Sue Wintner Creates With Nature's Gems

When Sue Wintner accompanied a friend to a gem and bead show six years ago, she had no idea what she was in for. Possessed by the magic of gemstones, she made a few purchases. She came to her senses when she returned home, asking herself "Now what in the world am I going to do with these?" Today, working under the name of Nature's Gems, Sue has given up a career in real estate for her new passion, creating one-of-a-kind wearable statements.

Turquoise and Sterling Silver Necklace

Using only sterling silver and semi-precious stones, Sue first finds her unique pendants on her quests around the globe. She's been to China, Tibet, India, Jordan, Israel and Turkey, to name a few. Sue incorporates her love of travel with her love of jewels, and often plans her trips based on what she's hoping to acquire. Because each piece is a one-off original, Sue often feels torn about letting her babies go into the world.

Lapis Lazuli, Coral and Sterling Silver Necklace
Pendant from India

Which comes first, the pendant or the design? For Sue, it's always the pendant. Each one is hand-selected, and will often be with her for months before she finds just the right gemstones to complete the look. She will sometimes re-design the look three or four times before she's satisfied, and always makes a point to let the pendant be the main focal point. She will coordinate everything, including the clasp.

Come into Chemers Gallery to try on these gorgeous baubles, or view more on our website!

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Aldo Astolfi, The Language of Art

Blue Chest, Practica Jacopo Manca
Watercolor on Antique Paper

It's so easy to focus on the doom and gloom of these turbulent economic times, but we prefer to look to the positive. It was during the last downswing in the market almost a decade ago that Rita and Karen discovered Italian artist Aldo Astolfi sitting in a tiny little booth at a show in New York with his original inks and watercolors. Their exchange must have been a sight to see, because Rita and Karen don't speak much Italian, and Aldo doesn't speak English. Regardless of the spoken language difficulties, our pair of Chemers gals took the plunge and purchased three of Aldo's paintings for Chemers Gallery. Besides, this was about art, the universal visual language! The work sold before it was even put away. Rita and Karen knew they had a winner in Aldo Astolfi.

Backside of Blue Chest, Practica Jacopo Manca
Watercolor on Antique Paper

One of the many things that make Aldo's whimsical watercolors so unique is the paper they're painted upon. He uses antique papers, former ledger pages that still carry the script of someone long past. Sometimes the old inks will show through to the painted side of the image, and instead of distracting the eye, these marks only add to the watercolor.

Perfect for a personal library, bedroom or living room, Aldo's work is halting when framed. Using burl wood and faux suede matting gives Aldo's pieces a very handsome stately appeal. Contrast that with a handcarved gold or white gold frame with a silk mat and you have an elegant custom frame design.

Stack of Eight Books
Watercolor on Antique Paper

Aldo is from Santarcangelo di Romagna, close to Rimini on the eastern coast of Itay. He collects treasures from open air markets and second-hand stores that find homes in his studio and within his artwork. He is also a watercolor instructor at the Arts School of San Marino.

Let's help keep our global economy moving and support our artist community!

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Dirk Hagner's Most Attention-Getting Piece Is...

Yosemite from a Plymouth Voyager
Chine Colle

Thanks to everyone who played our guessing game! One of email partners correctly guessed Dirk Hagner's piece, Yosemite from a Plymouth Voyager, as the most attention-grabbing work! It has since been snapped up, but there is still more or Dirk's skillful mixed media work to check out!

Read the original article here:
Dirk Hagner, Master Printmaker

CLICK HERE to see more works by Dirk Hagner.

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John Sawyer and Jim Wodark - A Winning Pair!

Pink Mood
Peters Canyon

John Sawyer is at it again, painting up a storm and sending us the fruits of his labors. We have three new southern California landscapes of his, including the playfully titled "Pink Mood," seen above. The warmth in his clouds bring this peaceful vista into another dimension, perfect for springtime!

Check out the rest of John Sawyer's new work on our website!

Industry
Port of Long Beach

Jim Wodark has created this titanic whopper of a painting, measuring 48 x 36 inches, excluding the 9" frame! "Industry" is one of the largest pieces Chemers Gallery has had of Jim's, and what a bold statement it makes. Jim's keen eye captures the particular grace of the Port of Long Beach in this handsome painting.

Visit our website to see more of Jim's maritime-themed paintings and his more familiar California plein air landscapes!

Call For Entries - City of Trees: Outdoor Views of the Tustin Area

Call for Entries!

The Tustin Art League
Presents

City of Trees
Outdoor Views of the Tustin Area
Juried Exhibition
Jurors: Karen Raab and Loraine Bradley
Hosted at
Chemers Gallery
17300 17th St.
Tustin, CA 92780

May 16th to May 30th, 2009
Artist's Reception May 16th, 2009 5:00-8:00pm

Seasons End
Barbara Bryant

It's time for the second annual Tustin Art League juried exhibition at Chemers Gallery! This is a great opportunity for local artists to show and sell their art, as well as make connections within the Tustin arts community. You don't have to be a memeber of the Tustin Art League to submit your artwork. The Tustin Art League is a Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA) program that has been meeting regularly since early 2000. TAL has actively participated in many Tustin events, such as Tiller Days, Tustin Street Fair, TAL month at the Tustin Senior Center Gallery, the Art Walks and the annual Promenade Home and Garden Tour. In addition they have held "paint outs" in Orange County.

