Author Archives: Chemers Gallery

Call to Artists: The heART of Orange County All Media 2016

Chemers Gallery and TACFA
Call to Artists
The heART of Orange County All Media 2016
April 23 – May 7, 2016
Juried Exhibition
Juror: Julie Lee, Bowers Museum

Deadline for entry is March 5, 2016
Click HERE to enter!

Calling All Artists
It’s that time of year again…that’s right, our next juried exhibition is right around the corner! It’s not a plein air landscape show any longer! You may remember past shows that depicted the beautiful landscape of Orange County, but we’re switching it up this year! Instead of landscapes, we’re making it all about the art!

The Yellow Scarf, oil on board by Dana Cooper

Please join Chemers Gallery and the Tustin Area Council for Fine Art (TACFA) for our 9th annual all-media juried exhibition. This is no longer a landscape/plein air show. We are seeking submissions that depict the vast variety of arts to be found in our wonderful Orange County. This could be an arts venue or people in the arts. Your entries might be (but certainly not limited to) musicians at work, actors in a play, a performing arts building, a dancer practicing in a studio, on-lookers in a museum, an artist’s studio (perhaps your own!). Amateur artists are welcome to enter. All artwork will be judged equally regardless of professional status.

Night at Vibratto’s, acrylic on paper by Joyce Lieberman

All media will be considered for acceptance. We want your oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, photographs, etchings, monoprints, beadwork, glass, encaustic, sewing…everything! The more creative and innovative the better – you just might win one of the cash prizes!

Entries will all be pre-juried online at OnlineJuriedShows.com. For a full prospectus and links to enter, click HERE.

We are honored to announce that Julie Lee, Vice President of Collections and Exhibition Development at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, will be this year’s juror.

Laguna Playhouse

Your Inspiration Starts Here!
Spend a weekend driving around Orange County’s numerous arts venues and let your imagination run wild! Head down to Corona del Mar for an afternoon wandering the gorgeous grounds of the Sherman Library & Gardens before making your way to Laguna Beach to view a performance at the Laguna Playhouse. Don’t forget to try Chance Theater in Anaheim or South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa if you’re inspired by taking in theatrics.

Segerstrom Center

If it’s architecture that floats your boat, marvel at the geometric facade and sinuous interior of Segerstrom Center. This is also the perfect opportunity to listen to the Pacific Chorale or Pacific Symphony Orchestra and let the music stir your mind and soul. Stroll over to Noguchi Garden and view the public sculpture under its dramatic nighttime lighting.

Tangata Restaurant

We couldn’t leave the culinary arts out of the mix! Combine a trip to Bowers Museum in Santa Ana with a nosh in their award-winning restaurant, Tangata. Their beautiful presentation of edibles are sure to get your creative juices flowing. If you time it just right, you may just get to experience an amazing performance in the picturesque courtyard of Bowers. Or, simply sit close to the fountains for a calming, artful meditation.

Downtown Santa Ana

Stay around the arts district of Santa Ana during their “First Saturdays” art walk. Gallery-goers, arts enthusiasts and street performers will delight your eyes with the dozens of people-watching opportunities!

There is so much to choose from, and the sky is the limit! So put your thinking caps on…the deadline for entry is March 5th, 2016 and it will be here before you know it. For more information and entry form, please click this link. Good luck!

The Amazing Ayala Bar!

In typical dramatic flair, Ayala Bar has unveiled her newest line of limited edition necklaces, earrings and bracelets and we couldn’t be ore excited! Every 6 months, we anxiously await the change of the seasons to see what this talented Israeli designer has created. The Fall/Winter collection is here and wow, it’s a stunner!

Ayala began creating what would become her signature jewelry style in the 1980’s. Although she studied art, her education didn’t include metalsmithing or jewelry design. Instead she taught herself the art of “matchmaking” and began creating wearable collages that were reminiscent of Byzantine mosaics. As time went on, Ayala’s style evolved to incorporate seasonal colors and fashion influences.

