Le amamos, Rafael López! (We Love You, Rafael Lopez!)

From My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz, a Pura Belpre Honor Book

We're so excited to tell you that Rafael Lopez is a man of many talents and has just celebrated the release of a series of postage stamps created for the United States Postal Service! Each of the 5 stamps commemorates a Latin American musical legend - Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, Selena, Carlos Gardel and Celia Cruz. If you're familiar with Chemers Gallery's annual Children's Book Illustration Art Show & Book Signing, chances are you will have noticed Rafael's work.His use of bright, bold colors and playful acrylic on wooden panel paintings stood out among our December 2009 show. His illustrations came from books like Our California, My Name is Celia, and the award-winning Book Fiesta.

USPS Forever Stamps, painted by Rafael Lopez

AND, if that weren't enough, Gibson has created 5 customized Epiphone guitars with Rafael's artwork on them, which will be retired to the Smithsonian museum after they finish their national tour!

Rafael with customized Gibson Epiphone guitars

Rafael was the perfect choice to create this tribute to the Latin American musical greats. Music has inspired him since his childhood, he can't paint without it. It finds its way into his artwork in the form of winged conga drums, guitars with sacred hearts, musicians blooming from lilies and vocals taking the form of birds in flight.

So put on some salsa, tango or tejano, bust a move or two with a margarita or 4, and then sit down to write a good, old-fashioned letter. Just don't forget the stamp!

Artworks by Rafael Lopez are available for purchase at Chemers Gallery.
If you haven't seen them in person yet, come on in!

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

Attention Local Artists!

Title: Get Your Paintbrushes Ready!

Get your paintbrushes, cameras & printing presses ready!

Old Tustin silk painting by Nancy Goldman, from 2010 show

Call for Entries
Tustin Art League & Chemers Gallery
present
Scenes of Tustin 2011
Juried art exhibition
Juror: Kamillia Hardy

April 30th to May 14th, 2011
Artists' Reception Saturday, April 30th, 5:30 - 8:00pm

Are you ready to submit your masterpieces to our 4th Annual Tustin Art League show? Submission dates are coming up, so get ready! Not a member? Not to worry, the show is open to everyone. Local amateur and professional artists always wow us with their "scenes of Tustin" and every year it just gets better! TAL is a Tustin Area Council for Fine Art (TACFA) program that has been meeting regularly since 2000. Its members actively participate in local events around town like the Tustin Street Fair, Tustin Tiller Days, TAL month at the Tustin Senior Center Gallery, art walks and the annual Promenade Home and Garden Tour.

Side Steps oil on canvas by Brigham Allebes, from 2010 show

Exhibition Rules:
Entry must be an outdoor scene from the Tustin area, created during the year since the last contest in May 2010. All mediums are welcome. Entry must be framed to Chemers Gallery specifications and ready to hang. (For details on framing see "Framing Specifications" below.) Artists must fill out an entry form, available at Chemers Gallery, on the Tustin Art League blog, or by calling 714-544-7715. Artists must state category (Amateur or Professional) when entering.

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. No nicked, gaudy or falling apart frames, please. 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 & any dark wood. Mats must be neutral white, acid free (like Bainbridge 8655), colored filets ok, and either double 4-ply or single 6 or 8-ply mats. No non-glare glass. Space & weight limits apply. Please see Karen Raab at Chemers Gallery for details.

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

Examples of gallery-wrapped canvases

Entry Fees:
Maximum of 2 entries per artist.
Please make checks payable to TACFA.
Tustin Art League members $20.00
Non-members $25.00

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

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

Deadlines:
*Entry forms must be received at Chemers Gallery by April 16th
*Delivery of ready-to-hang artworks at Chemers Gallery between April 20th - 23rd during regular hours of 10am to 5pm
*Judging will occur during the week of April 25th
*Artists' Reception Saturday, April 30th, 5:30-8pm
*Artwork must be picked up from Chemers Gallery May 16th between 10am - 5pm

Citrus Ranch Park fused glass by Linda Warwick Smith, from 2010 show

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

Chemers Gallery
Enderle Center
17300 17th Street, Ste. G
Tustin, CA 92780
info@chemersgallery.com
www.chemersgallery.com

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

She's Oh-So-Creative!

Maria Counts has been one busy lady! We see her when she runs out of clay and makes a trip from San Diego up to Aardvark's in Santa Ana. She never fails to bring us a box of goodies like these extra-special pieces shown here. And, we just couldn't wait to share them with you!

Rabbit Girl by Maria Counts

Ever the "mad scientist," Maria is always experimenting with surprising shapes, textures and forms. She lets the ceramics speak to her and tell her their story, even if she has to wait a while before they whisper their secrets. Rabbit Girl is keeping tight-lipped for the time being, but Maria is sure to crack her code when she's good and ready. You might notice the number around her neck and wonder what that means; well, so does Maria! See if you can spot the tiny word "up" somewhere on her body. Be sure to check out Kimono Boy on our website - he's another one that's keeping mum for the time-being!

Isadora Vessel by Maria Counts

A more typical style of Maria's ceramics is this four-legged Isadora Vessel. Maria beautifully unleashes the face within the clay using glazes, stamps and cut-outs. All four sides are different and work together flawlessly. You might be familiar with Maria's teapots as well. They are all as individual as she is, with no surface left untouched by her creativity.

We have oodles of other treasures from Maria, so come on into Chemers Gallery to take a peek! If you can't make it in, just click HERE** to see it all on our website. If you'd like us to let you know when we have even more, just drop us a line using our website's brand new contact form!

**Sorry, we're having technical difficulties and can't get any links up yet! Keep checking back!

Join Our Email List

or update your profile