Paris Impressions Art Exhibit

For those of you who know our gallery manager, Nancy Noel May, you know her vibrant personality, love of painting, and passion for travel. Nancy and gallery owner, Star Sosa, went to Paris this past spring. While on the trip, Nancy took photos of her favorite vignets, landscapes, and architecture. She has transferred these images into paintings that will be on exhibit from July 11th-August 4th. Artist reception: July 11th, Friday, from 6-8pm. Champagne and truffles served.

Think Twice About Cruise Jewelry Purchases

While on your next port-o-call or favorite cruise ship, be weary. Prices may be less expensive, but there is no guarantee or follow up care for quality service or repairs after the purchase has been made. Recently, we have seen a large number of issues that have risen out of our clients' purchases while at sea. Replacing stones, re-sizing, and false stories about gem history/quality have all been discovered.

If you are interested in purchasing a special piece, stop in to Spectrum or another local reputable jewelry store for your purchase. It may not be a clearance price, but you are guaranteed to get experienced and solid jewelers that will stand behind their product.

Important Summer Jewelry Care!!

This summer, before heading to the pool, beach, or anywhere on vacation, please BE AWARE!

Salt water from the ocean and chlorine cause a chemical reaction between gold alloy jewelry and chlorine/salt water which breaks down metal resulting in broken prongs and ring shanks.

Chlorine reacts specifically with the copper and nickel portions of gold jewelry alloys. Copper and silver are the primary alloys for yellow gold and nickel is the primary alloy for white gold. Chlorine dissolves the copper, or in the case of a white gold mounting for a diamond the nickel, and causes a perfectly good and often new piece of jewelry to break.

How to CARE for your Fine Jewelry:

1. Leave your jewelry at home. The metal will be ruined and the stone shanks breakable.

2. Pick out a fun costume piece of jewelry, CZ, or other gemstone to take on your vacation that is much less expensive.

3. Leave all heirloom pieces in a safety deposit box or safe.

ViviD Magazine!

For those of you who are not aware, Spectrum Art & Jewelry has created its own magazine! We are the art and jewelry experts in the south east and have beautiful articles for you to divulge!

Click HERE to read our first publication of ViviD!

Commission Event!!

By Nicole Wilkinson

This week, May 9th & 10th from 10 am -6pm, we will be holding a commission event with gallery artists: Jane Faudree, Eric McRay, and Nancy Noel May. Bring photos of your home, boat, or business and pick an artist to create a one-of-a-kind commissioned painting! This is a one time ONLY event! What a great way to remember your special place!

Painting Plein Air with Ann Hair

This post is from one of our gallery artists, sharing her recent painting workshop experience. The term Plein Air refers to painting outdoors and in the moment. Enjoy.

Last week-end I traveled to St. Simons, GA to participate in a three day workshop with artists from the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE). Each day, we chose one of 2 instructors and painted en plein air (french term meaning in the open air).

What a wealth of information I received from master plein air painters. Saturday, Armand Cabrera led our group of 18 through exercises in painting moss draped oaks and beautiful marshes. As storm clouds loomed in the distance, we painted our 2nd painting of the day. A downpour had us running for cover.

Armand gave an interesting demonstration about reflected light and how it affects our paintings. Sunday, our large group gathered around Dee Beard Dean as she demonstrated her technique painting the St. Simon's lighthouse and keepers cottage. The clouds that rolled in made for interesting compositions. My painting of the oil house in the shade of a palm tree (see below) capitalized on all the information I absorbed from Dee.

Monday, we hung out at the pier with Larry Moore (president of PAP-SE) and practiced drawing on canvas with one color, concentrating on values rather than color. After drawing, we added color and I got a good one of a trellis with shimmering light in the background that draws you in.

Although we were pretty exhausted, a few of us die hards tried to paint the sunset over the marsh. Tried is the operative word. Blinded by the setting sun, I painted intuitively and got a quick study in before the sun disappeared.

Energized by all we had learned, Tuesday we stopped in Darien, GA on our way home. Marshes and shrimp boats drew our attention and begged to be painted. After a quick study, we embarked on the long drive home.

I'm looking forward to doing it all again.
To view some of Ann's artworks currently at the gallery click on this link: http://www.spectrumartandjewelry.com/Anne_Hair.html

May Birthstone: Emerald

By Nicole Wilkinson

May's birthstone is the emerald. Emerald is the green version of the mineral Beryl. It was considered to be the talisman of the goddess Venus, and to represent faith, goodness and kindness.

Emeralds vary in color from light to deep green. It is commonly thought that an emerald's green colour derives from the presence of chromium and or vanadium replacing some of the aluminum in the mineral's structure. The stone can, however, lose its color when heated strongly. There are natural emeralds and lab created emeralds. One of the most popular and widely known lab created emerald is by the Chatham company.

A fine quality emerald of good color and clarity is more valuable than a diamond. In 1938, Carroll F. Chatham created the first laboratory grown gem quality emerald. A gemstone bearing all the same physical, chemical and optical qualities of mined gems at a fraction of the cost. The cut, polished Chatham Created Emerald so clearly duplicates nature's that special tests are necessary for positive identification. Many of today's emeralds are strip mined and have been artificially color enhanced, Chatham Created Emeralds are 100% natural color, never treated or oiled.

Stop in today to see the variety of natural and Chatham Emeralds carried at Spectrum Art & Jewelry!


**excerpts from Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds