Community members will have a unique opportunity to get a glimpse into the life of an artist during the sixth annual Hershey Hummelstown Art Studio Tour. As part of the event, 14 artists will open their doors to the public on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 20, from noon to 5 p.m.

"(People will be able to) take a tour around Hershey and Hummelstown to meet the artists, see new creations, learn techniques and shop for unique local art," said Joan Maguire, owner of Hershey Art Gallery & Gifts. Maguire is one of the artists featured on the tour.

During the free driving tour, visitors will be able to chat with the artists in their home studios and view demonstrations. Some of the artists will have door prizes, silent auctions and other special treats for visitors.

"I will have free Halloween card painting for youths," said Maguire. "They can use watercolor or Magic Marker, depending on their age, or colored pencils, and they can trace a witch and a black cat. They can make their own Halloween card at no charge."

Artists on this year's tour and their specialties include the following: Archana Sehgal - oil, watercolor, gouache and acrylic paintings; Ben LaDieu - pen and ink, pencil works and mixed media; Claudia Christensen - fiber artwork; Dale Kelley - mixed media and dry brush watercolor; Daniel Petruzzi - charcoal and mixed media; Jamie Juliana of Phoenix Pottery Studio - functional stoneware and porcelain pottery; Jill Peckelun - oil paintings, plein air and studio landscapes and ink and pencil drawings of critters; Jodi Fox - pottery; Laird Morgan of Art on Derry co-op - stained, fused and mosaic glass art, along with artisan jewelry, photography, woodwork, hand-made soaps and oil and acrylic paintings.

Also, Luise Christensen Howell - stained glass and mosaic glass works; Lynn Shirk - wire wrapped dichroic glass, hammered copper and alcohol ink jewelry and stained and fused glass works; Marilyn LaDieu - acrylic paintings, plein air and studio painting; and Sue Ann Myers - oil, watercolor and mineral paint on porcelain and wildlife subjects will be present at the event. Maguire specializes in watercolor and oil paintings, jewelry, pottery, botanicals, sculpture, wood and fabric art.

"Marilyn (LaDieu) and her son Ben (LaDieu) are both award winners, and Ben recently took a first-place (award) with his art at the Harrisburg Art Association. They will be at the same stop on the tour," Maguire said. "I find it fascinating when grown children are also involved with art when their parents are."

Christensen Howell is a new addition to this year's tour. "She is a well-known leaded glass artist. She does very intricate boxes," said Maguire, who will display watercolors at her studio during the tour. "Lynn Shirk, a Spanish teacher for 30 years at Hershey High School, does hammered copper jewelry and leaded glass and dichroic glass."

Maguire noted that each of the artists will have items available for purchase.

For more information about the tour, to download a map or to learn about the artists, http://www.hersheyhummelstownarttour.com. More information, including samples of the artwork, can be found at http://www.facebook.com/hersheyhummelstownartstudiotour.