The 1913-era Oceanside Arts Council building in Parksville also has gallery displays and studio spaces while serving as a clearing house for information about area artists. In Parksville, the Arrowsmith Potters Guild operates the Station Gallery, a working studio and gift shop in the attractively restored Parksville Train Station.
There’s nothing quite like encountering an artist on his or her own home turf, cup of tea in one hand, paintbrush or chisel in the other. Self-guided studio tours of the region allow one to drop in unexpectedly on dozens of home-based studios and galleries. Check out each creator’s latest work and maybe find that special piece and memory of your adventure. The “blue brochure” map readily available in town galleries and at Parksville and Qualicum Beach Visitor Centres shows you the way. Be sure to extend the trail north to Lighthouse Country, where the gallery and studio signs crop up frequently along the lovely Oceanside Route.