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Translated literally, Raku means ‘pleasure’ in Japanese, a high-risk/high-reward pottery technique combining intense heat with combustible materials and oxygen deprivation.

But ‘pottery for pyros’ sounds a lot cooler.

“It could be,” smiled ‘born and raised’ Woodstonian Mary-Anne Murphy. “You have to wear a fire suit and use these great, big tongs.”

Murphy’s finished ‘pyro pottery’ will be among a score of different media from 29 unique artists celebrated during the 2025 Oxford County Studio Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4.

The 17th version of the tour remains consistent to its roots, a tariff and admission-free made-in-Canada spring celebration of the county and its diverse and vibrant artistic community.

“We’re excited to continue to provide this opportunity to explore Oxford, meet the artists and see what creativity and culture we have in our county,” said Tabitha Verbuyst of Tillsonburg’s Station Arts Centre (SAC), co-chair of the tour along with Otterville-area-based watercolour artist Sue Goossens.

A tour map, artist profiles and locations and a list of sponsors supporting its continued operation are featured on glossy full-colour brochures available at artistic and tourism locations throughout and beyond Oxford, or by visiting the website: www.oxfordstudiotour.ca. Interested persons may also call 519-842-6151 for more information.

This year’s tour has a strong balance between returning and new artists said Verbuyst, excited to welcome fresh faces coming from elsewhere and first-time Oxford creatives. 

“This is such a nice way to meet these artists, see their style, have a conversation with them,” she said. “You get to share this experience together, and if you take home a piece, something that spoke to you, you have that forever.”

The tour’s quality and diversity attracts visitors from as far away as the GTA and Chatham, discovering Oxford’s communities, rural beauty, dining, shopping and many hidden gems along with its art.

“It brings new opportunities to travel and find something within southern Ontario,” said Verbuyst.

Murphy, who also creates functional and decorative kiln-fired pottery, has discovered a special affinity for Raku’s contrast between glazed and unglazed surfaces. They result when pottery is heated to 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit and red-hot and glowing, pulled from the kiln and inserted into a garbage can full of sawdust which ignites immediately. Capping the can with its lid cuts off the flow of oxygen, smoke seeping into the clay’s pores during the resultant smouldering fire.

“It’s more artistic I guess,” Murphy suggested.

Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, tour guests will also have opportunity to view oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, graphite, pen and ink, encaustic and mixed media and digital creations, photography, jewellery, weaving, fibre collage and gourd art, woodworking and the intricacies of stained glass.

“I have to straighten this, it’s driving me crazy,” smiled stained glass artist Barbara Lowik, her need to adjust a hanging painting’s alignment indicative of her chosen medium’s highly-detailed nature. 

“That’s what I love,” she continued, “Very intricate small pieces, lots of pieces.”

Margaret Charron’s inspiration for realism in broad-based watercolour work - scenery, animals, people - is anchored in a broader appreciation. 

“Just love of everything, literally,” said the fourth-year exhibitor. “Life, people… everything.”

One unique aspect of Salford-based potter ineki Rombouts’ broad-based work defines ‘decorational and functional.’ Educated as a creative floral designer in her native Holland, that along with pottery has remained her mental health ‘go-to.’

“It charges me for what comes in my path.”

The sale of a family import-export business has allowed her to expand her efforts and studio, opening to small groups of ‘other crazy people who love pottery.’ Along with more standard pieces and garden art, Rombouts discovered a growing demand for decorative ash urns two years ago, when a man requested a piece his wife had seen on tour. She admits the concept isn't for everyone, but those who like it, seem to like it a lot.

“First you enjoy it as a decoration, later on it’s functional.”

One popular aspect of the tour is its position at the forefront of spring, and for Woodstock potter Jennifer Dawes, looking forward to ‘the 4th being with her’ on day two. Her ceramic work shows a passion for pop culture and ‘nerd references’, including her favourite piece featuring Admiral Ackbar, particularly appropriate for May 4th, or Star Wars Day as it’s known to fans.

“I’m pretty excited about that,” smiled Dawes, who grew up in a house where Star Trek and Star Wars battled for intergalactic supremacy. “Star Wars won.”

Studying ceramics at the University of Halifax at the same time as Verbuyst, colour and  the fun Dawes experiences during the creative process are constants throughout her work.

“I like to bring a little colour and joy to everyday life.”

The ‘colour’ coloured pencil/watercolour artist Margaret Trapnell carries with her is a statement extending to a swath of blue in her hair. Although of an age to have hippy roots, it’s not a return there.

“Oh gosh no,” she laughed. “My parents would have killed me. I’m a late bloomer.” Trapnell’s follicular statement is rather a defiant reaction to being hit by a truck in 2022 and falling and breaking a shoulder later that year.

“I just do that little bit just for fun.”

‘Fun’ is also the reason Trapnell has added watercolour landscapes to her repertoire, mostly for landscape study.

Although seven artists are showing individually at their homes or studios, Verbuyst noted a tendency this year for artists to join ‘hubs’, Goossens for example, one of five at the Sally Creek Community Centre in Woodstock, Trapnell and three others at the SAC and three each at the Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre, 868 Nellis Street in Woodstock, and a new Norwich cluster. 

“I figured it’s time,” said Norwich oil and acrylics artist Joanne Ward, who has been on the tour for 16 years, setting up in her home community this year with photographer Vic Whitcroft and Elaine Mighton’s combination of stained glass, garden stones, bird houses, lampshades and bowls. “I’m hoping we’ll get some traffic.”

Each location, individual or group, is noted on the map and will feature red identification flags during tour dates.

“It’s nice to have the people in the area see the quality of art we have in the county,” concluded Cathy Groulx O.S.A., who specializes in lifelike large-format oil images. “And it’s fun being a part of it.