Framed Illustration by Lee White

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Jennifer's Book Picks

Our 18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing is almost upon us! We have over 200 original illustrations from our "Fab Five" available for pre-sale, and over 40 adorable books for signing and dedication. I know how hard it is to pick your favorite books, so here's my $0.02.

Pssst!
Don't forget, book pre-sale ENDS November 28th.
That's less than two weeks away!

The Girl on the Yellow Giraffe
Written & Illustrated by Ronald Himler

Walking on Sidewalk, Watercolor

I'll admit, I may be a little biased about this book. I'm a sucker for giraffes, so The Girl on the Yellow Giraffe really cried out to me. It's an adorable fairy tale about a young girl who goes on a journey through a magical land. Her ordinary travels through the big city become an epic journey, and the everyday people she meets change into encounters with giants, magicians and wizards. Through Ron's wonderful illustrations, we are allowed into the little girl's imagination.

Our California
Written by Pan Munoz Ryan
Illustrations by Rafael Lopez

Yosemite, Acrylic on Board

Our California is the perfect book for all ages whether you're a visitor to the Golden State or a life-long resident. Rafael Lopez's beautiful imagery offsets the book's fun facts about our multi-cultural state. A gallery favorite is his rendering of Yosemite, pictured above. The book takes you from the Channel Islands to Sonoma, Sacramento to Palm Springs. Each city is really brought to life through Rafael's engaging illustrations. Our California is also available in Spanish as Nuestra California.

Hush Little Dragon
Written by Boni Ashburn
Illustrations by Kelly Murphy

Dragon With Magician, Mixed Media on Paper

Hush Little Dragon is a medieval rendition of "Hush Little Baby." Instead of finding Baby a mockingbird, Mama finds a princess, a king, some knights, three musketeers and many others to fill Baby's tummy. A simply irresistible tale for parents and grandparents alike, Kelly's illustrations put a whimsical spin on a classic song.

Enchanted Lions
Written by David T. Greenberg
Illustrations by Kristina Swarner

Waving Through Window, Mixed Media on Paper

A charming bedtime story about flying through the galaxies with a lion guide, Enchanted Lions is simply, well, enchanting. Kristina's magical illustrations set the mood for a fantasy romp through the heavens, where Rose and her Lion play with Monoceros the Unicorn and watch Pisces and her babies swimming in the sky. An adventure before bed is just the thing to send Rose and other children off to a sleep filled with dreams.

Ducks Don't Wear Socks
Written by John Nedwidek
Illustrations by Lee White

Porthole, Mixed Media on Paper

Ducks Don't Wear Socks really makes me giggle. We meet a very serious little girl who is only interested in very serious subjects. Through her repeatedly ridiculous encounters with an oddly-dressed duck, she learns how to be silly and how to laugh. Lee's illustrations are an hysterical accompaniment to the text, filled with details and fun perspectives.

Look for Karen's and Cathy's "Hot Picks" in upcoming blogs!

For a complete book list, click here.

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P.S. If you opened your invitation to the Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing and panicked when you didn't see Kristina Swarner's name on the schedule of demos and lectures, fear not! Kristina will be in attendance the day of the show, signing away to her hearts content with the rest!

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Kristina Swarner Brings Gigantic Charm

Autumn Tree by Kristina Swarner
Mixed Media on Paper, 21 x 32

Take a look at this beauty from Kristina Swarner, one of this year's participants in our 18th Annual Children's Book Illustration Show & Signing. Weighing in at nearly 2 feet by 3 feet in size, Autumn Tree is gi-normous when compared to her other teeny tiny artworks. Kristina combines a variety of mediums to create her charming images, anything from linolium cut prints to pastel, watercolor and colored pencil.

Click here to see more examples of her beautiful original illustrations, or better yet, see them in person at the gallery! While you're at it, stop in and pick out the books you'd like signed and dedicated for you at the artist reception on December 5th! You can preview our book list here, and if you're stumped for ideas, you can always ask us for book recommendations. Remember, pre-sales end on November 28th.

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Introducing The Wooden Floor

Newsflash!

Saint Joseph Ballet
is now

Saint Joseph Ballet, this year's beneficiary of the Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing, has undergone a major change in the last week. For the last 26 years, this wonderful organization has been continually evolving and has finally grown into a new name and tagline. From now on, it will be known as The Wooden Floor, a metaphor for the solid foundation students receive through the outstanding dance, academic and family programs offered. Their new tagline pronounces, "From here you can step anywhere."

