Old World Charm

Tradition is alive and well in Tustin, as evidenced by exceptional artists Jennie Tomao and William Galvez. Travel back through time with us, and let Jennie and William be your guides!

Jennie Tomao

Ancient Hills, oil on illustration board by Jennie Tomao

We were delighted to get 8 new paintings from the talented Jennie Tomao. With her exquisite attention to detail and characteristic use of light, her paintings are rich in hue and content. Ancient Hills brings to mind the landscape paintings from the European masters in times gone by. Rich russets and ochres come alive in this beautiful vista. Jennie's skilled hand draws your eye down the path and up to the Turner-esque sky. Her traditional oil paintings vary in subject from spawling landscapes to birch groves to florals.

William Galvez

Still Life with Onions, oil on canvas by William Galvez

Classically trained painter William Galvez is a new addition to Chemers Gallery. His studies began at the tender age of 14 when he was accepted into the prestigious Instituto de Bellas Artes in Cali, Colombia. He continued to pursue his training under modern masters Richard Peterson and Roberto Lupetti. Now splitting his time between his native Colombia and southern California, William paints his beautiful still lifes with rich, bold colors that capture the imagination.

Left: The Road Less Traveled by Jennie Tomao

Right: Still Life with Onions by William Galvez

So you've found the perfect painting but need some guidance to find the perfect frame? Let us help you turn your art into the priceless, museum-quality piece you know it is. Pictured above are just two of the hundreds of choices of expertly finished hand-carved and gilded frames.

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Lilia Venier & Kristina Swarner: We Just Can't Get Enough!

Chemers Gallery loves to bring you unique and exciting paintings, contemporary crafts and more. Lilia Venier and Kristina Swarner, two of our very creative artists, have been hard at work and we couldn't wait to show you the fruits of their labors.

Lilia Venier

Birdy Casserole, functional hand-built earthenware by Lilia Venier

Lilia Venier's ceramics are full of pattern and whimsy - she's always trying something new! Whether she's carving shapes into her hand-built vessels or creating a new glazing technique, this South American artist's mind is never idle. Lilia visited Chemers Gallery with 5 new ceramic pieces and dazzled us with her sparkling charm and personality.

Lilia's ceramics just call out to be touched and experienced through the fingertips. Drawing from her vivid imagination, she employs a variety of techniques such as raku, low-fired earthenware, stoneware and porcelain to form her one-of-a-kind pieces. We're sure you'll agree that her new creations are fun-filled and magical.

Kristina Swarner

The Princess and the Pea, mixed media on paper by Kristina Swarner

You might remember the work of Kristina Swarner from the 2009 Children's Book Illustrators Show & Signing. Well, Chemers Gallery and collectors can't get enough! We just received 4 charming new works from this talented artist and there is more on the way. Her figures and colors hold our attention captive and keep us asking "How does she DO that?"

Kristina's work is a delightful mixture of linoleum cut printing, watercolor, pastel and colored pencil. A lot of her imagery has to do with her memories of exploring among gardens, trees and older houses during her youth. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design and currently lives in Chicago.

Changing the subject...

...Question of the Day: What does Chemers Gallery and Fancy Nancy have in the works for you? This isn't a rhetorical question! Be the first to guess correctly and receive a signed and dedicated Fancy Nancy book! Ooh la la!

Southern Comfort

We all know that even when Karen is relaxin' she's also workin'! Check out the goodies she found on a recent trip to the south.

Doris Grieder

Scarves from Doris Grieder

Originally from Switzerland, fiber artist Doris Grieder now calls Savannah Georgia "home." After nurturing an early talent in knitting, sewing and quilting, Doris spent many years traveling the world, collecting unique threads, fibers and beads that became her "fiber seeds" of creativity. She makes beautiful scarves out of her stash of textiles and ribbons, narrow and light enough for the warmer weather, and colorful enough to match just about anything in your wardrobe. Doris' scarves can double as a belt, sash or table runner. Her vibrant color pallet is continuously eye-catching, and each scarf packs enough punch to be an artful focal. These babies are flying like hot cakes, so hurry in to catch them while you can!

Karen's nephew, Noah...he'll do anything for a chocolate milkshake!

John Mitchell

Shotgun Houses from John Mitchell

John Mitchell delivers a real taste of the south in his charming mixed media pieces. A native of North Carolina, John worked in the Bahamas and in Germany before moving to Savannah for graduate studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design. It was in Georgia that John began exploring themes of "shotgun houses" with collage, paint and wood. He achieves a folk art feel in his three dimensional representations that tell stories of jazz musicians in the doors and windows. We love the small, intimate scale of these houses. They can hang on the wall or be placed anywhere from a shelf or mantle to the kitchen counter. He also does larger collage paintings, like the one below. Sorry, Karen already snagged it for her front entry, but we're expecting more in the near future!

Shotgun Playground by John Mitchell

View works from both talented artists on our website, or come on in to kick your heels up and relax. Let Chemers Gallery share some southern hospitality with you!

Keep a look out for our new jewelry designer Karen found in Charleston...

The jewelry arrives in 2 weeks and we can't wait!

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Happy 4th of July!

Fourth of July Fireworks by Robin Preiss Glasser, from "America, A Patriotic Primer"

We hope everyone has a fun and relaxing holiday weekend!

Chemers Gallery Holiday Hours

Sat, July 3rd, 10:00am - 5:00pm

Sun, July 4th, CLOSED

Mon, July 5th, partially open, please call

Chemers Gallery

17300 17th St, Ste. G

Tustin, CA 92780

714-731-5432

Vroom Vroom with New Car Finishes!