Exhibition Rules:
Entry must be an outdoor scene, with a tree, or part of a tree, from the Tustin area, created during the year since the last contest, April 2008, *framed and ready to hang (see Framing Specifications below). Artists must fill out an entry form, available at Chemers Gallery, online at www.tacfa.org/tal.html, or call 714-544-7715. Artists must state category (amateur or professional) when entering.

Framing Specifications:
Please bring your frame to Chemers Gallery for approval prior to submission of artwork. Oils, acrylics and mixed media can be unframed if the gallery wrapped edges are painted. (See examples of gallery wraped canvases below.) All other two-dimensional work must be framed and ready to hang. Simple frames are preferred. Acceptable colors are black, gold and any dark wood. (See samples below.) Mats must be an acid free neutral white (for example Bainbridge 8655). Colored filets are okay, as well as double 4 ply or single 6 or 8 ply mats. No non-glare glass. Chemers Gallery will be happy to assist in the framing of your work. Space and weight limits apply to three-dimensional work, please contact Karen Raab at Chemers Gallery.

Examples of acceptable frames in dark wood, gold and black.

Examples of gallery wrapped canvases. The left shows the painting continued onto the sides of the canvas, the right shows a plain painted edge.

Entry Fees:
Maximum of two entries per artist. Please make checks payable to TACFA.
Tustin Art League Members: $15.00
Non-Members: $25.00

Prizes:
Amateur
1st $50, or 50% of fees
2nd $30, or 30% of fees
3rd $20, or 20% of fees

Professional
1st $75, or 50% of fees
2nd $50, or 30% of fees
3rd $30, or 20% of fees

Deadlines:
*Mailed entries must be recieved by April 27th, 2009
*Deliver ready to hang artwork to Chemers Gallery between May 6th-9th, 2009, between 10am-5pm
*Judging will occur the week of May 11th, 2009
*All non-accepted works must be picked up by May 14th by 6pm
*Artist's Reception May 16th, 2009, 5-8pm
*Artworks must be picked up on June 1st, 2009, 10am-6pm

For more information, please contact Marsha Lindsey (714) 544-7715,
or Karen Raab at Chemers Gallery (714) 731-5432

Chemers Gallery
in the Enderle Center
17300 17th St, Ste. G
Tustin, CA 92780
714-731-5432
info@chemersgallery.com
www.chemersgallery.com

CLICK HERE to read about last year's "Scenes of Tustin" juried exhibition.

Dirk Hagner, Master Printmaker

Dirk Hagner's sophisticated images use all manner of print processes, from woodcut and letterpress to relief etching and chine cole. His techniques draw from both the old and the new, fusing together to create a timeless quality in his art. Dirk holds a master's degree from the Folkwang School of Fine Arts in Germany, where he studied drawing, printmaking, photography and painting. His beautiful printed works, reminiscent of German Expressionism, are of a technique not seen very often anymore. Thank you, Dirk, for choosing to exhibit your work at Chemers Gallery!

Luft
Relief Etching and Letterpress

Growing up in Germany and now living in southern California gives Dirk a unique cultural awareness that often takes shape in his work through the use of text. Luft utilizes the German word for "air" by using it to form clouds and atmospheres in within the image. Interspersed throughout the textual landscape are words in other languages for elements related to and associated with air.

Figure 1: Tempus
Etching, Woodblock and Letterpress

Dirk's series of nudes are inspired by Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, a cantata based on a medieval collection of poetry by the same name. It's full Latin name translates to "Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images." Dirk has certainly provided magic images to accompany this beautiful piece of music. He includes lyrics and text from the music with his nudes, mimicking a page from a manuscript down to minute detail. His carefully chosen paper, whether antique or new, is often intrinsic in creating his chosen effect.

Infusing an Asian influence with his personal chop marks, Dirk's work is meticulous and obviously a labor of love. Every detail of these mixed media pieces are thoroughly planned and beautifully fulfilled.

Now for a twist: The piece of Dirk's that's gotten the most attention by recent gallery visitors is NOT pictured in this blog. Visit our website or come into the gallery to view the rest of Dirk's work and try and guess which it is. The first person who guesses correctly will win a $100 gift certificate, good towards Dirk's work or anything else $200 or more in the gallery! So we can't cheat, leave your answers as a comment to this post. Let the games begin!

MORE OF DIRK HAGNER'S ART

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Jewels, Jewels and More Jewels

Thank you to everyone who came to play with us and our talented jewelry designers at the Jewelry Trunk Show over the weekend! We enjoyed good food (Cathy's brownies were to die for), good friends and potent Cosmopolitans! If you missed this fun event, don't worry, all four jewelry artists left us with some gorgeous goodies just for you.

A few jewelry highlights...



Bill Gallagher has been busy creating fashionably long assemblage necklaces and pins made from mica.






Meanwhile, Michelene Berkey has been working with her twig castings to make fabulous bangle bracelets and stackable rings.








Birgitt Hellemann dazzled us with an array of fused and dichroic glass bracelets, necklaces, pendants and earrings in glossy candy colors.








Amy Kekst's new line combines river rocks with precious gems and metals to create stunning one-of-a-kind necklaces and earrings.