Still Waters necklace by Ayala Bar

The artist’s primary source of inspiration stems from the unorthodox materials she uses. Ayala is a pro at using unexpected materials and pairing them in unique ways! Everything from beads, mineral stones and crushed glass to fall leaves, wood and fabrics from around the world finds a home in her glimmering, shimmering creations.

Ocean Blue bracelet by Ayala Bar

Colors this season capture the playful rays of late summer sun, the shift and shortening of days into autumn and the richness and glitz of early winter. Teal pairs effortlessly with turquoise and purple in the Aqua collection. Rich bronze, plum and gold shimmer together in the Ocean Blue color way. Motifs of flowers, leaves and pure pattern feature under cut glass and merge with Ayala’s other materials to tell a complete story. And who could forget her newer style of delicate silver filigree paired with just a hint of color? We are in L-O-V-E!

Run, don’t walk, into Chemers Gallery to view these stunning new creations in person! We promise, you won’t be disappointed!

Paul Kratter – Exploring the World Through Canvas and Paint

Rocky Coast, Sonoma – oil on board

Who ever heard of an artist who is both a plein air painter and a children’s book illustrator? We have, we have! Paul Kratter is new to Chemers Gallery and we are so glad to carry his work! We were introduced to Paul’s refined-yet-spontaneous plein air oil paintings by our very own Jim Wodark, who brought his Kratter cypress landscape in for one of our very special arts & crafts style custom frames.

Jaguar – oil & acrylic

Paul brings a strong background in drawing and design to his current work. With a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he began his career in advertising and later moved on to wildlife illustration. He developed his passion for creatures and their habitats into several children’s books, including the award-winning The Living Rain Forest. You simply have to see the detail in these acrylic and watercolor illustrations to believe the realistic, “animalistic” textures!

Partners, Point Lobos – oil on board

Almost overnight, Paul’s painting style changed once he began exploring the world of plein air oil painting. With a plethora of subject matter outside his door in the East Bay Hills of northern California, Paul enjoys the challenge that painting outdoors offers him. Constantly changing elements of light, cloud and wind force him to make decisive brush strokes allowing the finished paintings to shine with a fresh spontaneity.

Paul makes annual excursions into the High Sierra Mountains with a group of fellow artists and illustrators. (You may remember Jim Wodark’s stunning paintings from those yearly trips!) The opportunity to explore the remote lakes, meadows and mountainsides has proven to fuel Paul’s creativity. Beautiful landscape, evocative atmosphere and the paintings of renowned artists Edgar Payne, William Wendt and Carl Runguis inspire Paul to stretch his imagination and explore the world though canvas and paint.

The Magic of Encaustic and Pastel

As spring turns to summer we are dreaming of long, lazy hazy days and soothing sea breezes – once this June Gloom wears off, that is! Step into these abstracted creations by two of our newer artists to experience the feel of this magical time of year with us.

Jane Guthridge

Floating World 6, encaustic

Colorado artist Jane Guthridge delights with her enticing encaustic paintings. Using layers of rice and mulberry papers with her pigmented wax, Jane achieves a look of subtle depth. Ideas of light and shadow play off one another allowing her creations to glow with a life of their own. Nature is Jane’s main inspiration and she aims to evoke the very experience of the natural world in her richly hued pieces. Imagine dappled sunlight through leaves or sparkling across the surface of a pond – perfection!

Aqua 2, encaustic

Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University. She later traveled to Brissago, Switzerland to continue her studies with Swiss graphic designer, Armin Hofmann, and Paul Rand, designer of the IBM and ABC corporate logos. Her work has been included in many national and international exhibitions and is held in permanent collections throughout the US, including the US Department of State.