Car enthusiasts, rejoice! Have we got a turbo-charged treat for you!

Ferrari GTO, limited edition print by Maurizio Corbi

Framed using charcoal fillet, white paper matting and metallic chili red gloss frame

Always the most unique and cutting-edge designs for your custom framing needs. These New Car Finish frames have roared into Chemers Gallery's ever-expanding array of the best of the best. We're first in Orange County to offer these stream-lined car finishes and we couldn't wait to share them with you. Now you can place your favorite car paintings, posters and prints in a first class frame that offers the best MPG around. Bring in your memorabilia and we'll help you arrange your race tickets, auto pins and bumper stickers in a glossy shadow box. Do you still have the keys from your very first car? Why not frame them as a gift or for your home office?

Detail of Ferrari GTO, limited edition print by Maurizio Corbi

Framed using charcoal fillet, white paper matting and metallic chili red gloss frame

Available in two sizes and a variety of metallic colors including charcoal, silver and red, these New Car Finishes will hug the curves of your treasured car images and artwork. Teflon-tough and scratch-resistant, these frames are durable and streamlined for a look that's purely eye-catching.

Transportation, watercolor and gouache on paper by Barry Root

Framed using a blue fillet, off-white linen matting and metallic gold gloss frame

Even if automotive isn't your thing, there's lots of other uses for New Car finishes. Do you have a favorite concert poster that hasn't been framed yet? What about contemporary or surrealist artwork? Even mirrors can live life in the fast lane with a shiny, sparkly moulding. Great for the young and young at heart, children's book illustrations are a perfect complement for the whimsy of these shimmery frames.

Table for Two, oil on canvas by Gerald Schwartz

Framed using thin maroon moulding and metallic charcoal gloss frame

Zoom on in to Chemers Gallery with your collection of memorabilia, your engineering, mechanical or construction certificates and blueprints, or your contemporary art to see these fuel-injected frames in action!

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John Maxon Paints the Truth

Overview, oil on canvas by John Maxon

The talented Mr. John Maxon is back with some of his best work yet! We love his vibrant colors that bring his contemporary landscapes to life. His prismatic color scheme perfectly conveys water, trees and calm repose. His decision at the age of 15 to become an artist was certainly a fortuitous one. He became a student of the San Francisco Art Institute, San Jose State University, UC Davis and Stanford University, studying under an amazing array of mentors. John's painting motto is "Paint the struggle. Paint the joy. Paint the Truth," which he strives to embody through his art.

Valley, oil on board by John Maxon

Don't you want to step into this painting? Although Valley is small and understated, it's image is powerful and evocative. The sun is just breaking through the clouds after a sudden late afternoon rainstorm...you can almost feel the cool breeze against your face. Personally, I want to be laying in the grass beyond the tree on the left searching for rainbows.

Vines, mixed media on paper by John Maxon

John's works on paper are equally compelling. The merest suggestion of buildings, hillsides, cypress and flowers work in harmony to create stunning vistas. Using a combination of paint, printers inks and pencil, John's paper works are intuitively serene. His time spent in the heart of the Napa Valley is clearly an influence in his work Vines. The luscious yellows and purples invite you into the vineyard to explore the best Napa has to offer.

John's work, although stunning in photos, is magnificent in person. They are getting lots of interest, so don't miss out on this great collection.

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A Letter to Carol Jessen

Dear Carol Jessen,

We were so excited to see you recently. We're honored that you drove down from San Francisco to visit us! Imagine our delight when we learned you had brought us six delicate woodblock prints and one playful oil painting!

The Paper Makers, woodblock print by Carol Jessen

So reminiscent of the time you spent living and studying in Japan, The Paper Makers captured our attentions immediately. Your tutiledge under master printmakers Toshi Yoshida and Richard Steiner must have been inspirational to your creative process. The way you have captured the mood of the paper studio, with the two workers cooperating to lift the mold and deckle out of the vat of pulp, is exquisite. We can almost hear the rush and drip of water through the screen, feel the damp on our hands. We sit with you outside of the frame, perhaps perched on a table observing the magic happen before us.

Edge of the Bamboo Forest, woodblock print by Carol Jessen

In your woodblock print Edge of the Bamboo Forest, we admire your skill in leading the eye from the left foreground, across the middle ground to the structures on the right, and then back again to the suggested buildings in the background. Your use of linear patterns and subtle color variations evokes misty dawns and the fog rolling in during the late afternoon. Did this make you homesick while you were away from your beloved San Francisco? Edge of the Bamboo Forest makes us feel peaceful, zen-like and just a little bit wistful.

Ponto Cho Lanterns, oil on canvas by Carol Jessen

The oil painting you shared with us, Ponto Cho Lanterns, is vibrant in color and light. Your classic style of inwardly lit subjects shines through in brilliant Technicolor. Did you see any geisha as you strolled along the Kamo River in Kyoto's Old Town? We can picture the steep roofs of the old Japanese buildings brimming with light from these lanterns, their luminosity reflected in the water illuminating the narrow streets. The small scale of this painting - only 12 x 9"! - lends itself to the intimacy of memory.

Thank you, Carol, for sharing your talents with us yet again! We love your work, and we know many of our loyal clients do, too. We hope to see more of you and your artwork in the very near future.

Sincerely,

Your Friends at Chemers Gallery