Peek behind the scenes to see artists’ working spaces in the DeLand area, as 23 artists in West Volusia open their private working studios to visitors for the annual Off the Beaten Path Florida Arts Tour. The event is free and welcomes visitors of all ages.

The tour is self-guided, and patrons can plan their own itinerary. Descriptions of the artworks, street addresses and a map are available at the tour website at ArtsTours.org.

The newly revamped website allows studio visitors to browse lists of artists and follow easy interactive maps on their phones from tour stop to stop.

Studios on the tour will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5. Studio locations are in DeLand, Lake Helen and DeLeon Springs.

Every year, art patrons, collectors and curators, as well as families and children, are welcomed into the studios to meet the artists in their work environments, watch demonstrations, enjoy light refreshments, and shop for unique original works of art. The varied offerings include paintings, sculptures, textiles, jewelry, ceramics, woodworks, photography, printmaking and illustration.

“The tours have been growing rapidly in popularity every year. After a couple of quiet years due to COVID restrictions, people are once again getting out, exploring and discovering new ideas,” said artist John Wilton.