Washington ArtWorks, Rockville

inside Washington ArtWorks, inspiration can strike at any time. Located on the campus of the Washington School of Photography, the 55 artists studios here stay open 24 hours a day, allowing 65+ working professionals to dream up a constant flow of creativity. These men and women work in diverse mediums, from jewelry and clay to pastels and mixed media. Once finished, their realized works might grace the walls of onsite gallery exhibits or sell to collectors at the museum's store.

Although these artworks each possess innate value, some of most valuable things found at Washington ArtWorks come in less tangible forms. Many of the studios double as classrooms, where artists teach the public to paint with watercolors, fuse glass, and create other works of mantel-ready art. This sort of artistic collaboration spills over into a monthly camera club, which takes field trips to scenic locations in the area.