Art is made by people, and on the Studio Tour you get to see both the work and the life behind it.

Textile Collage by Artist Elaine O’Neil

2026 Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour

• Dates: November 7-8 and November 14-15
• Hours: Saturdays, 10 am – 5 pm; Sundays, 12 noon – 5 pm
• Admission: Free and open to the public
• Scope: 85 studios and 106 artists across Orange County

Before setting out, check the guild’s website for the latest participating artists, studio locations and any day-specific notes. Build a route around a part of the county you would like to explore, leave time for conversation and be prepared to discover something unexpected.

View the current artist list, printable map and brochure at 2026 Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour

Share your thoughts with me here, Laurie Paolicelli

Disclaimer: Published by Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Public Relations team, this story includes interviews and repurposed content from websites and partner press releases. For more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie Paolicelli.

Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This reporter can be reached at Information@TheLocalReporter.press