Shepherdstown resident Anne Teresa selects a ceramic carrot dish to purchase from Denise Kupszewski at tour stop four in Shepherdstown, on the 36th annual Over the Mountain Studio Tour. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — For the 36th year-in-a-row, community members and visitors alike could be found visiting artist studios throughout Jefferson County over the weekend.

A total of 10 art studios were on the Over the Mountain Studio Tour, featuring the work of 20 different artists. For some of the artists, this year’s tour was unforgettable, as it was the first one they had been able to take part in.

“It’s my first time ever on the tour. Twenty years ago, I first applied to join it, but at that time was told ‘no,’ as they already had a number of potters on the tour,” said Denise Kupszewski. “When I was invited to join it this year, I was so excited. I finally have gotten my turn.”

Kupszewski, who is often recognized by her moniker as “The Mud Peddler,” is well known for her whimsical ceramic artwork, featuring sculptures of everything from turtles to dodo birds to giraffes. For the tour, she decided to add at least one new design to her inventory.

“I’ve worked on a new style of mugs — they are colorful and super textured and have four feet. They really represent my pottery style well — it’s a tactile, fun experience,” Kupszewski said. “It was actually inspired by the fact that I was going to be on the tour and I wanted to do something new for it. I’ve been getting lovely feedback on it.”

Shoppers look at the work of Steve Adams at tour stop six in Kearneysville, during the 36th annual Over the Mountain Studio Tour. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Her pottery had been set up at tour stop four — the Shepherdstown-based studio of painter Rebecca Jones. According to Jones, this was the first year her studio had served as a featured tour stop, even though she had previously been a featured artist on the tour a number of years ago.

“I believe it may be five years since I was last on the tour. Being able to do it in my own studio, however, has made a big difference for me,” Jones said.

After traveling extensively to sell her art over the last few years, Jones was pleased to be able to rejoin the tour this year, since it would mean not having to drive a long distance to an art show, for at least one weekend every year. She was glad to see, over the weekend, that both her studio and her new, less linear floral paintings were drawing a lot of positive attention.

“This experience has been fabulous. Based on what I have seen here, the tour has been very well attended,” Jones said. “I’m really happy — I didn’t know what to expect. It’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Another artist who returned to the tour this year was woodworker Steve Adams. He said that he shared a similar motivation with Jones, for his decision to return to the tour.

Sonya Shockey poses for a caricature by cartoonist Danielle Corsetto, at tour stop three in Shepherdstown, as tour stop four studio owner Esther Murphy, far right, and Shockey’s mother, Anne Bowers, look on. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“It’s been at least four years for me,” Adams said. “I’m a member of the Southern Highland Guild in Asheville, North Carolina. I’ve done that for a number of years, but it’s gotten to be too much effort to get down there and take care of everything that needs to be done. So I decided to look at local craft shows to participate in.”

Adams could be found sharing insight into his creative process at tour stop six in Kearneysville, where he was selling beautifully crafted wooden tables, shelves and cutting boards. By the end of the weekend he knew he had made the right decision, in rejoining the tour.

“It was kind of like a homecoming,” Adams said. “A lot of the people that came by, I know personally or have met on the tour in the past. It was such a nice experience.”

Fiber artist Diane Myers winds a spool of wool at her studio, which served as tour stop six on the 36th annual Over the Mountain Studio Tour. Photo by Tabitha Johnston