Creating Community Through Art

Some of the best things about art is the community that revolves around it and the way it can bring people together. 3 of our talented Chemers Gallery artists are perfect examples of the friendships that art can foster among individuals - Dori Dewberry, Julie Hill and Dana Cooper.

Dori Dewberry, Dana Cooper & Julie Hill, summer 2011 artist demos at Chemers Gallery

These three lovely ladies regularly get together to paint, look for new subjects and take part in online challenges together. Though their artistic expressions differ from one another they do have several things in common (besides talent!), like depicting every day scenes that make us feel as if we've just dropped into the work. You may have met them at our Summer 2011 artist demonstration series, where they all set up their easels and art supplies.

Read on and get to know Dori, Julie and Dana a little better.

Dori Dewberry

Fresh Air by Dori Dewberry, 6 x 6 pastel

Dori was introduced to us a year ago through the United Society of Pastel Artists. We loved her impressionist style vibrant color palette and sparkling personality. A teacher by day, Dori's passion lies within the process of her artwork. She is always experimenting to push her ideas further. You may recognize some of her landscapes from your own explorations in Santiago Oaks Regional Park. Dori recently brought us some wonderful gallery scenes from a visit to the Chicago Art Institute. Their small size (only 6 x 6!) is perfect for a little nook or shelf or a collection on the wall.

Julie Hill

Sushi Anyone? by Julie Hill, 6 x 6 watercolor

Julie is a native southern Californian who discovered a love for watercolors later in life. What began for her as a tentative expression blossomed into a full-blown exploration of color, light and shadow. Julie is a former USC professor who not only taught in the Pediatrics and Pathology departments at the Keck School of Medicine, she also ran a research lab that investigated neonatal bacterial meningitis. She discovered that her artwork allowed her to spend more time with her growing family. Julie is self-taught and works primarily with black and white photographs to guide her in the tonal values of a painting while still retaining the freedom to interpret the colors in any way she pleases.

Dana Cooper

Split Decision by Dana Cooper, 8 x 10 oil on board

We were introduced to Dana's little "slices of life" through last spring's "Scenes of Tustin" show at our gallery. Her small-scale oil on board figuratives captured our imaginations and we couldn't wait to see more. Dana draws from her travels locally, through Europe and her visits to art museums. Her work is mostly on a smaller scale and truly captures the mood and feel of a place, be it walking in the rain, taking in the vastness of a cathedral or contemplating art in a museum. As a former children's art instructor, Dana now devotes most of her time to her artwork. The teaching bug hasn't left her though - she still teaches art classes locally.

Dori, Julie and Dana will be taking part in our upcoming Scenes of Tustin 2012 show, kicking off at the end of April, and you can, too! You don't need to be a seasoned pro enter a painting or two in this unique exhibition. All entries are welcome for jurying. For details on how to enter, click HERE.

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

Call for Entries - Scenes of Tustin 2012

Tustin Art League & Chemers Gallery
present

Scenes of Tustin 2012
Juried Exhibition
Juror: Rick Delanty

April 28th - May 12th
Artists' Reception Saturday, April 28, 5:30 - 8pm

For the 5th time, Chemers Gallery will open its doors to the members of the Tustin Art League and professional and amateur artists from the surrounding communities to present "Scenes of Tustin!" We always love seeing new work and discovering the local talents and we love to share our finds with you! Come out and support your community of artists and art lovers, and if you dabble or make your living in the arts, feel free to submit a creation of your own. You don't need to be a member of TAL or a professional artist to enter, this exhibition is open to all. So come on! Get your paintbrushes, cameras, printing presses and glass kilns ready to create your own rendition of Tustin's landscapes, architecture and neighborhoods.



Exhibition Rules:
Entry must be an outdoor scene from the Tustin area OR indoor scene of a public building or business that is clearly in Tustin. The Tustin area includes Tustin, Peters Canyon, North Tustin, unincorporated Santa Ana and Cowan Heights. Work must be created during the year since the last exhibition (May 2011). Works may not exceed a maximum size of 30" x 40". Works must be framed to Chemers Gallery specifiations and ready to hang. All artwork must be available for sale.

Framing Specifications:
Chemers Gallery will be happy to assist in framing your work. If you choose to frame it yourself, please bring your frame for approval prior to submission before April 14th or email a photo or .jpg to info@chemersgallery.com before April 9th. Oils, acrylics and mixed media can be unframed if gallery wrapped edges are painted. All other two-dimensional work must be framed and ready to hang. Simple frames are preferred, acceptable colors are black and any dark wood. Mats must be a neutral white, acid free (like Bainbridge 8655). Colored acid-free filets are acceptable, and either double 4 ply or single 6 or 8 play mats. No non-glare glass. Space and weight limits apply to non two-dimensional work, please see Karen at Chemers Gallery for details.

Examples of black (left) and dark wood (right) frames

Examples of gallery-wrapped canvases

Entry Fee:
Maximum of two entries per artist.
Please make checks payable to TACFA
TAL members $20 (for 1 or 2 entries)
Non members $25 (for 1 or 2 entries)

Prizes:
Amateur
1st Place $75
2nd Place $50
3rd Place $25

Professional
1st Place $125
2nd Place $75
3rd Place $50

Important Dates & Deadlines:
*Entry forms are due at Chemers Gallery by April 14th by 5pm. Click HERE for PDF
*Deliver work to Chemers Gallery April 18-21 between 10am and 5pm
*You will be informed if work is NOT accepted by April 23rd.
*Artists' Reception is April 28th, 5:30-8pm
*Show runs April 28th - May 12th
*Pick up artwork at Chemers Gallery May 14th between 10am and 5pm

For more information, please contact
Marsha Lindsey, Tustin Art League 714-544-7715
Karen Raab, Chemers Gallery 714-731-5432

The Tustin Art League, a program of the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA), is an organization of visual artists whose purpose is to provide a venue for information, exposure, and growth of each member artist and to focus their talents in an effort to enhance the visual arts within the community to enrich and energize citizens of all ages. For more information about TAL, please visit their blog.

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

What a Way to Start the Year!

You may have noticed that the Chemers Gallery blog has been pretty quiet so far this year. It's not you, it's us!

We were lucky enough to finish out 2011 in good health, and it seems like just yesterday we were toasting to a year of continued health as we took a break from inventory in January. Not even a week later, Jennifer came down with whatever awful cough & cold had been going around and missed several days of work.

The aftermath

A few days later, Karen fell at a client's house doing some measurements and was rushed to the emergency room with a broken wrist! Turns out she broke both her ulna and radius and needed surgery! Two metal plates later, Karen is back in the gallery with limited movement. Throw in our Eye Candy Artisan Faire of two weeks ago, trips to trade shows in New York and Las Vegas, the influx of new artwork after our Children's Book Illustration show and the regular day-to-day of it all and you can see why the blog has gotten so quiet.

Keep being patient with us - after all, we only have 3.5 hands at the moment but we're doing the best we can with them!

Won't You Be Our Valentine?

Holding Heart from Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day!
We love and appreciate you on ALL days!

How About a Li'l Shugah?

Artisan Faire

Saturday, February 4th 2012, 1p - 5p
Pick up a little treatie for your sweetie, or yourself!

The Eye Candy Jewelry Trunk show has taken on a life of its own and has grown into something so much more than just jewelry! We've added ceramics and textile art, too. And, our jewelry list just keeps growing and growing.

Michelene Berkey
Michelene Berkey is flying all the way from Colorado to share her latest delicacies with YOU! Her signature ingredients of silver, gold, semi-precious stones and pearls produce tasty results. For the nature-lover, Michelene's twig rings, pendants and bangles are always a hit. Her popular concoctions of twigs and bees even serves to raise money to help save the bees. How sweet is that? She tells us she has some great new creations.




Joanna Craft
Using elements influenced by the far east, Joanna Craft cooks up baubles of decorative papers and textiles mixed with resin and sterling silver elements. Joanna makes all of her settings herself and even hand-fabricates many of her chains. Also working in mixed metals, Joanna's designs appeal to the contemporary. She has enough ingredients in her lineup to help you create your own custom recipie.




Amy Kekst
Serving up an ecclectic fare of gemstones, crystals, one-of-a-kind vintage elements and chains, Amy Kekst takes the cake! Her line is constantly changing and evolving to ensure she's always at the top of the trends. Her newest morsels feature silver chain mesh and fringe mixed with stones that sparkle and shine.







Konplott
New designer to Chemers Gallery, Miranda Konstantinid of Konplott uses crystals, pearls, glass and metal to create jewelry that is "free of material limitations." Miranda lives and works in Germany and her appetizing goodies can be found in major cities around the world. Influenced by everything from tribal gowns, yoga and even archtecture, Konplott is sure to satisfy your more exotic moments.





Barbara Lanci
Feast your eyes on Barbara Lanci's bold treasures. This talented craftswoman works in fine silver, argentium and unique stones to deliver delectable results. Trained under master jewelers, Barbara continues to challenge herself to come up with dishes tastier than the last.






Mashka
Hailing from San Francisco via Siberia, Mashka favors nuggets of 14k gold, copper, labradorite, black spinel, pyrite and more in her sophisticated creations. She mixes in gold, silver and oxidized silver to make her creations sing. Tailored to suit any palate, Mashka's trinkets are good enough to eat.