Keep your tissues handy as you watch this powerful video about
The Wooden Floor!

To find out more about this significant name change, please visit
The Wooden Floor's FAQ page here.

You can also read their press release by clicking here.

____________________________________________
Don't forget!
18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing
Books and original illustrations are on pre-sale NOW until November 28th!
Get your pre-ordered books signed and dedicated however you like -
just pick them out and we'll take care of the rest!
For more details, dates and times, please click here.
For the book list, please click here.
____________________________________________

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or update your profile

Ceramics Galore!

Got the "I Need Some New Ceramics" itch? Let Chemers Gallery provide you with a healthy fix of 20 new pieces from two extremely diverse and talented ceramics artists.

Kevin Nguyen

Acorn-style Bud Vases by Kevin Nguyen

Kevin's elegant, contemporary ceramics are like a breath of fresh air. His combination of textures and forms are one-of-a-kind. From an educational background in industrial design, Kevin was drawn to the immediate gratification of ceramics and has devoted his career to the art form. Originally from Vietnam, he and his family fled to the US when he was a teenager, enduring hardships and harsh, dangerous conditions throughout the journey. Now he finds his happiness in creating beautiful objects and sharing them with the community through classes and exhibitions. Kevin's shapes are skillfully patterned, reflecting Asian sensibility and clean line design. Their Zen aura makes you just feel good.


Lilia Venier

Beauty in Spring Teapot by Lila Venier

Lilia's warm, enthusiastic personality is infections. We love seeing what she's been busy creating and which killer heels she has on! Lilia combines a variety of techniques like throwing and hand-building to make truly unique ceramic works of art. Lately she's been playing with figures, birds and roses to achieve tactile and functional sculptures. Although Lilia holds a degree in business studies, she discovered a great talent for ceramics while at college and hasn't looked back.

Come in to Chemers Gallery to view and feel all of these gorgeously touchable works of art!

Still need more ceramics? Take a look at our website, you might discover something new!

_________________________________
Don't forget!
18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing
Books and original illustrations are on pre-sale NOW until November 28th!
Get your pre-ordered books signed and dedicated however you like -
just pick them out and we'll take care of the rest!
For more details, dates and times, please click here.
For the book list, please click here.
_________________________________
Check out our blog next week for an exciting announcement about Saint Joseph Ballet, our Children's Book Show beneficiary!

Join Our Email List

or update your profile

18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing!

Last year's children's book illustration show seems like it was only last week, doesn't it? Yet here we are again, gearing up for our 18th Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing! Once again, we have 5 accomplished children's book illustrators ready to share their talents with you.

BOOK LIST

Over 200 original illustrations are here, and so are the books. Boy, do we have books! Over 40 delightful,whimsical and moving tales, filled with beautiful illustrations. We even have adult and chapter books, too!

18th Annual Children's Book Illustrator's Show & Signing
at
Enderle Center
17300 17th Street, Suite G
Tustin, CA 92780
714 731 5432
www.chemersgallery.com

Benefiting Saint Joseph Ballet

Saturday, December 5th, 2009 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Signing & Reception
Show Continues Through December 19th

Books and original illustrations are available for pre-sale
NOW until November 28th
Don't wait until the last minute;
trust me, you don't want to see our "frantic faces!"

When you pre-order your books, we'll have them signed and dedicated for you by the illustrators. Your books will be ready and waiting for you at the show on December 5th, but don't worry if you can't make it - you can pick them up after the show, at your convenience.

And oh, those glorious illustrations! We are now pre-selling with private and semi-private viewings of these extraordinary works of art. Prices range from $150 - $2500. Don't let someone else get the piece you fall in love with. Preview the work on our website, but be sure to see them in person because there is no comparison to the real thing.

You can meet the illustrators on the day of the show, listen to their presentations throughout the afternoon, and view and purchase their original illustrations. For those last-minute gifts, you can still purchase books the day of the show, although we can't guarantee to have all titles available.

Presenting our Five Fabulous Illustrators:
Ronald Himler | Rafael Lopez | Kelly Murphy
Kristina Swarner | Lee White

Ronald Himler - Ron has over 30 years of experience illustrating more than 150 children's books! This accomplished watercolorist has been the recipient of the prestigious Society of Illustrators Silver Medal, among many others. Ron's traditional paintings transport you to a by-gone era and the childhood of yesteryear.




