Circle of Seven Hang Art at Framations

Artwork by the Circle of Seven and photographs by Greg Kluempers are on display this month at Framations Custom Framing and Art Gallery.

"The Circle of Seven is a group of seven women who get together once a month at someone's home to paint and critique," said Sarah Merideth, co-owner of Framations. "They feed off each other's work."

The circle is made up of Diana Bono, Virginia Dragschutz, Jessica Dreyer, Natalie Fleming, Crystal Goldkamp, Annette McGarrahan and Nancy Young.

"A few of them are resident artists here, so we've known them for some time," Merideth said.

"It all started with Natalie Fleming, who moved here five years ago," Bono said. "She's a fantastic artist who was trying to get herself established in the local arts community."

Fleming became a resident artist at Framations and soon hooked up with the ladies who would form the circle, many of whom were also resident artists at the gallery.

"As Natalie got more familiar with the area she gathered a group around her," Bono said. "We do a critique group and painting session once a month. We paint, share ideas and new techniques. It's a good time."

Bono's love for art began at an early age.

"As a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was sit down and draw," she said. "When I was raising a family there was not much time for art. Then we moved to Lake Saint Louis, and I met Nancy. I got seriously involved in painting around 2000."

Bono paints primarily in an impressionistic or expressionistic style.

"It was not a studied choice, it just is what comes out. I think for most artists the way you paint comes from within," she said.

While the works of the Circle of Seven currently hang in the Main Gallery, works by photographer Greg Kluempers are now on display in Gallery Two.

"His work is titled 'A Decade of Images' and features photos from locations throughout the United States," Merideth said.

Kluempers, of Florissant, said he has been working with cameras his whole life but had a reason for picking the last decade's work for his exhibit.

"I started taking classes in 1970," he said. "I did a lot on my own, family stuff. Then 10 years ago I turned it a little bit more serious."

Kluempers began attending night school and within four years had earned a degree in fine arts photography. He started exhibiting his work in shows about 10 years ago.

"I've always enjoyed travel and capturing images from where I'm at. I've always been interested in photographers and the history of photography," he said.

"It's a very interesting media for capturing images. And I like how you can realistically and unrealistically manipulate them to make your own interpretation of the image."

Kluempers enjoys shooting landscapes and photo extractions. The latter involves zeroing in on a specific image to extract something out of it.

"Some of it's abstract," he said.

These two exhibits will be at Framations, 218 North Main St. in St. Charles, through July 21. Gallery admission is free, and business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information visit www.framations.com.