We're still coming down from our East Austin Studio Tour high - with four days of visiting studios and a week full of happenings and performances, this was undoubtedly our favorite EAST to date. As always, we were struck by the sheer number of artists and creatives working out of the East Side and were blown away by the diversity of the work. In a few short days we were able to model hand crafted hats, letterpress our own cards, screenprint a tee-shirt, see work by some amazing artists, buy locally handmade gifts, and generally feel inspired and proud to be surrounded by a community that values creativity. As artist Stephanie Nance encouraged in her blog, "don't let the East Side of I-35 scare you! It's full of wonderful art, culture, and diversity and it's waiting for you... get your bikes or good waking shoes out and be a tourist!" We're sure glad we did. more ›

Among Austin printmakers, screenprinting reigns supreme - the sometimes messy process requires relatively little equipment and nicely compliments our rock and roll lifestyle. For every collective of anarchists kids squeegeeing patches in their kitchen, there is an Austin printmaker pursuing a different printing technique. Kat and Brad Murph are a pair of such printers, and in 2006 they founded Vertallee Letterpress, a design and print studio in East Austin. Letterpress is like screenprinting's older, more refined sister - the delicate embossing instantly gives paper a polished aesthetic. Vertallee provides custom design and printing for invitations, business cards, and all manner of ephemerata. Vertallee Letterpress are participating in East Austin Studio Tour - stop by their studio at 701 Tillery St. to see their work and try your hand at printing on their Heidelberg Windmill press. Vertallee's creative director, Kat Murph answered some questions for us about the letterpress process and the future of the printed word. more ›

Like a lot of people in Austin, artist Stephanie Nance has a great affinity for the airstream trailer. These vintage 1960s wagons have been the subject of several of her paintings, prints, and postcards, and she even fashioned a studio out of one for a while. Part of her beloved "Americana" series, Nance's airstreams are sprightly, whimsical, colorful, and based on her representations, would be totally believable as the main character in a animated film. Still dear to heart, Nance has moved on from airstreams for now (she sold hers last year) and has returned to the East Austin Studio this year with a new collection of paintings that feature a myriad of botanicals, including cacti and flowers native to this region, and a few bird varieties. The same wonderful illustrative quality is here as with her previous work -- a steady line mixed with bright colors and patterns. more ›

The ever fantastic East Austin Studio Tour continues this weekend with open studios and more art programs and happenings. Here's a rundown of some of our suggestions for weekend art enjoyment. Don't miss your final opportunity to check out East Austin studios this weekend. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the 150+ participating locations, review our list of survival tips and studio picks and our interviews with EAST artists. Artists participating in EAST will have their studios open from 10am until 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Head over to the official East Austin Studio Tour site to see the full list of artists and to download a copy of the EAST map. We'll see ya on the East Side! more ›

For fifteen years, the members of the Women Printmakers of Austin have dedicated themselves to exploring artistic expression and expanding the audience of fine art printmaking. Deeply rooted in historical printing traditions, these artists are now able to blend classic techniques with modern technology to create contemporary works of art. The WPA recently acquired studio space in Pump Project's newly rennovated Satellite Studio and Flex Space. The new shared space grants 24 hour access to studio subscribers who can avail themselves of etching and intaglio supplies, a large press, and other tools of the trade. The Women Printmakers of Austin are participating in this weekend's East Austin Studio Tour and can be visited at 1109 Shady Lane, just up the road from the Pump Project complex. Artist and WPA Chair Angela Hayes answered some questions for us about the future of printmaking and what it's like to work with a team of talented women. more ›

Attention Rio Rita patrons: When was the last time you enjoyed your foamy cappuccino (or alternatively, your jalapeno-infused vodka) inside Rio Rita's impossibly adorable environs? In between Scrabble games or knitting or recounting NPR, did you take note of your counter server? There is a good chance you were serviced by Nick Henning, pop art-inflected painter and resident artist at the Pump Project Art Complex. more ›

Taking her cues from the "anything goes" rules of children's literature, illustrator Audrey Lopata carefully pens colorful worlds inhabited with scarf-wearing-lizards, zombie pirates, and mermaids. Her black and white comic panels express slightly more grown-up emotions but still convey the sense of whimsy that is so evident through out Lopata's work. Stop by the Pump Project Art Complex this weekend during East Austin Studio Tour to see Lopata's studio space and that of many other talented artists. Audrey sat down with us to talk about what inspires her and how she goes about creating alternative worlds where elves and fairies roam. more ›

There are many skills your average crafter possesses. Decoupage. Knitting. Some light carpentry. But if there's one thing every crafter knows how to do, it's hustle, y'all. Case in point? Etsy.com, a ginormous online catalog of handmade creations. Open since 2005, Etsy allows entrepreneurial crafters from all over to set up shop on the interwebs. And in October of 2008, our fair city got its very own street team: Etsy Austin. You can check out these ladies, and their stationary-making/metal-fabricating/hat-stitching compatriots this weekend during the East Austin Studio Tour, at Smith Studios on 1406 Smith Road (stop 60 on the tour map). more ›