Victoria Ryan

Over the Surface, pastel

Drawing on the saturated light and color of her native southern California upbringing, Victoria Ryan‘s pastel abstractions call to mind a dreamscape of mood and feeling. While influenced by the vivid landscapes and abstracted natural elements experienced during her sunny SoCal years, Victoria often turns to her subconscious for inspiration and then returns to her heightened sense of reality felt in her lucid dreams. Her goal is to translate the experience through her pastels. The results are simply stunning!

The Orchard #2, pastel

Victoria studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles before earning her BFA in Painting and Drawing from Cal State Long Beach. She has exhibited in many solo and group shows and is also an experienced drawing and painting instructor.

Experiencing Jane’s and Victoria’s work in person is a must! Come in to Chemers Gallery for the full effect of vibrant colors and intriguing textures.

And the Winners Are…

Thank you to ALL for such a fabulous turnout for our Viewpoints: Orange County All Media artist reception last Saturday! Thank you to our talented artists who brought their friends, families and collectors to join in the festivities! Thank you to Tustin Area Council for Fine Art (TACFA) and the accomplished performers from the Chance Theater who help reveal this summer’s Broadway In The Park during our event! Thank you to Enderle Center for helping to sponsor this fun-filled event! Thank you to our friend Rado for bringing his delicious Tatratea tea liquors and mixing up phenomenal drinks. And thank you especially to all of YOU who came to last Saturday’s event – we had a great time and hope you did, too!

Congratulations to our winners!

Best of Show
Laguna Palms by Jim Wodark, oil

Enderle Center Choice

Mission at Sunset by Steve Kell, oil

Oil & Acrylic Category

First Place

Balboa Twilight by April Raber, oil

Second Place

Beach Day by Paul Kratter, oil

Third Place

Mission San Juan Capistrano by Toni Danchik, oil

All Other Media Category

First Place

Fishing Boat South of the Cottages by Kevin Davidson, watercolor

Second Place

Noble by Dori Dewberry, pastel

Third Place

Tower Sunset, Victoria Beach by Roger Bennett, photography

Honorable Mentions

Newport by Janine Salzman, oil
OIl & Acrylic category

One on Every Corner by Sharyn Sakimoto, hand-colored photograph
All Other Media category

Santa Ana Presbyterian on Sycamore by Paige Oden, oil
OIl & Acrylic category

Mission at Sunset by Steve Kell, oil
Oil & Acrylic category

Spring Violets by Dorothy Cavanagh, oil
OIl & Acrylic category

Viewpoints: Orange County All Media is on display until May 2nd, so if you haven’t made it in yet there is still time! Don’t forget to swing by Chemers Gallery next Saturday, May 2nd for our artist demonstrations from 2:00 to 5:00pm!

Plus, stay tuned for a change in format for next year’s show!

23rd Children’s Book Signing & Illustration Show

Have we got news for you!

We know how much you missed our annual December children’s book illustration show – we missed it too! We’ve been dreaming and scheming and by jove, we think we’ve got it!

Raul Colon and Rafael Lopez

Children’s Book Signing and Illustration Show

Saturday, April 4th 2015
(see below for times)
Show continues through April 18th
Benefiting The Wooden Floor

Meet award-winning illustrators, Raul Colon and Rafael Lopez, listen to their talks, and purchase original illustrations and signed books during this fun-filled afternoon of illustration goodness. But before you plan on this being the same affair as our December events have been, let us tell you…we’ve shaken things up.

Don’t worry – whimsical, fun-filled and outstanding original illustration will still feature prominently on our walls for purchase before, during and after the main event. (Phew!)

Books are available for pre-sale NOW through March 21st, however, titles and quantities are limited. The first 100 pre-sold books per illustrator will be pre-signed and dedicated. Pre-sold books thereafter will not be pre-signed, but you can pick them up at the event and take them to the illustrators for signing and dedication. We will have limited titles and quantities available to purchase the day of the show, so to ensure you get your first choice, come in to pre-order today!

Just a reminder… the artist signing is only for books purchased at Chemers Gallery.

