thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

If you're looking for something entertaining to do Sunday afternoon, one local artists group has a FABulous suggestion.

Fine Arts Blount will hold its first-ever artists' studio tour, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, beginning at its ArtSpace studio in downtown Maryville. Eight artists will be demonstrating and exhibiting their work in their individual studio locations, while seven others will be exhibiting and demonstrating their talents at the downtown space. Maps will be available when tickets ($15) are purchased.

The artists who will be available at ArtSpace are Gerald Collis, Sally Macy, Karen Miller, John Patterson, Robert Quinn, Tammy Schlosser and Suzanne Stockfisch. Artists on location include Diann Bishop, Dave Campbell, Susan Mink Colclough, Clay Crowder, Keith Elrod, Annamaria Gundlach, Ruth Phipps, Ann Seaton Tappen, Susan Tolson and Norma Riegle with Gail Karnoupakis.

-- Keith Elrod holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is one of only a handful of certified picture framers in the state of Tennessee. He has won numerous awards on the local, national and international levels. As an artist, Elrod primarily paints in oils, but has works in photography, mixed media and encaustics.

-- Gerald Collis, who grew up in Columbus, Ind., said he does not remember a time when he did not have a love for art. He paints primarily in acrylics but has used various mediums on other projects. He and his wife moved to Maryville in 2005 from Florida after suffering losses in Hurricane Charlie. They plan to stay here for the rest of their lives.

-- Ann Tappen is a full-time professional artist and portrait painter. She works from her upstairs art studio/gallery and has taught art in the Maryville and Blount County schools and privately in her home. Tappen's work is displayed at the American Red Cross building in Maryville. The Heritage Center in Townsend featured her as their portrait artist this summer. She is a member of Fine Arts Blount and the Portrait Society of America.

-- Gail Karnoupakis started painting at an early age under the influence of her artistic mother. Her studies began in Florida working with oils. After moving to Tennessee, she enrolled in watercolor classes with Norma Riegle in 2002 and discovered she loved the medium. The landscapes and wildflowers of East Tennessee are the inspiration for her work, and she also enjoys the art of portraiture.

Tickets to the FAB artists' studio tour are available at Boyd Thomas Clothing, Dandy Lions, ArtSpace and the Blount County Chamber of Commerce. Included with each ticket purchase will be a chance to win a piece of donated artwork by each participating artist. Carpooling to the eight individual artists' studios is recommended. Refreshments will be served at each location.

The event is a fundraiser for FAB, to enable the group to continue its artistic offerings to this area. They host monthly exhibits, provide art classes and other hands-on activities for adults and children.