Author Archives: Chemers Gallery

Q: What Could be Better than a 1-day Jewelry Trunk Show?

A: 2 days of jewelry, fiber art and libations!

If you just can’t wait for our biiiig Holiday Artisan Faire in December, you can wet your whistle with us and 7 talented artisans! Mark your calendars now…

Friday, August 19 3pm – 8pm
Enjoy live Classic Rock music from The Other band from 5pm – 8pm
Saturday, August 20 11am – 3pm

Here’s a teaser to introduce you to the artists joining us. But, remember, they will all be bringing their huge collections to share with you.

Michelene Berkey

Twiggy trinkets, polished pearls and gemstones galore make up Michelene’s selection of silver jewelry. At once refined and playful, her creative spirit shines through in every piece. Twigs and bark from bristlecone pine trees are cast in sterling silver to form pendants, rings, earrings and more. Gems and pearls are strung on wires or set in gold or silver to add a special little some’n some’n to your baubles. Of late, she is using more & more solid gold in her upscale design work. Michelene’s creativity knows no bounds!

Joanna Craft

If you’re searching for mixed metals, unique raw gemstones and enameling to compliment your look, try Joanna’s stylish range of trimmings! This local artist makes jewelry with a modern flair that carries a slightly Asian influence. Many of her statement pieces are one-of-a-kind and feature stunning stones or glistening glass. Joanna hand-hammers her metals to create texture and movement. Whether it’s a pair of petite every day earrings or a brightly enameled necklace, Joanna is always pushing the envelope to make new & unique designs for you.

Susan Horton

Joining us on Saturday only, Susan’s hand-woven scarves and handbags are a delight to the senses! Full of intricate pattern and colors that shift and change before your eyes, every design is spectacular. Susan has won awards for her unique woven skills and it’s not difficult to see why! Scarves made from silk, cotton, chenille and wool are not only pleasing to look at, they’re also soft to the touch and snugly to wear.

Barbara Lanci

Fine silver, gold and semi-precious gemstones feature in Barbara’s exquisite cuff bracelets, necklaces and earrings. This talented designer has learned her craft from master metalsmiths and jewelers the world over. Constantly pushing herself to try something new, Barbara takes inspiration from cultures of the past, such as Byzantine woven wire chains or Etruscan granulation and fusing techniques in her intricate surface decoration. In recent creations, Barbara plays with lightness and darkness, leaving bright silver in some areas while oxidizing others into shadow. We can’t wait to see what she has envisioned for our show!

Elizabeth Nadler

Add some boho bling to your wardrobe with Betty’s gold-fill, silver, crystal, quartz and stone creations! Her range of necklaces, earrings and bracelets are perfect to layer together or wear alone to create a look that is as complex or as understated as you desire. Charms shaped like birds, hearts, feathers, hamsas, crosses, etc. pair with colorful crystals, glass beads and natural stones like garnet and agate for a look that is oh-so-stylish. Betty’s baubles span the spectrum of style, and with prices mostly between $25 – $75 you can’t go wrong!

Laurette O’Neil

Joining us for the first time (yay!) all the way from Nevada, Laurette’s jewelry creations are modern architectural bliss. Favored materials include sterling silver, pearls, wood, stone, lava & coral. Laurette even makes all of her tiny sterling tube beads herself, putting the “hand” into “handmade!” Modern and edgy, Laurette’s jewelry creates a statement that complements every day wear and tops off your special occasion ensemble.

Carolyn Van Hosen

If vintage treasures and all that sparkles makes you tingle, you’ll love Carolyn’s necklaces! Using components that span the decades, Carolyn deftly creates one-of-a-kind adornments that are as unique as you are. French shoe buckles from the 1920’s find homes alongside brooches from the 1950’s and chain from the 1970’s. Glass beads, Mother-of-Pearl and agate slices are repurposed into show-stopping ornamentation. Carolyn will even custom create heirloom jewelry made from your personal family treasures. So bring them to our trunk show to discuss the endless possibilities with Carolyn.

Now is a great time to find your next treasure or – dare we even say it?! – get a jump on your holiday shopping!
So grab your friends and make a day or two of it!

In the Immortal Words of Bobby Rydell…”[We] Wanna Thank You!”