CLICK HERE for this year’s BOOK LIST!

We know how much you’ve always enjoyed the illustrator talks and demos! Now it’s easier to get up close and personal with the illustrators! We’ve moved our ever-popular artist talks and demonstrations indoors and limited seating for a more intimate, one-on-one experience with Raul and Rafael. Our limited seating of 75 seats is available by reservation only. Call or come in to Chemers Gallery with your donation of $10 per person, to The Wooden Floor, to reserve your seats by Monday, March 30th.

Schedule of Events

1:00 pm Doors open for reserved seats

1:30 pm Talks begin promptly

Rafael Lopez: “Transcending Text”

Raul Colon: “The Art of Daydreaming”

2:30 – 5 pm Doors open to general public

Back to wow us for a 4th time with his velvety textures and smooth lines, Raul Colon again brings a wonderful array of Latin American inspired illustrations. Using washes of watercolor, colored pencil and sharp instruments to scratch into paper, Raul’s unique style perfectly captures the moment.

His most recent book, Draw!, is close to Raul’s heart. This delightful book without words is inspired by his own childhood spend indoors suffering from chronic asthma. Journey through his rich imagination to the wilds of Africa where pachyderm pals, gallivanting giraffes and mischievous monkeys leap off the page.

Although the original illustrations from this book will not be available for purchase, we will have limited edition prints as well as originals from Raul’s other books, coming soon!

Rafael Lopez is joining us again! His vivid works are infused with the magical symbolism he experienced growing up in Mexico City. His bold acrylic paintings on wood are textural and rich, appearing collage-like in their effect. Rafael’s stylistic approach is reminiscent of Diego Rivera. Rafael’s many recognitions include Pura Belpre and Americas Awards.

With a release date of March 24th, you know what that means…Get your 1st Editions here! Drum Dream Girl is full of dream-like imagery that makes you want to melt into the book. Based on the true story of a Chinese-African-Cuban girl in the 1930’s who broke Cuba’s traditional taboo against female drummers, Rafael’s illustrations are interspersed with emotion and whimsy.

A Percentage of Art Sales to Benefit…

Located in Santa Ana, The Wooden Floor is a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower low-income youth with strong self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through dance, academic and family programs. Since 2005, 100% of their students have graduated from high school on time and have gone on to pursue higher education.

Remember…

Pre-sales of books are limited & will continue until March 21st
Seating for illustrator talks & demos is by reservation only & will be inside Chemers Gallery
Please reserve by March 30th

See you soon!

Upcoming Show: Viewpoints Orange County All Media 2015

Congratulations to the participating artists of Viewpoints: Orange County All Media 2015! There were many stand-out entries, and our juror, plein-air painter Greg LaRock. worked hard to make selections for a diverse and considered exhibit.

Viewpoints: Orange County All Media 2015
Artist Reception – April 18, 2015, 5:30 – 8:00pm
Show continues through May 2, 2015

Participating Artists

Gary Armstrong . Helen Bell . Roger Bennett . Gobind Boyes . Dorothy Cavanagh
Dana Cooper . Toni Danchik . Barbara Davidson . Kevin Davidson . Dori Dewberry . Kay Flierl
Cindy Greene . Deborah Harold . Terry Houseworth . Esther Jacks . Steve Kell
Paul Kratter . Prerana Kulkarni . William Lowe . Maz Mahjoobi . Ian Montelongo
Sandra Morrison . Erich Neubert . Paige Oden . Max Ollendorff . Rita Pacheco
Pamela Panattoni . April Raber . Pete Roberts . Laura Rosenkranz . Sharyn Sakimoto
Janine Salzman . John Sawyer . Jeff Sewell . Albert Stanchfield . Kim VanDerHoek

Kathleen Williams . Jim WodarkMark your calendars now for special artist demonstrations
Saturday, May 2nd from 2:00 – 5:00p
at Chemers Gallery!