Rafael Lopez - Rafael's 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, even appearing collage-like in their effect. Rafael's stylistic approach is reminiscent of Diego Rivera. He has won 2 Americas Awards and a Pura Belpre Honor.



Kelly Murphy - Using a rich color pallet, Kelly really brings her mixed-media pieces to life. Kelly's award-winning illustrations have been featured in curated shows and international magazines. Her adorable paintings really "pop" in person.



Kristina Swarner - Kristina's charming illustrations take their inspiration from her memories of childhood exploration. These little treasures are created using a mixture of techniques to create a magical mood that is uplifting. Kristina's recent book awards include the Koret International Book Award and the Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medal.









Lee White - Anything can happen in Lee's delightful, fun-filled worlds. His talents for illustration, discovered by chance while working as a graphic designer, are devoted to telling stories through pictures. Lee's playful, mixed-media artworks are a perfect companion to children's books. He is currently working on his 10th book!

CLICK HERE FOR BOOK LIST

A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to the Saint Joseph Ballet, a non-profit organization in Santa Ana that provides a creative outlet for at-risk kids by integrating year-round dance programs with academic assistance and family services. Donations make it possible for Saint Joseph Ballet to provide these programs for nearly all of their student free of charge. 93% of students who have participated in the programs at Saint Joseph Ballet since 1993 have gone on to college or pursued professional arts training.

Don't forget to pass this information on to your friends, family, teachers, librarians and any one else who appreciates a good story and the imagination of a great illustration.

The show is open to everyone and enjoyed by all ages.

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2009 Book List for the 18th AnnualChildren's Book Illustrators Show & Signing

18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing
at
Chemers Gallery
Illustrator Reception
Saturday, December 5th, 2009 1:00pm - 5:00 pm
Benefiting Saint Joseph Ballet

Show continues through December 19th

Over 40 books and more than 200 original illustrations are NOW available for pre-sale until November 28th! Although we always have books at the opening, many of you like to pre-select and avoid the crowds. Pre-order by November 28th and we'll have your signed and dedicated books available for pick up at the show or any time afterwards, at your convenience. Stay tuned for more information!

You can pre-view the illustrations on our website. Just select "Art Search," then "Children's Book Illustrations" under Category...or better yet, see them in living color at the gallery.

Book List Subject to Change
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RONALD HIMLER

Anna and Natalie, ages 4-8
Fly Away Home, ages 4-8
John Hancock, ages 6-10
Liar Liar, Pants on Fire, ages 4-6
Prairie Christmas, ages 5-9
Sadako, young adult
Someday a Tree, ages 4-8
The Wall, ages 6-9
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RAFAEL LOPEZ

Book Fiesta! bi-lingual, ages 3-8,
My Name is Celia, bi-lingual, ages 6-10
Nuestra California, Spanish, ages 6-10
Our California, ages 6-10
Yum! MmMm! Que Rico! ages 4-8
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KELLY MURPHY

Beastologist, ages 9-12
Hush Little Dragon, ages 3-7
Masterpiece, ages 10-15
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KRISTINA SWARNER

2010 Enchanted Dreams Wall Calendar, all ages
Enchanted Dreams Date Book, adult
Enchanted Dreams Illustrated Journal, adult
Enchanted Lions, ages 3-7
Girl in Castle Journal, adult
The Jewish Dream Book, adult
Merry Christmas Holiday Cards, adult
One White Wishing Stone, ages 2-6
Season of Peace Holiday Cards, adult
Serenity Holiday Cards, adult
Well-Being Cards, adult
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LEE WHITE

A Crazy Day at the Critter Cafe, ages 3-8
Druscilla's Halloween, ages 5-10
Ducks Don't Wear Socks, ages 4-6
The House Takes a Vacation, ages 4-8
Hush Little Digger, ages 1-4
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Just a sampling of this year's books!

Publishers include: Abrams, Brush Dance, Candlewick, Cavendish, Charlesbridge, Clarion, Erdmans, Dutton, Harper Collins, Henry Holt, Holiday, Houghton Mifflin, Jewish Lights, Lee & Low Books, Lerner Publications, Luna Rising, McElridge, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Pelican, Penguin, Putnam & Putnam, Sleeping Bear, Star Bright, Tricycle, Upstart Books

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