Ayala Bar
Enjoy the latest honeyed treasures from Israeli artist Ayala Bar. Her tiny wearable mosaics are crafted from beads, stones, fabrics and papers. As always, these limited edition pieces are available for only 6 months before the next collection is formed. Try on the latest goodies sent to us by this versatile artist while you ooh and aah with your gal pals!






Angie Olami
Like fine wine, some things only get better with age. That's why the 2,000 year old glass Angie Olami uses in her box of tricks is so divine! Angie Olami stirs in beads and semi-precious stones with her ancient glass and sets her treats in sterling silver. Every piece of glass is a delight to behold.




Maria Counts
San Diego artist Maria Counts uses candy-colored glazes to highten the sweetness of her thought provoking ceramic art. Her vessels, embossed kimonos, teapots and colorful characters are plentiful and are just the right trimming for your shelves, end tables or that special spot in your home or office. Maria's work ranges from whimsy to sophisticated and has continued to intrigue our clients.




Lisa Mertins
A woman of many talents, Lisa Mertins not only whips up intriguing ceramics, she's also a fine artist, jeweler and children's book illustrator! Never fully satisfied working in one single medium, Lisa brews clay, hand-stamped design and asymmetrical shapes to excite the senses. Her whimsical illustrations are part sketch, part monoprint and part watercolor. Come and see what Lisa has for you!



Mary Hammond
Creative designs in mouthwatering colors adorn Mary Hammond's delicately hand-sewn scarves. Created with fabric, thread, ribbon, sequins and trim, Mary's delicious handiwork is the perfect garnish for your tables, walls or that special outfit you need a little something for. Traveling from northern California, Mary is sure to have that certain something to spice up your wardrobe or your home.

Susan Horton
If it's fine woven scarves and shawls you've been craving, have we got a treat for you! Local weaver Susan Horton will be sharing her concoctions and even demonstrating how she cooks up her magical scarves and shawls. Utilizing ingredients of cotton, silk, wool and tencel, Susan's passion for weaving is evident in the fine work she produces.

A sampling from each artist is available online, but don't be fooled into thinking that's all we'll have for the show! Everyone is bringing a trunk-full of surprises and goodies for your enjoyment!

Not only will we be serving up sweet treats for your eyes, we'll also be serving sweet treats for your tummies. Come in to sample our wares and fares.

Even if sweetness isn't your thing, come on in to give Rita some birthday shugah - our artisan faire is being held on her special day!

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

Yet Another Fantastic Year!

Are you sure it's the end of 2011 already? What a whirlwind of a year! In the continued difficult economic climate, we are ever more appreciative of the blessings in our lives, especially YOU! You know the value in shopping "small," and we are honored that you help to support your local community. It's a no-brainer that more of your money stays within the local economy when you shop small independent businesses like Chemers Gallery, and we'd just like to say that you're doing a great job! Keep it up!


Even though times are tough, we haven't let it get us down. In fact, we've been busier than ever planning tons of events for your pleasure and, oh yes, showing off the ART!

Big Red, acrylic on board by Ian Paul

Chemers Gallery welcomed several new artists throughout the year. Painting buddies Dori Dewberry, Julie Hill and Dana Cooper joined our ranks this summer and have been delighting us with their sparkling personalities, beautiful pastels, watercolors and oil scenes. Recent Long Beach State University graduate Ian Paul joined us after showing his contemporary acrylic works at our annual Tustin Art League exhibition. (By the way, Ian not only one an Honorable Mention & the People's Choice Award at the show, but he also won Best of Show at the Bower's Museum & exhibited his work at the Tangata Restaurant!) Anthony Salvo delighted our visual pallets with his yummy dessert paintings. Toward the end of the year we met Linda Reed and her beautiful fused glass mosaic panels. We were also introduced to Susan Horton's beautifully woven textiles this year. She even brought her loom to share how she creates her scarves and shawls.

Tug-of-War, mixed media on board by Laurie Meseroll

We also welcomed new work from favorite artists. Mixed media artist Laurie Meseroll sent us several whimsical pieces made with paint, fabric, paper, glitter and even essential oils! We carried her art years ago and Karen was finally able to convince her to send more. Also keeping us stocked with whimsical treasures was Kristina Swarner. Her small prints are simply enchanting.

Afternoon Delight, oil on board by Jim Wodark

We say it again and again, but Jim Wodark just keeps getting better and better! As a plein air painter who continuously strives to challenge himself and push his art further, Jim keeps bringing us beautiful landscapes and marina scenes while entering (and winning!) competitions all over the place. In September, Jim was featured in a 5 page article in Plein Air Magazine. We're talking about an upcoming show that will feature a large body of work from this tremendous talent - details TBA!