THANK YOU to everyone who joined us on Friday night for our annual summer artist demonstrations – art lovers, family, friends and talented artists who so generously shared their skills with all of us! Even though it was hot hot HOT, we were nice in cool in our AC and you all packed the place out! Take a look at some of the fun we had…

Dori Dewberry at work at her easel

Our friend Judi (left) with artist Janine Salzman (right)

Chemers Gallery staff Marcus, Shirley and Rita

Marcus, Shirley and Rita looking fabulous!

Deborah Harold working on her latest painting

Suzanne Currie chats with a visitor

Ceramicist Maria Counts works on a small dish

Lisa Mertins explaining her ceramic process

Cheryl meets watercolor artist, Pete Roberts

Dana Cooper in deep concentration

Ian Montelongo braves the heat to work outside

OIl painter, Shannon Richardson, takes a break

Curious clients peruse some of our jewelry selection

Shannon Richardson oil painter, Maria Counts ceramics

Capturing the artists hard at work! Shannon Richardson paints while Maria Counts carves her ceramics

Photographing the artists at work: Elaine Hughes (left) and Janine Salzman (right)

Elaine Hughes brings her canvas to life

Janine Salzman carefully painting a familiar scene

What a great crowd!

Two brave souls who faced the heat of Friday night! Ian Montelongo (left) and Pete Roberts (right)

Kim VanDerHoek sketches out the lines of her latest oil painting

Deborah Harold and Dori Dewberry paint side-by-side

Lisa Mertins, Maria Counts, Kim VanDerHoek

Maria Counts visits with Lisa Mertins and Kim VanDerHoek while they set up their stations

Ready to go!

Keep checking our Facebook page to see more pictures from the night!

Mark your calendars now…

Join us next month for our 2 day jewelry trunk show on
Friday, August 19th from 3-8p and Saturday, August 20th from 11a-3p!

7 talented designers and artists will be bringing their entire collections for you to find your next great treasure.
And, enjoy live Classic Rock music by local band, The Other, from 5p – 8p on Friday night.

The Wonderful World of Ayala Bar

Good things come to those who wait…and you’ve waited long enough for the newest season of Ayala Bar jewelry! It’s HERE! We say this every time, but this season is her best one yet!

This talented Israeli artist is working constantly to craft a jewelry line that is at once dramatic and playful, elevating the ordinary by pairing color, texture and shape in unexpected ways. Every six months, she unveils an entirely new selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more in a multitude of colors and designs. Can you believe that Ayala composes over 200 new pieces for each new collection?! What a master of creativity!

And, as if creating 200 new designs weren’t enough, Ayala has introduced a line of double-sided necklaces and bracelets! We’d love to show you, but we sold them all before we could take any pictures. Oops. We have more arriving in a couple of weeks.

Ayala’s color compositions are always on point. With names like Aurora, Bohemia and Dark Forest, every color collection evokes the magic of traveling to exotic lands. Rich greens, blues and gold shimmer like the late afternoon sun on a pool of water, while plum, fuchsia and bronze blend like a prismatic tapestry.

Crafted in fabric, metal, beads, faceted glass and mineral stones, Ayala Bar’s creations are wonderful, wearable mico mosaics. Her work ranges from bold statements to subtle everyday sparkle. Every adornment is effortlessly stylish. Whatever your passion, you’re sure to find one of Ayala’s stunning limited edition pieces that will take your breath away.

Pete Roberts: the Man, the Myth, the Legend

Pete Roberts watercolor painting, local art

Tall Trees, Dana Point

Let us re-introduce you to local watercolor artist, Pete Roberts! You may remember his vibrant watercolor compositions from our annual springtime juried exhibitions, or you may have met him during summer artist demonstrations. With an easy smile, generous nature and willingness to stretch his horizons, Pete is a treasured artist! We couldn’t wait to share his latest earthly creations with you and dish a little dirt on the side!

Pete has been exploring the world of watercolor for nearly 20 years. What began as a self-taught endeavor has blossomed into a full-blown love affair with the medium. In addition to painting to improve his technique, Pete also enrolls in watercolor workshops in southern California and abroad in Italy. Studying under talents like Eric Weingardt, Mel Stabin, Judy Schroeder and Gerald Brommer has added another level of sophistication and control to his already wonderful work. Favored subjects in his latest offerings include our local San Juan Capistrano mission, street scenes and buildings of downtown Orange and the marinas of Dana Point and Cape May, New Jersey. You may even find a scene or two from “aloha” Maui in the mix!

