Gerard Mortier

French-born artist Gerard Mortier will have his new works on display at SmithKlein Gallery throughout the month of May, 2014. Below is some information about the artist:
 

The true Opal Coast as seen in the mind of Gerard Mortier, the great interpreter of light and how it plays on the canvas.

For almost thirty years Mortier's work has been seen and appreciated in New Zealand, Spain, Europe and Colorado.

The relationship between Gerard Mortier and the Opal Coast can be seen in his paintings. Rather than making fleeting moments of his general childhood memories, Gerard Mortier chooses to share his memories of the sea and rocks at Audreselles with the public. Little by little and over the years, his self-taught techniques improved, and he became more precise. By 1970, his first works became known. Right away, the works were successful, not only locally in northern France but beyond.

Gerard's paints and equipment.

Gerard works on his next project

Looking at his work is to experience an aesthetic moment.

Seascapes are what Gerard typically painted in the past.

However, for Gerard Mortier, going forward is a must. It was not in his plans to copy the seascapes of northern France again and again. He felt the need to grow and go beyond. While he admits to having adopted some of the impressionists' styles, he began to move away from impressionism and embrace a more abstract approach. Nevertheless, he never forgets the importance that light as well as contrast play in his paintings. These will remain his main asset as an artist.

More work by Gerard Mortier.

A landscape by Gerard Mortier.

Besides, Gerard Mortier is not limiting himself to a unique source of inspiration. Taking less familiar paths, he becomes fascinated by Paris, Lisbon and other areas. He readily admits wanting to leave behind some old habits, so he can plunge into a different poetic milieu.

In the end, it will be a pleasure for admirers of Gerard Mortier to find scenes of the Bologne area still in his works. It will feel like a breath of fresh air full of maritime smells. The painter promises to always come up with some surprises, surprises we are certain will match the quality of all his past work.

The artist at work.

Wedding Bands at SmithKlein Gallery

SmithKlein Gallery carries a large selection of wedding bands for both men and women.

Fullerton Bahr

Fullerton Bahr

Fullerton Bahr

Ayesha Mayadas

J Cotter

Todd Reed

David and Ronnie

Sarah Graham

Martha Sullivan

Engagenent and Wedding Ideas at SmithKlein Gallery

The wedding season is nearly upon us. If you are looking for beautiful, hand-made, unique engagement rings, wedding bands, special occasion necklaces or earring, check out the wonderful selection of jewelry at SmithKlein Gallery.


Engagement Rings:

Ayesha Mayadas

Ayesha Mayadas

D'Ette

Fullerton Bahr 

Todd Reed

Sarah Graham

David and Ronnie

Martha Sullivan

Bruce Cascia 2014

SmithKlein Gallery presents new works by Bruce Cascia during the month of April 2014.

And Away We Go! Oil painting by Bruce Cascia.

We were interested to know a little bit more about the artist, so here is an interview with Bruce and a few of his latest oil paintings:


(Q:) Are there any subjects that inspire you more than others or are you open to painting anything?

Bruce: I like painting nostalgic imagery. Actually, the more challenging something is, the more intrigued with it I am.

(Q) Do you paint on location or by photograph?

Bruce: Most of the time I paint from a photograph. I've done watercolors on location. They lend themselves to quick completion, so I'm done before the light changes

(Q:) Do you see any trends unfolding in your art - developing techniques, use of color, particular abstractions, etc.?

Bruce: I like painting metallic objects, reflections and brightly colored compositions. 

(Q:) Do you paint full time? What is your studio space like?

Bruce: I try to paint every day, but when sales are down I have to compensate my income with web design and art direction.

Bruce's studio.

(Q:) Is there anything you would like to highlight about your work in general? Do you feel like you have a message that you are trying to convey through your art?

Bruce: I've been painting Chicago Hot Dog Stands for a while. Since a lot of them have been torn down, I'm trying to preserve them on canvas.

(Q:) What inspired you to become an artist? How old were you when you started painting?

Bruce: I always liked drawing. As a kid, I thought if I could draw a dollar bill and change the denomination I could be rich! I practiced for weeks, and then my dad told me I could go to jail for counterfeiting. In the end, I used my talents to create school bulletin boards.

(Q:) How did you develop as an artist? Did you take classes or read about painting to improve your technique over the years?

Bruce: I'm pretty much self taught. At 12 yrs old, I took my first oil painting class at the local Y. I also painted from art history books checked out from the library to learn different techniques.


(Q:) What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about going into art?

Bruce: Paint what you like and be the best at it.

Going Nowhere. Oil painting by Bruce Cascia

Chicken and Waffles. Oil Painting by Bruce Cascia.

Nancy Linkin

Nancy Linkin Jewelry

"The essential quality of my work is harmony of form. I want my sculptures to stir the observer's inner sense of beauty. To be peaceful in their simplicity. I want my jewelry to soothe. To be elegant, casual, and comfortable “ like fine silk and soft blue jeans."

Nancy's passion for metalsmithing began over 35 years ago. She was captivated by the age old process of forming the metal directly with hammers. "The hammer is simply an extension of my hand..." Her exploration of the traditional smithing techniques, raising holloware and forging, started with traditional vessels forms. Soon she began to push the envelope both technically and visually, leaving the rotation form and functional form behind. Asymmetrical table top sculptures and wall pieces were a natural progression for her nature based aesthetic. "Natural forms have always fascinated and excited me: plant forms, earth forms, human forms."

