Natalya Romanovsky Art Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is featuring the art of Natalya Romanovsky as part of a special exhibition at the gallery. See slide show of entire exhibition.

Pictured at left is Fish, an original oil on paper measuring 15" x 15".

As an artist Romanovsky places a lot of emphasis on design. She sees beauty in the world and sets out to capture it through paintings that stress harmony between color and form.

"I want to transform the beauty around me into shapes. I try to think of my work as a process of simplifying something huge into a manageable pattern."

Through her art she attempts to create these patterns being careful not to tame the wilder energies of life. Art should always have a little mystery in it. In her paintings a mysterious and intriguing ambiance exists, reminiscent of something surrealistic leaving the viewer to find a simple meaning of life in each work.

Smith Galleries is open from 10-6 Monday through Saturday. Join our E-Club, you'll be glad you did! And be sure to ask about our new Rewards Program the next time you are in the gallery. 800.272.3870

Virginia Wood's Art is Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is featuring the art of Virginia Wood as part of a special exhibition at the gallery. See slide show of entire exhibition.

Pictured is a original oil & pastel painting measuring 16" x 18".

Virginia Wood loves the lyrical nature of her work.

"Music is very important to me and it influences the way I create. My art is visual music and I build the pieces stroke by stroke the way a song is built note by note. Whether I'm working alone or in a busy studio I simply get into a composition and then flow with it."

Wood is also fascinated by the subtle shifts in form within a kaleidoscope and often imitates the effect with her pastels and monoprints.

Smith Galleries is open from 10-6 Monday through Saturday. Join our E-Club, you'll be glad you did! And be sure to ask about our new Rewards Program the next time you are in the gallery. 800.272.3870

John & Elli Milan's Art is on Exhibit at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is featuring the art of John and Elli Milan as part of a special exhibition at the gallery. See slide show of entire exhibition.

Pictured at left is a mixed media painting on heavy black archival paper. The image is 12" x 24" and paper is 22" x 30". See larger view.

The Milan's credit their success as artists to their, "love of Life and Faith in God." Through their paintings the artists invite people to look deeper and smile as they enjoy what art brings to their life. John says, "My faith in God is my strength. He's inspired and directed me in my work since childhood." Elli says, "sharing the creative process allows us to grow together in our relationship and our faith." Woven into the fabric of their abstract compositions are hints of narrative, mysterious little stories with whimsical imagery that reflect their positive outlook on life.

The Milans create their paintings together. Through years of studying and creating art they have developed many innovative techniques, the most significant of which is the ability to work together in a creative spirit. Although John and Elli are both accomplished artists in their own right their collaboration brings out a side of their work that nether could reach on their own.

Smith Galleries is open from 10-6 Monday through Saturday. Join our E-Club, you'll be glad you did! And be sure to ask about our new Rewards Program the next time you are in the gallery. 800.272.3870

Deborah Close Jewelry Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries has just received a new collection of jewelry from Deborah Close. The gallery has featured Deborah's work for several years. Her work is characterised as elegant design using beautiful stones and expertly crafted sterling silver enhancements. The necklace and earrings shown at left feature black onyx and green turquoise.

Deborah writes..."It is my interest in beauty and order that drives the artistic decisions I make when creating jewelry. The shape and color of the stones, the form and texture of the metals, the linear movement and negative space in the composition are considerations that determine how a piece of jewelry will ultimately look. Creativity is problem solving. Here is the problem; black onyx stone, hammer and saw. I solve the problem in a way that is unique to me. As my personal journey moves in new directions, so does my art. Although the problem is the same (metal. stone, hammer, saw), the solution is always different."

See a slide show of the new pieces here. See more of our jewelry artists here. Drop by the gallery in the Village at Wexford on beautiful Hilton Head Island, SC, or visit us online. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. Be sure to join our E-Club. 800.272.3870

Joan Z Horn Summer Exhibition at Smith Galleries

We have just received a special summer collection of jewelry from our favorite jeweler...Joan Z Horn. Following are a few words written by Joan about her life and work.

"In my studio I fabricate each piece of jewelry. I create individual elements from Sterling Silver and 14Kt. Gold, using traditional and innovative hand tools. My bench contains tubing jigs that are like old friends. My metal starts out as flat sheet, round, square and flat wire, and tubing. I solder individual elements together using an acetylene/oxygen torch. I enhance pieces with freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones, making color combinations with Garnet, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Peridot, Iolite and Amethyst. My jewelry pieces are studies in line, color and movement.

I love working in my studio, and my hands feel most at home when they have a pair of pliers in them. Tools that were never intended for jewelry lead me into whole new directions. I question my auto mechanic about devices he uses. When the plumber comes for household repairs I inspect his tubing cutters and torch tip. A tube wringer from a dental supply catalog inspires new lines of jewelry. I visualize everything in the world as if it were a piece of jewelry. Musical notes from the sheet music in choir become a brooch pattern. Gates in Barcelona become a pendant. Other loves include riding my bike, baking bread, choir and traveling.

I was born and raised in New York. I graduated with a BFA in Metalsmithing from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

See still pictures of the entire show or a slide show.

The show runs through August. Smith Galleries is open from 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

Join our E-Club, you'll be glad you did! And be sure to ask about our new Rewards Program the next time you are in the gallery.

Kara Raymond Jewelry Featured at Smith Galleries.

Kara Raymond uses the unique patterned metal technique called "Mokume Gane" in her jewelry design. The technique was developed in Japan in the 17th century and it was originally developed to create decorative handles on samurai swords.

"Mokume Gane" is made by stacking 16-22 alternating layers of different metals, approximately two inched thick. The stack is clamped between steel plates and placed in a blacksmith's furnace. The careful control of the heat and pressure results in the metal layers fusing to each other.

The stack is hot forged down on an anvil. The unique patterns are developed by carving down through the layers. The sheet is then rolled down thinner to reveal the patterns. The carving and rolling is repeated many times to create the final patterns. The color hues in the metals are the result of varying the heat, oxidation, and patinas.

Drop by Smith Galleries to see Kara's jewelry or see a few pieces we have in the gallery here. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday.

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Victoria Varga Jewelry Exhibition at Smith Galleries

Jewelry by Victoria Varga has been a mainstay at Smith Galleries for many years. The gallery is now featuring a special exhibition of her work. See slide show or still pictures.

Victoria received her BS in fine arts from Skidmore College in 1984. After completing her graduate studies in metals at Syracuse University she moved to New York City with her husband, Daniel Brouder, where the couple co-founded the studio that bears her name. After fourteen years in Manhattan Daniel and Victoria relocated their studio to the coast of Maine where they continue to hand fabricate jewelry of Victoria’s design. From her early years in New York Victoria has crafted jewelry that combines precious metals with a variety of materials that are often discounted as
ordinary.

Victoria has perfected a process of combing sterling silver, 23 karat gold leaf, resin, crushed stone and common artist pigments to create her signature line of jewelry. Instantly recognized for its timeless good looks, Varga jewelry delights both men and woman with its innovative combination of unexpected materials and whimsical design.

Smith Galleries is open from 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. Call 800.272.3870 for additional information.