Hidden in the Hills returns to Carefree

Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, takes place during the last two weekends of November: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-22 and Nov. 27-29. Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s free, self-guided tour features 151 artists at 38 studios throughout Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.

Now in its 30th year, the inspirational event attracts thousands of patrons who appreciate fine art and seek a variety of mediums, styles and price ranges. The art tour also attracts holiday shoppers who want to find original, unique gifts. Each artist’s studio is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during both weekends of the tour, giving patrons plenty of time to visit multiple studios.

For art collectors and enthusiasts who return to the studio tour year after year, the artist directory has become quite a collectible. For participating artists hoping to gain more exposure, being selected as a featured cover artist is often an honor that adds more prestige to their professional achievements.

Gail Haire, event co-chair, said there were many strong submissions for cover art this year, but romantic realist painter Jeanne Bonine’s radiant “Welcome to My World” painting stood out to the Sonoran Arts League committee. The floral painting features bright, delicate golden blossoms set against soft purple hues, creating a sense of warmth and serenity.

“There’s a calm, dreamlike quality to Jeanne’s art, and we were all struck by the sense of gentle movement and wonder in her painting and her unique tapestry of colors,” Haire said. “Her painting stirred a sense of peace and beauty that resonated with us.”

A Scottsdale resident, Jeanne Bonine has been painting professionally for more than 60 years. A longtime member of the Sonoran Arts League and studio host, she will welcome guests at Studio No. 15. Her larger-than-life oversized oils and watercolors draw tour guests into the essence of her subjects from exotic birds and garden wonders to the majesty of a single rose.

For more details about where to purchase an artist directory or pick up free maps, visit hiddeninthehills.org.