Jubilee.

By Nidhi Mathson

Four hundred artists in Somerville will open their doors to the public for the Somerville Open Studios event this week. Since artist studios are typically not open to the public on a regular basis -except by appointment- it’s an opportunity for art lovers to visit favored artists or discover new ones. Mixed-media artist Keith Maddy will be among the artists opening their studios to the public.

“For people who love art, Somerville Open Studios is a great time to explore the depth of Boston’s art community, meet artists first hand in their studios, see a body of their work and learn more about their process,” Maddy explained.

Maddy, who was featured in 100 Boston Artists by Chawky Frenn, was also recently chosen to be one of the 84 artists represented in the 2014 Cambridge Art Association National Prize Show. The association received nearly 1,200 pieces of artwork, entered by 389 artists from 29 states. He has participated in Somerville Open Studios since it began 15 years ago. His newest collages, “Cuckoo and American Boy ’64,” will be on display May 3 and 4, along with several other new pieces. Maddy works with familiar domestic materials such as textiles, wallpaper and placemats as a base. He chooses them based on color, pattern and the potential he sees in transforming them.

Maddy Aquatic Promenade.

“It’s collage-based art,” Maddy said. “Some are strictly collage and do develop into more mixed-media pieces. I start with an existing pattern or image; it could be an old flea market painting that I picked up, and I start working on it. I commit to the art with a wood-burning tool and incorporate it into a new image.”

According to Maddy, his art is more about the process than the finished product. He doesn’t plan for a specific outcome. Rather, he lets the material speak to him.

“Most people say it has an organic, molecular, watery feeling, which could all be true, but it’s not specifically what I plan to do from the start.”

Maddy graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and has exhibited his work throughout New England. He also teaches collage workshops in the Greater Boston area. His studio is located on 20 Vernon St. in Somerville.

“Somerville has, per capita, the largest population of artists in the country,” he said. “It’s a very talented roster of artists and worth seeing.”

Somerville Open Studios takes place from noon to 6 p.m. May 3 and 4. A free trolley will be available to take art lovers throughout Somerville to visit the various participating artist studios. More information is available at  www.somervilleopenstudios.org .