California Street, oil on canvas by Carol Jessen

Carol Jessen sent us urban scenes that were snapped up immediately. At least we had the chance to take pictures of them this time!

Aquamarine Light, pastel by Mary Aslin

We welcomed new pastels from Mary Aslin, new watercolors from Pete Roberts and new oil paintings of local landscapes from John Sawyer. John Baughman visited us all the way from Michigan to show us what new abstract avenues he and his wife, Jan, are exploring in their works on paper. Bonnie Holmes visited us whenever she was in town to show us her latest small oils or the newest creation she was knitting. We are thrilled to have new ceramics from Maria Counts and Itsuko Zenitani, as well as glass light catchers, soap dishes and trays from Leona Hawks. We've also received funky, one of a kind ceramic vessels from Lisa Mertins, who you may remember as the illustrator of Jim Doti's children's book, A Christmas Adventure in Little Italy.

Serenity, oil on canvas by Jennie Tomao

Sadly, we also lost a favorite creative talent this year. Jennie Tomao passed away in May but her memory lives on in the lives she touched through her gracious spirit and beautifully rendered landscapes and still life.

As if all that art wasn't enough, Chemers kept busy with events, shows, demonstrations and lectures!


February was a busy month for us. We kicked off the year with our Eye Candy Jewelry Trunk Show, featuring talented jewelers Michelene Berkey from Colorado, local gal Joanna Craft, Amy Kekst from Ohio, semi-local Barbara Lanci, mother-daughter team Dina & Liz Yesachar and fused glass artist Linda Warwick-Smith. Textile artist Mary Hammond spent the day with us too and showcased her uniquely artistic scarves. A short few days later we hosted "Escape from Sobibor" with Philip Bialowitz, a survivor of the Nazi death camp Sobibor. His lecture on escaping the death camp by joining a prisoner-led revolt was deeply moving and impactful. We rounded out the month with a show of student work from the Laguna College of Art and Design.

Kevin Davidson and Marsha Lindsey, TAL

In April and May we hosted our 4th annual open exhibition with the Tustin Art League, but this year there was a twist. We also hosted a show simultaneously with the United Society of Pastel Artists. Not only did the exhibitions showcase our talented local artists, they also introduced us to new styles and techniques and gave us a deeper appreciation for the pastel medium.

Julie Hill demonstrates her watercolor technique

Throughout the summer, the Enderle Center hosted a monthly summer concert series. Chemers Gallery invited our artists to join in the festivities by bringing their studios to us! While the live music was happening on our doorstep, visitors to the center were treated to an opportunity to watch some of their favorite artists paint, draw and weave. Patrons were able to chat with our artists and ask them questions about their process and technique. We plan on making artist demonstrations a regular thing here at Chemers - stay tuned for details!

Karen continued her lectures for OLLI on the world of children's book illustration. This time she put participants to work creating their own children's book with a team. Look for her upcoming lecture on printmaking techniques for OLLI in 2012.

Elisa Kleven, Karen, Ellen, Robin Preiss Glasser, Lou Fancher, Rita, Steve Johnson, Mary GrandPre, Raul Colon, Liz, Jennifer

Of course, who could forget the Big One, the mother of all events, our 20th Annual Children's Book Illustrations Art Show & Book Signing? Featuring the talents of Robin Preiss Glasser, Raul Colon, Elisa Kleven, Mary GrandPre and Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher, this year was definitely the busiest it's ever been! Our returning all-star artists delighted us with whimsical, adorable, sophisticated, stunning and downright BEAUTIFUL book illustration. We had such a hard time choosing what to frame and hang on the walls - it was all so magical! For the first time, Chemers Gallery partnered with Chapman University's College of Educational Studies K-12 Literacy Programs.

One of the biggest changes at Chemers Gallery during 2011 was that long-time staff member, Cathy, moved to Washington state. She and her husband were fulfilling a life-long dream to live in the Pacific Northwest. We hear she's happy and showing her pastels in a local venue, and we wish her nothing but the best!

We are so very thankful for the role we can play in our community and so incredibly grateful to the art lovers that have continued to show their support at Chemers Gallery. We'll see you in 2012!

Karen, Jennifer, Robert, Corey, Mary & Rita

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

Happy Holiday from Chemers Gallery

Wishing you a splendiferous holiday!

Welcome Santa from Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

We are so grateful to have you, our kind and loyal patrons!
Thank you for your continued support - we are honored to know you.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Chemers Gallery Holiday Hours
12-25: CLOSED
12-26: CLOSED (We need a break!)
12-27 - 12-30: 10a-6p
12-31: 10a-2p-ish (please call for afternoon shopping)
1-1: CLOSED (Happy New Year!)
1-2 - 1-3: CLOSED for inventory
1-4: 10a-6p back to regular hours