Artist take a variety of approaches to displaying their creations at the annual South Central Minnesota Studio Art Tour. Some find a corner of an art gallery, some open their home-based studios for people to come and view their work and some throw a party compete with live music, a food truck and free beer.

The Fleur de Lis Gallery Gallery in Faribault features the work of 60 artists including the natural stone and sterling jewelry of Jessica Prill.

Northfield’s Sunset Studios is a cluster of studios that features the art glass of Julie Nordine, the wood creations of Reid Hendershot, the ceramics of Tom Willis, the earthenware of Christie Clarke, the beadwork of Sue Peoples and the textiles of Kathy Anderson. These artists, like many others on the tour, also offer a variety of refreshments to enjoy while guests view their art.

Fred Somers, one of the preeminent artists in the area, once again opened his studio featuring his nature-themed pastel and oil paintings.

But the artist who wins the prize for going the most all-out for the studio art tour is Curtis Ingvoldstad of Big Woods Sculpture. He brought in a couple of bands for entertainment, the Evan’s Eatery food truck and free beer from Northfield’s Imminent Brewery. Plus, he gave free demonstrations of his amazing skills as a chainsaw wood carver at his farm nestled in the rolling hills near Nerstrand, MN. As the following pictures show, Mr. Ingvoldstad is truly a world-class wood carver.

Mr. Ingvoldstad picked up the chainsaw 13 years ago after many years of oil painting and hand carving. He has competed with the best of the best internationally and gained great respect for his realism, attention to detail and a very complex painting style.

The 2018 version of the South Central Minnesota Studio Art Tour featured 37 artists in 19 studios in and around the cities of Faribault and Northfield. It is held each year in mid-October.