Pete Roberts watercolor painting, Crystal Cove, local art

Veranda Afternoon, Crystal Cove

Insurance salesman by day, painter and ballroom dancer by night, Pete is no stranger to the many hats an artistic soul wears. Stop by the gallery one afternoon and you may find Pete getting some work done in our back office or showing us his latest tango moves with gallery owner, Karen, as his dance partner! Pushing his artwork forward more and more over the years, Pete is a member of the National Watercolor Society and continues to be juried into art exhibits far and wide.

Legend has it that young Pete’s childhood was spent in, shall we say, somewhat “mischievous” ways. Boys will be boys and consequently the youngster spent some time in his room. Out of boredom, a burgeoning interest in art was formed. Sometimes it pays to be a little errant!

Pete Roberts

Come and meet Pete and 12 other artists Friday, July 22nd during our annual summer artist demonstrations! Join us from 5-8pm and watch these creative individuals strut their stuff in front of their easels and tables. And, enjoy live oldies music performed by Then Again Band while you stroll Enderle Center. For more information, visit our Events Page.

Colleen Premer and the Intuitive Nature of Printmaking

Colleen Kennedy Premer monoprint chine colle abstract

Aerial – monoprint with chine colle

Moving through the artistic process intuitively and without conscious thought, Colleen Premer taps into her artistic soul to produce balanced and harmonious compositions. This southern California printmaker is lured by the world of monotype and monoprint for the immediacy of results, but she also lends her creative hand to encaustic painting and intaglio printmaking.

Colleen is highly influenced by her artist mother, Elaine Kennedy, who was an acclaimed local painter and printmaker. She was exposed to the art world at an early age through her mother’s circle of friends and the many art shows, exhibitions and gatherings they frequented together. Although Colleen has a journalism degree and an M.S. in clinical psychology, her passion for art kept tugging at her heart. She eventually discovered printmaking at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.

Colleen Kennedy Premer monotype printmaking

Ochre Summer – monotype

Ranging from abstracted shapes to intricate design, Colleen’s body of work takes its inspiration from observed line, shape and color. She often contrasts recognizable elements, like a spinning Ferris wheel, with shadowed spheres and elongated patterns. Her creativity doesn’t stop there! Colleen also works with chine colle, image transfer and printers inks for a multi-layered print that is steeped in meaning. Some of her more recent works have embedded excerpts of letters written by Colleen’s mother, creating timeless memories.

Colleen Kennedy Premer linocut relief print

Tattoo Truck – linocut relief print

Always pushing herself to solve a problem from a different angle, Colleen’s work reinvents the familiar to present it in a new and unusual way. Her recent Tattoo Truck linocut relief print boldly presents the cab of a big rig head on. With careful control, Colleen has carved and outlined tattooed flames licking the outer shell of the cab. Rougher cuts add dimension within the image’s background. Colleen’s inspiration largely is drawn from her attraction to the clean lines and human-like features of cars and trucks. Additionally, the methods and history of Japanese printmaking and artistry (including the culture’s unique take on tattoos) intrigue Colleen. The result is extraordinary!

Ever changing, always experimenting, creating beauty out of the mundane, Colleen surprises us with a greater level of sophistication every time we see her newest works. And, we would love to share them with you!

Painting the Fallacy of Memory: Artist Spotlight on Shannon Richardson

Shannon Richardson contemporary figurative oil painting

The Flower Girl

With a colorful cast of characters and a vivid palette, Shannon Richardson channels her life’s experiences and intertwines layers of fantasy, turning experience into private fairy tales. This talented local artist explores the balance of memory and reality in her winsome paintings. Details are often fuzzy, and figures seem to move and blur as you watch them.

Based on memories that often take on mythical qualities, Shannon’s distinctive oils are both joyful and unsettling. She creates an arresting dissonance with her subject matter. What appears peaceful and serene at first glance can take on a separate personality at second or third look, much like memory itself. Ultimately, every composition is a visual story that reveals life’s beauty and rich complexity.

Narratives accompany each canvas to aid in the storytelling process. At once dreamlike, thoughtful and sometimes humorous, Shannon’s creativity knows no bounds! Consider her poem to accompany One Little Bird Would Not Be Missed (pictured left):

One Little Bird Would Not Be Missed – SOLD

There was a flock,
A count of three,
I took one bird
and began to flee.
I left two
and more to come,
I took one bird
but left you some.
You won’t see
how could you?
There was three
now there is two.
But I know
you now watch me
for I might take
or I might flee.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Pacific Northwest College of Arts. She also participated in a year-long painting intensive study program in Rome, Italy during her tenure in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, she has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions and is collected throughout the United States, Italy and Germany.

