For two days in May, artists will be stationed throughout Salem County displaying their work and demonstrating their crafts for the 8th annual Arts in Bloom tour.
Salem County is known for its spacious farmland, rich history, and serene wetlands.
This vast landscape serves as inspiration for the many artists who call the western-Jersey region home.
From a world-class waterfowl carver to a sculptor who builds larger-than-life creations, Salem County artists are gearing up for the 8th annual Arts in Bloom studio tour on May 21 and 22.
More than 40 artists and artisans will be stationed throughout the county displaying and demonstrating their craft.
This self-guided tour includes stops throughout the county.
Several artists gathered at the Salem Friends Annex April 20 to a preview of what's to come.
Here are just six of the numerous artists who will be available throughout the county for this year's tour.
Artist Sina Kurman is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) Sina P. Kurman
Kurman is a champion, world-class waterfowl carver.
For as long as she can remember, Kurman has enjoyed art.
"My uncle knew I liked oil painting," she said. "He went to Centerton and there were two guys teaching carving."
Kurman learned the artform and began competing in the biggest decoy competition contests across the country.
"I had a working knowledge of painting, but no knowledge of using power tools," she said.
As she learned, and began competing, she developed her own style and perfected the full-bodied and footed fowl.
"Not many people were doing that," she said. "Most were flat bottom."
Kurman will set up at Alloway Trains and Things in Elmer for the Arts in Bloom tour, and will have many of her carvings on display.
Clock restorer and wood artist M. Gregg Perry is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) M. Gregg Perry
Perry is a well-known clock conservationist and furniture maker.
"I wanted to change to conservation and restoration," he said. "I got my graduates degree from the Louvre' Museum."
There he learned Venetian style wood working and guilding.
For the Arts in Bloom tour, he will display gilded wood pieces in addition to a replica 1810 British skeleton clock he has been working on for six years.
Perry will open his studio at 105 Lakeview Drive in Alloway where he will be working on a coat of arms and demonstrating the art of gilding.
Artist Maribell Dick is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) Maribell Dick
Dick's company, Check Box Other Mixed Media art, was born of her lifelong love of art and jewelry.
"I've been doing this for 10 years," she said.
Her jewelry is a combination of hand-forged metals, stones, fabrics, and unique items she finds.
"These are called 'The Shed Never Looked So Good," Dick said, pointing to two interesting statement necklaces. "The metal is from a shed that was in our backyard for about 40 years. My husband was going to throw it out."
Seeing art in everything, Dick salvaged the metals, cut it into designs by hand, and created two different pieces of jewelry.
"I take unexpected elements and materials, and the challenge is to make them look like they were always meant to be together," she said.
Dick will have many of her one-of-a-kind pieces on display and for sale at Under the Oak Tree Gallery in Pittsgrove during the Arts in Bloom tour.
Artist Maria Payer is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) Maria Payer
Maria Payer, a former art teacher, has been perfecting her skills in watercolor for four years now.
"I'm retired now, so I can paint more," she said. "I'm inspired by our local color."
Payer takes her own photos and uses those as guides for her paintings.
However, as advice from well-known watercolor artist Marie Natale, Payer is sure to never let a photograph dictate what she paints.
She said she can look at her early works and see her mistakes.
"This one," she said, pointing to a still life of flowers in a round, glass vase, "has no light inside the vase."
Through observing and practicing, she has improved her technique by leaps and bounds.
Payer will be at her Pilesgrove home, 68 Fox Road, for the Arts in Bloom tour.
Artist Janice Chassier is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) Janice Chassier
Janice Chassier works with clay in two different methods -- high fire and Obvara.
"Obvara uses low fire," she said. "It's an Eastern European technique."
Chassier discovered the artform on Facebook and, after some research, found there are not many people who practice Obvara.
Creating geese in different stages of life, she hand molds some pieces while others are created using molds of previous works.
While firing the piece, she removes it at 1,000 degrees and submerges it into a bath of water, flour and yeast.
"The bubbles create patterns," Chassier said.
Certain patterns that can be achieved are believed to ward off evil spirits and have magical properties, according to some Eastern European cultures, she said.
Chassier will have several of her pieces on display at Under the Oak Tree Gallery in Pittsgrove for the Arts in Bloom tour.
Third Star Fibre Artists Guild is participating in this year's Salem County Arts in Bloom tour. Annette Devitt, a member of the guild, is pictured here at the preview event, April 20, 2016. (Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com) Third Star Fibre Artists Guild
Third Star Fibre Artists Guild are celebrating their 40th anniversary of spinning wool and creating garments by hand this year.
Annette Devitt, member of the guild, said members will be spinning and weaving during the tour, and will also have a Dig Into the Arts station where children can learn to sew a button onto a piece of fabric.
Third Star Fibre Artists Guild will be at Willow Farm on Supawna Road in Pennsville.
For more information, and a map of each stop on the Arts in Bloom tour, visit artsinbloomnj.com.
Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.