It's the type of thing indie film dreams are made of: four girls, all crafters, long to open their own craft studio. Girls pool their money for an Airstream trailer. Girls move in with crafts. Girls take "craft trailer" on the road, teaching children and adults alike the joys of coil baskets, stampmaking and bookbinding. (Shhh - did you hear that sound? That's the sound of Drew Barrymore purchasing film rights!) The WonderCraft is the real-life lovechild of Austin crafty ladies Beth Hempton, Albrecht, Jen Bryan and Kim Sae-Eua, whose mobile craft trailer "Stella" makes her debut this year at East Austin Studio Tour. Stella will be parked at 628 Allen St. as guests of Courtney Gray/Creative Side Jewelry Academy (stop 45 on the E.A.S.T. map). more ›

Jaime Jo Fisher can be considered a small-scale contemporary metal sculptor. Although she works with traditional silversmithing techniques to mostly create jewelry, her end product often resembles a fine piece of wearable contemporary art. The jeweler extraordinaire fittingly thinks of her pieces as wearable collages - much of Fisher's work includes found objects and re-purposed materials. Along with traditional stones, vintage beads, and polymer clay, Fisher has been known to incorporate broken bits of a reflector, pieces of shells found on the beach, and even dryer lint into her ornate and modern jewelry. Jaime Jo Fisher is participating in this weekend's East Austin Studio Tour, stop by her space at 5609 Steven Creek Way to see her collection of found materials and how she turns them into wearable art. more ›

Austin may be known for it's liberal attitudes, causal fashion, and nearly constant sunshine - as a result, outside of the occasional beat-up cowboy hat or burnt orange baseball cap, we're not big hat wearers. Despite this, Austin is home to a few talented milliners, among them Jean Cannon of Zenda Hats whose studio will be open this weekend for East Austin Studio Tour. Cannon's work is high-fashion enough to adorn the head's of church ladies and Austin enough to accessorize us at our version of church - Sunday morning breakfast tacos. Among the work on display during the tour is a fabulous silken bonnet that Cannon created for a theater costume, a stunning black women's top hat, and a handsome men's fedora. Stop by her studio (at 3709 Werner Ave) this weekend during EAST to try on many hats and see the tools of the trade. Come pretty and prepared - photographers Kristin Ware and Debbie Smith will be at the site with their Polaroid photo-booth to capture everyone's fashionable finery. more ›

If a book, a record, and a wall painting were to have a ménage à trois together, it is Monofonus Press who would provide the bedroom. In real life, these are called threesomes; in the art world, these are called "collaborations." Just over a year old, Monofonus Press has been facilitating innovative cross-media works with stunning proliferation, reaching out to artists as diverse as Noel Waggener, icon-heavy poster designer; grrl rockers Follow That Bird!; and Michener Center-minted Brian Hart. Recently voted “Best Multiple Media Idea” by the Austin Chronicle,Monofonus Studios, located at 610 Vermont Road, encourages art voyeurs of all stripes to stop by during that East Austin Studio Tour. We spoke with co-founder Morgan Coy, who, suspiciously enough, created Monofonus with two other partners. more ›

Like the South by Southwest of visual art, East Austin Studio Tour can be daunting to navigate. For the first time the tour has expanded this year to include two weekends of open studios with events and programs taking place mid-week. This weekend and next, 154 artist studios will throw open their doors to the public from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday to show off their workspace, projects, and process. The sheer number of participating artists means that there is truly something for everyone - from seasoned art aficionados to fledgling appreciators. With four days of maximum studio viewing potential, Austinist has put together a list of tips for enjoying the event and a (by no means comprehensive) list of some of our favorite studios from years past. more ›

One can only imagine the reactions that someone like Bob Ragan gets when he tells people what he does for a living. Stone carver? Really? ...Wow! This reaction would be accompanied by a perplexed look as people realize what that entails. Followed by the natural conclusion that it's pretty damn cool. But, part of the puzzlement for those few seconds has to be figuring out what it actually does entail? Well, for anyone who ever wanted a peek into how stone is carved, now is your chance. Ragan, along with fellow professional stone carvers Matthew Johnson and Stuart Simpson — also known as Flying Fingers Stone Co-op — will bring the wow factor to East Austin Studio Tour with on-site carving demonstrations this weekend and next. more ›

Every now and again an everyday object will catch our eye with its clean lines, its bright alluring colors, and simple sophistication. Such is the case with every cup Melanie Schopper designs and makes. Using a clay process known as slip casting and her uncanny eye for color combinations, Schopper is able to bring new life to a traditional form. A member of Handmade Austin Women, Schopper will be showing her work at Ginko Studios (800 Gullett St.) during this year's East Austin Studio Tour. more ›