Sculptural jewelry was the next step, taking the sculpture off the pedestal and putting it on then body. Nancy did a series of one of a kind sculptural bracelets over the course of two years in the mid 1980s. The tremendous success of this direction encouraged her to repeat the designs, adding earrings, neck pieces, and pins to her line of bracelets. Over the last 20 years the line has grown with over 80 different designs, each made in a variety of sizes, available in both a Sterling & 18K combination and solid 18K gold.

To create each piece, flat patterns are cut from sheets of gold and silver and hammered systematically over specialized tools. Once a piece has been hammered into its final form, it's filed and sanded, then buffed to a high polish. This fine finish accentuates the simple sculptural lines of her jewelry.

Nancy in her studio.

Nancy working on creating jewelry.

Bracelet

Earrings

Lela Kay "Show in Red"

Lela Kay
Show in Red
February 1-28, 2014


Red has so many shades and nuances that I find it to always be new,
fresh and engaging. The color red is a metaphor for life: it is vibrant,
strong, passionate, bold, and intense, makes a statement and stands
out. When I paint in red I am truly absorbed in my work. As an artist, I
love all colors, but painting in red is really my signature color.

As an artist, my work is constantly evolving. This is by intention and by
choice. I can’t imagine painting the same ideas over and over again; my
art would become stale a boring. Painting is a journey in progress for
me, a chance to explore, take risks, challenge myself and grow. Art
emulates my life, my journey, my goal to always adapt and learn from
the past and move towards something new and exciting.

This red series of paintings represents a new direction in my abstract art.
I am digging deeper within myself, sorting through all the confusion,
reinventing the old me and discovering new layers of relevance and
meaning in my life. I push and probe to open up untouched passages,
hiding others, deciding what inner truths to reveal and what to keep
mysterious and veiled. Each painting is an autobiography of where I am
at that present moment and reflects feelings, thoughts and emotions.
For that reason, no two paintings I create are alike or can be alike.

Since moving into a new studio, my art has taken on a new direction.
The space is larger, with expansive windows, and the openness allows
me to be freer in expressing my ideas with larger, bolder gestures. I am
less inhibited and more open. Painting and creating has been a life long
passion and necessity. I am always painting and creating something
new, always thinking about the next painting.

New Artists

SmithKlein Gallery is happy to announce that we are showing the works of a few new artists.

We welcome to the gallery:

Calvin Lai

Artist bio:  Calvin Lai would describe his relationship to art as the “monkey on my back” which climbed on during a self portrait in kindergarten. It was in drawing the shoelaces that day that got the “monkey” to climb on, and he remembered the care and feeling he had while attempting to make the loops of the laces just right. This fascination with representing things accurately drove him towards rendering realistic images, and he began teaching himself the basics of value and perspective at a very young age. Growing up in Los Angeles, his addiction to art progressed, and people became his main and his favorite subject. His passion for art eventually led Calvin to San Francisco in order to pursue his studies at San Francisco State University, in addition to The Academy of Art. But it wasn't until 2008, at the Academy, that Calvin began to really study painting. Now, oils are his main medium. Since taking classes, he has been pursuing a non-stop development of his painting skills, showing in galleries, group shows and juried exhibitions. He also was featured in the January 2013 edition of Southwest Art magazine. Though Calvin mainly focuses on figurative and portrait painting, he is driven to capture all that he finds compelling through his paints, brushes, and determination. 

Oil paintings:

SOLD

Deborah Bays

Artist Statement: I have been blessed with a life in the Arts. I was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1951 and spent my early years in the formal study of music, playing both violin and viola. In college my focus shifted to making visual art. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Costume Design for the Theatre at the University of Texas at Austin then went on to complete a Master of Arts in Scenography at Purdue University. I worked for two and one half decades designing costumes and sets for the theatre and television.

After many years of making art as a member of a team I longed for a more personal expression. This led to studying drawing and painting with many fine artists and teachers at the Art Student's League of Denver. While I still have a passion for both theatre and music, nothing has proved as profound a challenge or as rewarding as painting.

My work has been featured in Southwest Art, The Pastel Journal and The Artist's Magazine. One of my paintings is included in Pure Color: the Best of Pastel published by North Light Books and I have contributed a pastel painting demonstration to Painting with Pastels written by Maggie Price. Most recently my work is featured in Les Maitre du Pastel, le Livre 2011 published by Diverti Editions, the publisher of the French artist's magazine, Pratique de Arts. I am honored to have been given Master Pastelist status by the Pastel Society of America and to have exhibited paintings and won awards at the Pastel Society of America Annual Pastel Exhibitions in New York as well as to have had paintings selected to represent the PSA at The Butler Institute of American Art. I have also exhibited with the International Association of Pastel Societies where in 2010 my painting won the First Place Award at the 17th Juried Exhibition, the Web Show.


Pastel paintings: 

Susan Beaupre

All of Susan Beaupre’s jewelry work is handmade and created from start to finish by the artist. She uses the traditional lost wax process and additional hand-crafted fabrication. In her Colorado studio, she works primarily in silver and embellishes her work with semi-precious stones. She is attracted to the natural world around her, which is clearly displayed in her organic-looking pieces. Susan enjoys the process of creating and the surprises that are at every turn when working with metal.


Jewelry: