Photographs & Watercolors

The Dolphin Gallery is pleased to present Photographs & Watercolors, a retrospective exhibition by Carol and Steve Chell, opening Saturday, March 7, with a public reception from 1 to 3 pm. The exhibition remains on view through March 29.
Longtime residents of the Mendocino coast, Carol and Steve Chell have spent many years cultivating their creative practices. This retrospective brings together selected works from both artists’ portfolios, offering a shared visual journey shaped by place, curiosity, and personal expression.

Carol holds a BA degree in Art/Interior Design from San Jose State. Her preferred medium has always been watercolor. While in college she was privileged to work under Erik Oback, widely recognized for his contemporary, loose style of watercolor painting. His teachings continues to influence her current work. Her goal is not to present the world as it appears but rather to invoke a reaction to the world as she sees it. A mood is created with wide soft brush strokes, deep subtle colors and simplified compositions. Her hope is that the viewer will be reminded of a feeling they had from a past time. It is what she says about the scene, not how the scene truly appears, that is important. She loves to play with light and color and the effects possible with the inherent qualities of watercolor.
Steve has always been intrigued by photography. He too has preferred a more abstract approach. He has worked with mixed media, finding creative ways to combine his photographs with other materials and most often prints on metal. He has always been drawn to looking for interesting textures, movement of line, lighting, and composition. When working with photographs he crops in to specific areas of the original. His goal is the “ah-ha” moment for the viewer when they realize what he captured with his camera. It may be leaves floating on water, rusty metal, or paint weathered by age and sun on an old door. He is known for capturing the beauty found in often overlooked places and it is what motivates his work.
Together, Carol and Steve Chell offer a compelling dialogue between two artistic perspectives—one rooted in the fluidity of watercolor, the other in the interpretive possibilities of photography. Photographs & Watercolors invites visitors to slow down, look closely, and rediscover the quiet beauty of the world around them.
The Dolphin Gallery welcomes the community to join us for the opening reception and to enjoy this thoughtful and inspiring retrospective throughout the month of March.