Ah, screen printing - a vexing mistress are you. So difficult, but so handy. Over 100 years old, traditional screen printing requires large and unwieldy accouterments - imagine an exploded Xerox machine with parts sticking out everywhere - but a whole century later, its untidy appearance belies its staying power and demand. The boys behind Bearded Lady, a local screen printing outfit here in Austin, should know. Josh Chalmers and JD Fanning started their studio in 2000, developed a large enough client base to go full-time in 2002, and today, work with everyone from local bands to Robert Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios. We asked Chalmers to chat with Austinist about Bearded Lady, which is gearing up for participation in the East Austin Studio Tour. Visitors can drop by at 3504 East 4th Street - # 47 on the EAST map - and in addition to gawking at comely band posters and design projects, you can also visit with Bearded Lady's security personnel (i.e. very small, very adorable dogs). more ›

While the East Austin Studio Tour offers the opportunity to discover new artists opening their studios to the public for the first time, it is also a great time to visit and catch up with established artists that have been a part of the Austin art scene for many years. Such is the case with Daniel Burns, an artist known for his soulful depictions of Austin landmarks and a past participant of EAST. Burns has just returned from a two-year stint in New York where he lived while his wife, Cari, completed her graduate degree. Happy to be back in Austin, Burns brings with him a new series of paintings created on the streets of NYC that pulsate with the same jubilant energy inherent in the city itself. Straight from the book of the early French Impressionists, these En plein air works capture a snapshot of modern life in the moment. His quick, fluid brushstrokes and vibrant colors perfectly evoke the bustle of a busy afternoon in downtown Manhattan. In addition to Burns' new paintings, this year's tour participants will also get to see prints from his Austin Landmarks collection. more ›

Bonnie Rue is the type of gal you wanted to be BFF's with at summer camp. The one who snuck copies of Sassy into chapel, the one with a forearm covered in lanyards and friendship bracelets, the one making zines out of photos and Xeroxed leaves. In short, Bonnie is the type of gal who would one day grow up and create Model Citizen, a line of T-shirts, dresses, hoodies, yoga wear, jewelry and accessories emblazoned with funky, punky iconography. Think screaming tigers, pink guns, gooey cupcakes, vintage sewing machines - basically, where the lethal and the domestic intersect. Bonnie's opening her home and studio, located at 1304 East Cesar Chavez Suite A (#17 on the EAST map), for the East Austin Studio Tour. Visitors will be able to scope out her wares and even do some early holiday shopping. more ›

Like so many young creatives, Abi Daniel is living out one form of the Austin dream - you move to Austin "temporarily" because you heard it was hip and you love the sunshine then get sucked in by the city's charm and pretty soon, you find yourself with a home, a life, and even a job you can't really complain about. An illustrator who works across many mediums, Daniel was able to land a position as an artist for one of Austin's many game companies. When she's not drawing space machines for a paycheck, Daniel creates refined portraits, often of animals, using watercolor and pyrography. For this year's East Austin Studio Tour, Daniel will be setting up a temporary workspace and gallery show inside screen printing studio extraordinaire, Bearded Lady (located at 3504 E. 4th St.). Abi Daniel talked to us recently about her own messy studio, her "really good nightmares", and what it's like to be a creative in the game industry. more ›

Although no single location can embody the whole spirit of East Austin Studio Tour, Fisterra Studio comes pretty darn close. The 102-year old home and studio has been a stop on EAST since the first tour in 2003 and devoted art aficionados have flocked to the house year after year to see what homeowner and artist Jennifer Chenoweth has done with the place. The fully remolded home has the feel of a well curated gallery - from the sculpture in the garden to large canvases in the halls and a kid's bedroom that is to die for. Out back, among pets and plants, is Chenoweth's studio where she carefully creates colorful abstract paintings and sculptures. Fisterra Studio, located at 1200 E. 2nd St., will once again open its doors to East Austin Studio Tour participants this weekend and next from 10am to 5pm each Saturday and Sunday. more ›

In addition to great weather, Thanksgiving, and Fun Fun Fun Fest, November in Austin has also come to mean that it’s time for the East Austin Studio Tour. A groundswell of East Austin’s creative culture, this annual event has typically been held over one weekend, right before Turkey Day. But, this year EAST will take place over a span of nine days (November 14th through November 22nd) and include two weekends! more ›

It still feels very much like summer, but for area artists interested in participating in fall's bounty of art and craft events, it's time to throw production into high gear. Here's a rundown of upcoming deadlines and events that are now asking for applications: East Austin Studio Tour, or E.A.S.T., is going to take place over two weekends this year, from November 14th through November 22nd. Of course, this is great news for art voyeurs interested in a glimpse into the creative process, but it also means that participating studios must be willing to stay open to the public on both weekends. Applications are also being accepted for E.A.S.T. exhibition spaces (theaters, galleries, etc.), happenings (temporary art projects, performance pieces, etc.), and programs (workshops or lectures). Applications are due on Tuesday, September 1st by 6pm and need to be mailed to Big Medium. All the information, including forms, can be found online. more ›