The Studio Scene in Sequim

Dozens of artists maintain working studios throughout the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. Some operate from converted garages and outbuildings on residential properties. Others rent space in the small commercial buildings scattered between lavender farms and housing developments along the valley floor. A few have purpose-built studios with north-facing skylights designed specifically for painting.

What these spaces share is a quality that's hard to replicate in a gallery: the presence of work in progress. Half-finished canvases on easels, ceramic forms drying on shelves, printmaking plates inked and ready to run. Visiting a studio gives you a sense of how an artist actually works, what their process looks like day to day, and what the Olympic Peninsula light does to a room full of paint and possibility.

Open Studio Tour

Once a year, usually in late spring, Sequim Arts coordinates an Open Studio Tour that invites the public into working studios across the valley. Participating artists open their doors for a weekend, typically Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The tour is self-guided, with a printed map and directory available from our office and at participating downtown galleries.

The Open Studio Tour typically features 15 to 25 participating artists working in a wide range of media. Visitors can drive the route at their own pace, spending as much or as little time at each stop as they wish. Most artists prepare demonstrations, display finished work available for purchase, and welcome questions about their practice.

What to Expect

Studio visits are casual. Wear comfortable shoes (some studios are in rustic outbuildings). Bring cash if you'd like to make purchases, though many artists also accept cards. Don't worry about knowing art terminology; artists appreciate visitors who are simply curious and engaged.

A few practical notes:

  • Studios are spread across the valley, so plan to drive between stops. The full tour covers about a 15-mile radius.
  • Most studios are wheelchair accessible at the main entrance, but conditions vary. Contact individual artists or our office for specific accessibility information.
  • Children are welcome at most studios, though pottery and printmaking spaces may have areas with fragile or messy materials.

Private Studio Visits

Outside of the annual tour, many Sequim artists welcome visitors to their studios by appointment. This is a particularly good option for collectors interested in seeing a body of work in context, for curators researching Olympic Peninsula artists, or for anyone who wants a more personal encounter with the creative process.

To arrange a studio visit, contact the artist directly through our member directory (available to Sequim Arts members) or email [email protected] and we'll help connect you with artists working in your areas of interest.

Types of Studios

Painting Studios

Sequim's painting studios tend to be well-lit spaces oriented to capture the natural light that makes this area so appealing to painters. Many landscape artists work both in the studio and outdoors, finishing plein air pieces on easels positioned near windows that look out on the Olympic Mountains or the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watercolorists, oil painters, and acrylic artists are all well represented.

Ceramics Studios

Several potters and ceramic sculptors maintain full studios with wheels, hand-building stations, and kiln facilities. Some offer informal clay workshops or teaching sessions alongside their production work. Ceramics studios in the Sequim area often reflect the Pacific Northwest tradition of functional pottery with a strong connection to the natural environment.

Printmaking & Mixed Media

A small but dedicated group of printmakers operates in studios equipped with hand-presses for linocut, woodblock, and letterpress work. Mixed media artists, whose studios tend to be organized chaos of materials and found objects, are among the most interesting to visit because the work environment itself tells a story about the creative process.

Fiber & Textile Studios

Fiber artists in the Sequim area often source materials locally, including wool from Olympic Peninsula farms. Studios may feature floor looms, natural dye stations, and felting equipment alongside finished textiles that draw on Pacific Northwest landscape colors and textures.

Starting Your Own Studio

If you're an artist considering establishing a studio in the Sequim area, our Artist Resources page includes information about studio space availability, home studio zoning regulations, and community connections that can help you get settled. Sequim's low cost of living relative to Seattle and Portland, combined with the active gallery scene, makes it an appealing base for working artists.

For information about the next Open Studio Tour date, check our Events Calendar or subscribe to the newsletter through our membership page.