Art looks different when you can see where it takes shape, with sketches, works in progress and the artist close enough to answer a question.

That is the appeal of open studios in Asbury Park, where an inaugural art gathering will invite visitors inside working creative spaces on Friday, November 6.

Starting at 5 p.m., the free event at the Asbury Park Art Club pairs studio visits with a group exhibition and a chance to meet the people behind the work.

It is an easy invitation for anyone who has admired local art but never quite known how to start a conversation with its maker.

Visitors can take their time, look at pieces still being developed and ask artists about their materials, ideas and creative routines.

Those conversations may be the evening’s best feature: They turn a finished piece into a story about decisions, experiments and persistence.

The planned artist receptions and artist studio tours also make room for a less formal kind of browsing than a quiet gallery visit.

There will be original artwork for sale, along with drinks, light bites and live jazz.

For shore residents, the gathering is a reminder that Asbury Park’s creative life is worth exploring beyond its familiar public-facing spaces.

Seeing unfinished work can feel surprisingly personal, especially when the artist is there to explain what might change before it is done.

The group exhibition offers another way to discover a new favorite, while the studios show the different paths artists take to make their work.

Buying a piece is optional, but doing so can give a local artist direct support and bring home a lasting memory of the evening.

No art-world experience is needed to enjoy a look around, listen to the music or strike up a conversation.

For anyone curious about what Asbury Park artists are making right now, this is a chance to step inside and see for yourself.