Pacific Gallery has been a presence in Laguna Beach since the late 1980's. Known for its eclectic, colorful collection of handmade art, the gallery features collections from over 50 artists.
Patricia and Blake Bailey purchased the gallery in June 2018 from Cami and Gary Levin whose art is still showcased there. The Bailey’s conducted an extensive remodel of the gallery and added several new local artists to their collection. They are open for business and invite the community to visit and peruse their collection. Visit online at pacificgallerylb.com.
Blake Bailey
Blake Bailey is a self-taught artist who expresses his love of the ocean through his art, on display year-round at Pacific Gallery, which he owns with his wife Patricia.
Bailey loves the sea and the beach. He was raised in Orange County and whether he was deep sea fishing with his dad or surfing with friends, the ocean has always been a major part of his life.
In his own words, “The ocean gives me an endless supply of beautiful and amazing subject matter. My sculpting is free in nature with no real plan much of how I live my life.”
An entrepreneur at heart, Blake held his first art exhibit in his mom’s garage. He organized the space and created promotional fliers to sell his tin foil sculptures and paintings.
Blake later worked as an artist assistant creating installation pieces for many different types of artists. As a special effects artist and expert mold maker, he works with different mediums although his current focus is abstract sea life sculptures. He has received many awards throughout his artistic career.
Born and raised in Santa Ana, Bailey lives in Dana Point with his wife Patricia and two children.
Cami Levin
Cami Levin grew up in Southern California and was exposed to creative work from birth. Her father created large stained-glass windows and her mother designed clothing and handbags. There was always support for Cami's creative efforts, however in college she decided to pursue a degree in Psychology. It was not until after college that Cami realized her true passion—creating art.
With minimal formal training, Cami experimented intensely with many different artistic styles and mediums. As a self-taught artist, her mixed media work has evolved into a style that is dominated by color, pattern, and texture. Cami's art is heavily influenced by the natural world and nostalgia of her childhood. Her most recent works, the Trees of Love are decorated with symbols of hope, love, happiness and stories of life. Cami's art has been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows, and is included in private collections around the world. Cami currently lives in Dana Point where she is blessed by a daily abundance of divine inspiration.
Her original Tree of Love wall pieces are painted, sculpted and assembled on wood panels. Each circle on art pieces has been individually sculpted, textured, hand painted and adorned with collected objects including gem stones, vintage watch faces, flowers, crystals, vintage keys, beads, hex nuts and other items. The trees are then coated in an epoxy resin which permanently embeds each object and also creates an irresistible glass appearance.
The tree’s roots reach deep into the earth, their branches extend to the heavens, and trunks connect the space in between. Trees meditate between heaven and Earth, symbolizing the soul's journey of love.
Christopher Pecharka
Christopher Pecharka is best known for his public art installations in Dana Point including The Top Men bronze sculptures at The Ocean Institute, the Veteran's Memorial Eagle at The Strand, the Doris Walker Memorial at Heritage Park, and the historical mural at the Nature Interpretive Center.
He began drawing and sculpting at the age of five. The sixth of seven sons, Christopher grew up in the small town of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and began earning money as an artist while still in high school.
After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1982, he worked in advertising but found better opportunities for artists in California, so he moved to Orange County in 1990.
Since then, he’s worked as a t-shirt artist, book illustrator, architectural landscape model maker, Hollywood special effects and prop sculptor, artist in residence then art director for the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. He’s been commissioned for three public sculptures by the City of Dana Point.
Working in many mediums including oil and acrylic paintings, sculptures, murals, illustrations, and drawings, his style includes a multitude of subject material including landscapes, seascapes, people, animals, cartoons, and abstract.
While art is his first love, Christopher also writes essays, short stories and humorous poetry. His current work is a children's novel to include his own illustrations which he hopes to complete by this fall.
Pecharka lives and works in Laguna Niguel with his wife and agent Tracey and two rescue dogs. In addition for his love of art, he enjoys traveling, reading, and anything to do with history.
