Artists in Del Rey held the community's first ever art walk on Saturday, but instead of showing their artwork in galleries around town, artists opened their homes to visitors.

Charlotte DeMeo, local artist and art walk organizer, said she's always been involved in the community.  She has also been a long-time resident of Del Rey, living in the same home on Juniette Street for 38 years -- surrounded by other artists without even knowing it.

Once she started publicizing her desire to hold the event and call to other local artists to take part, it turned out that the artists' vibrant and eclectic homes were the perfect backdrop to showcase their colorful works.

"Artists are always looking for some place to show," said DeMeo.  "I decided I'm going to hit my neighborhood."

DeMeo began organizing the Del Rey Art Walk in October and, with the help of other artists in the neighborhood, put it together in two months.

In all, 11 artists opened their homes Saturday to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with their art work on display and for sale.

DeMeo also showed her artwork, which is an assortment of ethereal, pastel floral watercolors and earthy, basket-woven, gourd sculptures which she's been weaving from pine needles, carving and constructing for over 10 years.

Her neighbor across the street who paints under the pseudonym Sealyne, also showed her artwork, which is a mixture of vibrant, colorful, verging on abstract monotype paintings and etchings of figures and landscapes.

"I'm not really a multiple personality, but I paint that way," said Sealyne.

And just one block away, professional artist Gonzalo Algarate and his son, Marcelo, 21, and daughter, Daniella, 19, each displayed their artwork in the family living room on Beatrice Street.

Gonzalo worked for many years for prominent Venice-based sculptor Robert Graham, who constructed the iconic entrance gate to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with its signature bronze nudes.

Algarate began working for Graham after migrating from Uruguay in the 1980s.  He comes from a long line of famous Uruguayan artists, and he passed on his artistic gene to his son and daughter who specialize in drawing and photography, respectively.

Algarate's art features busty female nudes cast in bronze.  He recently began dabbling in oil painting and a striking life-like 5-foot-tall by 5-foot-wide portrait of his daughter was on display in the living room.

His daughter's graphic, Pop Art-reminiscent, photo self-portraits adorned the walls.  And his son's cartoonish, graphic line drawings of male figures and catchy slogans like, "I am done with perfection" populated the opposite corner of the room.

Algarate said invariably passersbys would be drawn to one of their three distinct styles of artwork.  He added that he thinks their first art walk was a success.

"I think it's a great idea to not only show your art," said Algarate. "But get to know people and… neighbors and people in the community."

And for Algarate that may be especially important.  He recently went into business for himself focusing solely on his art, so for him the local exposure is invaluable.

As for art walks in the future, DeMeo said that the artists will have a meeting and decide whether they will hold future art walks and when.  But she was happy with the results from the first attempt and is judging the results partly on how many people signed her guest book.

"I have two full pages of people who have stopped by," DeMeo said. "So I think that's a nice showing. I feel really encouraged."