Artist Spotlight: Catherine Nearhos, Kathleen Moore, & Teri Oberbreckling
The Naples Art District (NAD) is highlighting member artists and their work via their Artist Spotlight! series. The NAD presents three artists this week: Catherine Nearhos, Kathleen Moore, and Teri Oberbreckling.
Catherine Nearhos designs contemporary jewelry of sterling silver and 18-karat gold, accented with gemstones and pearls. Many of her pieces also have a unique hammered texture. Though she holds degrees in accounting and computer science, Catherine found her way to art as an adult. Her introduction to jewelry design came when she decided to learn about fabricating jewelry for herself, which led her to enroll in a metalsmithing class at Metalwerx in Waltham, MA. (Originally from Long Island, she has lived in the Boston area for most of her adult life.) From that point forward, she was drawn to create exquisite jewelry. When asked about what specifically attracted her to the art of jewelry making, Catherine says, “Simply put, I moved back to a city after twenty-five years in the suburbs.” The waterfront architecture of the city and light on water and the beach inspire her work. Catherine explains, “The work I most love to do involves textured sterling silver, oxidized for an almost black, glossy finish, and accented with 18K gold, pearls and small gemstones. These pieces remind me of the way the sun and moon reflect off the water and tall buildings of Boston’s waterfront.” She has many favorite art tools, including a Fretz raising hammer and rolling mill, both of which allow for the addition of texture to flat silver and wire. She says, “Paulette Werger, a New Hampshire metalsmith and one of my early teachers, has a brilliant way of crafting simple, yet elegant, pieces that incorporate traditional materials and tools to imitate nature in a truly modern and authentic way.” When she isn’t working in her studio, Catherine spends her time playing golf, going on bike rides with her husband, or watching football…unless this self-proclaimed beach bum is relaxing in the sand somewhere along the coast. Check out Catherine’s jewelry online, or visit her in her studio at Artisan’s Plaza in the heart of the Naples Art District.
Kathleen Moore is a painter who works in a variety of media. From painting and drawing to printmaking and mixed media collage to work in the fiber arts, Kathleen loves to create. She began her career as a textile designer of fashion and home decor products. Through her work, she developed a diverse background in color and finished textile products. Kathleen eventually moved into management, working with Calvin Klein Home, Donna Karan Home, and many other textile design companies who needed her help to develop beautiful products. Though she traveled the world and worked a lot, the demands of working in a fast-paced market never got in the way of painting, which Kathleen describes as her “first love.” Her love of painting led her to the New York Botanical Garden where she was able to study Botanical Art and Illustration; she was able to broaden her skills as a fine art painter by taking numerous classes. Kathleen has been painting and gardening more than ever in the current times, nurturing her love of botanicals and the art they inspire her to create. “My inspiration is the beautiful colors and textures of the Southwest Florida coast with their organic and botanical influence,” she shares. She loves to create art that gives a sense of peace and calm, with some mystery behind it. Her diverse background lends itself to her mission as she employs art media including watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pen and pencil, and hand painting on silk to create realistic and abstract techniques. If you are interested in learning more about Kathleen’s beautiful art, check out her contact information online to find out when she will be in the Naples Art District.
Teri Oberbreckling is an abstract and impressionist painter. With a passion for art that began in her childhood in the Midwest, she grew to love oil painting, which she discovered during her high school studies. She explains the draw of oil painting, saying, “[I] love the richness and depth you get with oils, the ability to comingle opaque and transparent pigments. And I love the smell of it all.” Teri entered college as a design major and worked through engineering classes; but she also was able to study a range within the world of art, including fine art and three-dimensional design, which expanded her artistic perspective and grew her as a painter. Teri also gained perspective from working as an interior designer and mural painter during her college years. Her approach involves the layering of transparent pigments. Teri especially loves using her palette knives and notes, “They can help you lay down large amounts of color quickly, comingle colors right on the canvas, or add interesting focal points with a flick of the wrist. It can be like frosting a cake or laying mortar. And the tool always surprises.” She is inspired by many artists, from Marc Chagall to Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko to Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singer Sargent to Gheorghe Virtosu. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, practicing energetic healing modalities, and developing her skills as a professional nature and creative photographer. Look for Teri’s work online and in-person in the Naples Art District.
The Naples Art District (NAD), which boasts the largest concentration of working artists in Southwest Florida, provides a place for professional artists to create and share their work with the wider world. NAD artists exhibit their art in their studios and galleries in the District and offer educational opportunities and special events open to the public. Visit NAD online to view a calendar of events, classes, and workshops offered by the artists. If you have other questions, feel free to contact the Naples Art District online or by phone at 239-249-1977 for more information.
Catherine Nearhos
Catherine Nearhos Unique Jewelry
5760 Shirley Street, Unit 11, Naples, FL
Feb 15, 2021 – Feb 19, 2021
Kathleen Moore
Gallery 206
5880 Shirley Street, Suite 206, Naples, FL
Feb 15, 2021 – Feb 19, 2021
Teri Oberbreckling
Gallery 206
5880 Shirley Street, Suite 206, Naples, FL
Feb 15, 2021 – Feb 19, 2021