Click this link to see more of Shannon’s work on our website!

Do you have the symptoms? We have the “cure”!

Do you believe that art should not just be for your walls? Does color, in all its vibrant hues, stop you almost dead in your tracks? When you see an intricate textile or the smooth grain of sanded wood, do your hands ache to reach out and feel the texture? Do your eyes bulge at the sight of sparkly things? Do you want to wrap yourself in the creative spirit? If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you likely have The Bug – The Art Bug, that is. Chemers Gallery has just the treatment for your artful cravings – luscious textiles, sumptuous wooden purses & boxes and more than double the recommended dose of jewelry!

Eco-Dyed Silk Scarf by Ayn Hanna

Ayn Hanna

Pairing the lushness of nature with the sophistication of silk, textile artist Ayn Hanna creates the most stunning bodily adornments! Her beautiful, one-of-a-kind scarves provide the antidote to wardrobe mediocrity. Each elegant scarf is hand-dyed using natural plant roots and leaves, plant extracts and earth oxides. The colors are simply luscious!

Silk crepe de chine and silk charmeuse elegantly shimmer and drape over your shoulders. Maybe you would rather adorn your side table or armchair with Ayn’s unique creations. Either way, these stunning scarves are just what the doctor ordered.

Sunflower Surprise textile by Mary Hammond

Mary Hammond

If your ailment includes a need for intricate threads, fibers and colors, Mary Hammond’s scarves and wall hangings are the remedy! Ever-popular scarves in bright floral designs bring the vibrancy of summer to any outfit, while softly subtle hues lend the right mix of sophistication and playfulness. Mary’s signature style translates into the most magnificent textile scenes that are just right for framing or placing on an empty table. In every case, they’ll take your blues away.

Emilia Purse by Hammill and Diebolt

Hammill and Diebolt

Soothe your shopping spirits with wooden purses from Hammill and Diebolt! Thin wooden veneers in luxurious finishes curve elegantly to form the sinuous lines of every purse and clutch. Choose from Birdseye Maple, Bubinga and more. With a background in fine furniture and jewelry box making, Sharon Hammill Diebolt and Mark Titus Diebolt now create their spectacular purses and handbags in Rochester New York.

We sold half of our shipment as we were unpacking it, so hurry in so you don’t miss out!

Oval Lidded Box by Raymond Bock

Raymond Bock

To prevent a relapse, you must see (and feel!) Raymond Bock’s striking clean-line architectural boxes. Constructed from hardwood, laminations and veneers, these exquisite boxes are varied in tone and texture and have a slightly Asian-inspired flair. Woods like Wenge, Curly Maple and Padauk feature in his timeless creations.

Raymond also has a background in furniture making. In another lifetime he had a career in photography.

Labradorite & London Blue Topaz necklace by Lina

Lina Zhang

Alleviate your aching for gemstones with Lina Zhang’s modern yet timeless earrings and necklaces! Lina carefully chooses precious and semi-precious stones to incorporate in her delicate wire-wrapped creations. Blue chalcedony glows, while tourmaline smolders against gold-filled wire and chain. London blue topaz complements artfully arranged labradorite. Lina takes the utmost care in composing her winsome jewelry.

Karen really went crazy for Lina’s jewelry when she discovered it at a show this spring. Wanting everything in the collection and a limited budget left Karen with a hole in her heart.

Laurette O’Neil

Coral Whisk Earring by Laurette O’Neil

Let contemporary and clean-line jewelry by Laurette O’Neil be the balm to your modern style syndrome. Sterling silver tubes and beads pair with unusual materials like wire, bone and coral to create a look that is to die-not for! Striking the perfect balance between classic and quirky, Laurette’s jewelry is refreshing in its originality.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 to meet Laurette and 6 other talented artistans at our mini jewelry trunk show!

As we all know, the Art Bug is a reoccurring condition for which there is no permanent cure. We, at Chemers Gallery, have a chronic Art Bug so we feel your pain! We are on a tireless search for the next remedy to share with you. In the meantime, visit us or our website frequently to stave off the fever!