Art by figures: Mornington-based artist John Trebilco has joined the Peninsula Studio Trail which has seen studio doors opened on an annual basis for the past seven years.

THE works and methods of artists will be on display for four days this month when studio doors are thrown open during the annual Peninsula Studio Trail.

The artists have produced a map that can be used to plan a scenic tour that takes in 17 creative spaces, from Frankston South to Flinders, along the coast to Rye and then back to the Port Phillip side of the peninsula through Red Hill.

Along the way, the artists will show a range of art not always available in the commercial galleries.

At McCrae, Katrina Newman, who makes jewellery with gold and silver, will demonstrate her use of cuttlefish bone casting at 2.30pm Sunday 13 and 19 November.

The smell of burning cuttlefish bone, the heat of the gas and the noise of the torch is more than compensated by the excitement of watching as the silver becomes molten and is carefully poured into the cuttlefish bone mould.

Newman will describe the process from carving the cuttlefish to casting. It is in her studio that most of the hard work is done to transform a rough cast to a highly polished work of art that she sells directly from her studio.

Living on the Mornington Peninsula for more than 17 years, Newman says her jewellery reflects a love of the sea and the Australian landscape.

In Mornington, John Trebilco and Dianne Williamson live and make art together, and this year have joined the studio trail for the first time.

Other first timers are Ria Brenchley at Flinders, whose studio overlooks Bass Strait, Gary Goodrich at McCrae, whose art space is crammed with a diverse collection of art and potter John Stoomer at Moorooduc.

Cathie Coleman, at Bittern, who regularly opens her studio The Swamp, said the trail’s new logo designed by Susan Swenser, “has moved from the paint splash to the feel of the artists’ trail encompassing the peninsula’s hills and ocean”.

“Working with the Peninsula Studio Trail artists has made me realise what a dedicated diverse group of creative souls there are at our doorstep,” Ms Coleman said.

The Peninsula Studio Trail runs 10am-5pm on 12, 13, 19 and 20 November.

Visitors can download a map of studio locations at peninsulastudiotrail.org. Inquiries: info@peninsulastudiotrail.org or call Bryan Baldwin on 0417 120323.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 8 November 2016