Down a long and winding driveway off Gillespie Road in Sooke sits the home of Alice McLean.

Her waterfront studio, situated amidst moss-covered rocks and trees overlooking Sooke Basin, provides her with daily inspiration. The birds and wildlife all contribute to her creativity.

Pottery is McLean’s medium and she is passionate about the process of creating art.

“I like the functional aspect of it, I like sculptural form, many things,” says McLean, explaining how she started a love affair with clay that has lasted more than 40 years.

McLean, one of 20 artists taking part in this weekend’s Stinking Fish Studio Tour, has branched out from the highly functional pottery she began making.

Born in Montreal, McLean found ceramics filled in her a second creative niche. Her first was as an animator for the National Film Board. She spent a lot of time in Banff taking classes and found being exposed to other people’s experiences incredibly stimulating. In Banff she was able to leave her world behind and concentrate on her love of clay.

“Passion is at the top of any art,” she said. “It fills your inner mind.”

The Stinking Fish tour takes art lovers on a self-guided visit to studios scattered throughout East Sooke and Metchosin. Running from Friday through Sunday (Nov. 28-30) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tour touches on art of almost every medium.

For more information on the artists participating in the Stinking Fish Studio Tour and a map of artists’ studios go to http://www.stinkingfishstudiotour.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com