Holly Kellogg, of Spencer, will be among the over 40 artists featured in this year's Artisans Road Trip which continues regionally through tomorrow.

Northwest Iowa's self-guided open studio tour begins today and continues through tomorrow at 5 p.m., featuring over 40 artists from seven counties. A.R.T. invites fans of various forms of art to travel Iowa's scenic byways and back roads looking for one-of-a-kind art treasures. Artisans will offer a rare glimpse into creative processes as they demonstrate their craft in personal and unique workspaces.

Holly will be among those, showcasing her work in her home at 422 W. Fourth St. in Spencer.

Coming from a creative and artistic family, it seems only logical that Holly Kellogg of Spencer would someday pursue her artistic talents aggressively.

But her work is anything but logical. Rather than logic, Holly relies on on her creative vision to propel her into her work. Using a blend of painting, drawing and mixed media, her work is described as an exploration of depth created through layers of color and form.

"I'm exploratory," she said. "I like exploring color and depth. I like do painting, but I like doing mixed media."

The wife of Spencer's United Methodist Church Pastor Chuck Kellogg, Holly uses a room in the family's parsonage as a studio and her work lines the walls of the family's home.

"In terms of the work I do. I'm drawn to color and light and rhythms. In the work I do I explore ways to create depth through coloring and layering," she explained.

Her passion for art was established in blood at a young age, and as she grew older the opportunities to pursue her craft continued to present themselves.

"My family or origin includes artists and architects. My grandfather and my mother were extremely creative people. So was my father. I've been encouraged that way.

"My mom's an artist. I've never seen anybody that does work like hers. It's definitely unique and I've always appreciated that about her. I didn't think a lot about what I was going to do when I grew up. I never thought I had any extra abilities. In high school, I had some really good drawing and arts classes. Dad taught architecture at Iowa State. He invited me to sit in on his drawing classes. I was able to develop that skill."

While attending high school in Ames, her school built a brand new art building, offering 23 different classes. After attending college at Cornell for a period of time, Holly decided that her heart belonged to art so she left for the Kansas City Art Institute where she received her Bachelor's degree.

"Once I decided I was going to major in art, if I'm going to major in art, I might as well go all the way," said Holly.

Since that time she has developed a style all her own.

"I'm just a very visual person. I see things that I don't think everyone notices. That transmits into my work too," she said.

Today she and her husband have three children, with one still at home. She works as assistant director at Parker Historical Museum in Spencer, and spends a portion of her time setting up exhibits. The oldest daughter is a photographer, the middle daughter enjoys creating ceramics, and the son is also very creative but focuses more on the sciences rather than the arts.

Holly uses an upstairs bedroom in the family's two story home as her studio, enjoying the three windows that help let the light in.

"I would be thrilled to be able to make a living at it, but I've only been actually seriously working at it for the past seven years. I put it aside for raising a family and working at various jobs. I knew if I didn't put some time aside to do it, I was going to regret it. I've been working at it for six years now. I'm so glad I did. It brings me so much joy."

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Holly Kellogg

Style: Painting, Drawing, & Mixed Media-an exploration of depth created through layers of color and form.

Showing: 222 W. Fourth St., Spencer

Iowakellogg@smunet.net

Directions: My studio is in my home, three blocks west of Grand Avenue on Fourth Street. I am directly south of the Clay County Courthouse on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Third Avenue.

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NW Iowa's Self-Guided Open Studio Tour

Oct. 4- 5 - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.

41 professional artists representing 7 counties will welcome guests into their studios to discover and shop for quality original works during the fifth annual Artisans Road Trip (A.R.T.) on October 4 & 5, 2008.

* Browsers can preview artists' work or request a brochure & map @ artisansroadtrip.com. Brochures will be available at local art centers, banks, libraries, community gathering centers, Iowa Welcome Centers and artist locations.

FAST FACTS

A.R.T. is a free self-driving open studio tour.

A.R.T. offers a printed brochure with directions to artist's studios.

A.R.T. maintains a comprehensive website showcasing involved artists and provides links to individual sites -- artisansroadtrip.com.

A.R.T. organizes studios, dining and lodging sponsors into 4 area tours.

A.R.T. is organized and run by "Artists working for Artists."

A.R.T. works to advance Northwest Iowa Art, educating and helping to develop local markets and tourism.

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Also on the ART: Daylight Again honors CSN

Daylight Again, a Crosby, Stills and Nash Tribute Band will offer a multimedia event at 8 p.m. on Oct. 4 at The Gathering Place, 207 W. Main St. in Cherokee.

Randy Martin, two-time Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame member, has wanted to do this (tribute) since he was about 24. He wanted to do this years ago but couldn't find people to do it. To commit to the idea to doing CSN is one thing and to actually being able to do it is another.

The diversity of their music… it's country, folk, rock and roll and it's jazz. It moves you through the different genres. This music takes you there.

The way Randy set up the show, it presents a visual and musical history and also of the bands that CSN came from. So in order to do that we do a song from each group. Graham Nash came from the Hollies, David Crosby from the Byrds, Stephen Stills came from Buffalo Springfield.