To step into an artist’s studio is to get a glimpse into the creative process.

Tri-Citians can experience this magic when nine artists open their studios from Benton City to Kennewick during the 15th annual Open Studio Tour, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 29-30.

The event is free.

The tour began in 2004 as a grass-roots effort by several artists and artisans who wanted to raise public awareness about the quality of art created in the Tri-City area. As most were full-time working artists, they also wanted an opportunity to open their studios and show their art and craft.

Many of the nine artists will be demonstrating and available to interact with visitors and explore their ideas. Some of the artists will be at one location.

Find a self-guided map for the event at TriCityArtistsOpenStudioTour.com.

Here’s the line-up:

• Kasia Gorski Schmoll exhibits her work only on Sept. 29 in Kennewick, so it is suggested to start the tour there. She delves into the forgiveness and flexibility of oil painting to explore themes of Northwest landscapes. Her work strives to capture the soft lights of winter, misty colors of spring, contrasting summer sunsets and the brilliance of fall. Find her at the You and I Gallery, 214 W. First Ave., Kennewick; 509-948-3812.
• Nearby is Katherine Sylvan’s studio where Jan Nilsson will join her.  The muse of color drives Sylvan’s creativity. Her silk creations are smaller this year but no less impactful. Step into her studio to find rich silk wall pieces and scarves inspired by grids, crop rows and circular irrigation patterns of Eastern Washington. Find her at 802 S. Kellogg St., Kennewick; 509-221-1592.

Nilsson may be found at Sylvan’s studio where she will be demonstrating her mixed media collage approach and painting with Sumi ink. Nilsson’s work often portrays contrasts of existence and complex connections to family and heritage. 509-999-2118.

• John Fabian expresses passion for capturing the natural world in his abstract paintings. He invites the public into his studio to taste the various moods, colors, rhythms and subjects that motivate him. There will be original paintings, prints and travel journals to peruse. Find him at 166 Bradley Blvd., Richland; 509-942-1050.
• Philip Harding strives to create art that engages both rational and aesthetic senses, art that is accessible while being capable of supporting years of contemplative viewing. His computer-generated mandala series explores layering, transparency and patterns. His recent hanging banners are inspired by the Tibetan Thangka tradition. Find him at 361 Sanford Ave., Richland; 509-420-4644.
• New to the tour is Richland Scott Butner. At age 9 he became a photographer when his mother bought a camera for him at a pawn shop. He has worked as a photographer for the Seahawks and Sounders, forayed into a career at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where he was a senior research scientist and now is capturing the world at unusual hours with his camera. See him at 723 The Parkway, Richland; 509-460-1544.
• Consuelo Soto and Shawn Murphy teach future generations at Richland High and create paintings and photography in their free time. Consuelo is known for colorful images generated from growing up in the fields with migrant farm workers. Her paintings are a testament to the love of family and heritage, acknowledged recently by the selection of her work to appear in the TV series “Madam Secretary.” You can watch her paint during the tour.

Murphy launched into photography when his grandmother gave him an old waist view camera. Ever since he has been amazed at the camera’s ability to capture a moment without words. Despite the rise of the digital age, he still prefers black and white images to express beauty, elegance and solitude. Find Soto and Murphy at 1509 Sanford Ave., Richland; 509-727-1916.

• Fine “threads” of glass glisten at Linda Andrew’s Red Mountain studio. Her internationally acknowledged work ranges from sculpture to wall pieces to jewelry. This year she is adding gift items, employing abstract photos of her artwork and flowers on plates, cloth bags and photos infused into aluminum. Find her at 57204 N. Sunset Road, Benton City; 509-588-8446; LindaAndrews.us.