April 2025
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"Pastelist"
While you were mark making...
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...a few words from Signe
What's really fantastic about the way our founding members structured
APS, on an annual basis, we get the chance to revitalize our leadership
with new energy. It is because of that new energy we advance forward
and improve our art and continue to sustain our organization. April 15
is the deadline for Officer nominations and Chair opportunities. We
encourage all our members to volunteer in a function that could be a
great fit to advance our cause. It is a great way to network within the
art community and have fun. My primary mission upon taking on the role
of Interim President was for us to have fun. I hope we've accomplished
that and more.
Signe Cox
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In this issue
March Meeting
Nominations Please
Experience Share
Stop and Smell the Roses
Something to Think About with Natasha Isenhour
Member Announcements
Nuts & Bolts with Lindy and Sarah
Competition Corner
2025 Calendar at a Glance
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Karen Vernon
Painting at Precision
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KV Group Shot
From left to right: Enid Wood, Joycelyn Schedler, Sherry Fields, Signe
Cox, Becky Smith, Karen Vernon, Sarah Tacker, Alan Ehrlich, Melody
Schmidt, Lindy Rustam, Jacob Cox, Maribel Mast, Linda Wells, Albert
Handell and Sarah Leslie. Not pictured: Caroly Doherty. Door Prize
Winner: Sherry Fields.
New Sarah and Karen
Art school was in session at our March meeting. Fifteen members were
treated to a generous two hours of instruction by a true gem to the art
community, Karen Vernon. As a colorist she states, "I paint light as
light creates color. I don't use black, grays or browns, but instead, I
seek to create neutrals by eliminating intensity...the same as light
subtracts light and hue."
The best part of our day was feeding off of each other's energy. Adding
to that positive energy, Karen looked over our shoulders and provided
direction when asked. It was a highly interactive exchange.
"I loved hearing from Karen and seeing everyone's art.
No two pieces were the same, but they were all so creative, each with a
unique perspective."
- Sarah Witzmann Leslie
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Photo by Joycelyn Schedler
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New Classroom Shot
No Joycelyn
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Photo by Joycelyn Schedler
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And the Nominees are...
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Here is your chance to throw your hat in the ring or nominate someone
for the following open Officer(s) or Chairperson positions. Each to
serve two-year terms:
- President and Vice President Programs
- 2026 Celebrate Pastels! Chair(s) - we have already secured a Juror.
- Zoom/AV Chair...good news! Anna Lisa Leal has volunteered.
We've made it simple to nominate. Just send an email to Lindy Rustam
(APS Secretary) at lavillalindy@gmail.com
- All nominations must be in no later than Tuesday, April 15.
- Ballots will be distributed via email Thursday, April 17.
- Your vote must be returned to Lindy no later than Friday,
April 25.
- Results will be announced on Sunday, April 27 meeting at Precision.
Signe Cox will be happy to send out job descriptions upon request.
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Gain from Our Experience
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Experience share graphic.1 (1)
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"Stop and Smell the Roses"
The Antique Rose Emporium
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roses-need-companions
We're hosting our second plein air event of the 2024-2025 season.
Austin Pastel Society and Central Texas Pastel Society will be
traveling Saturday, May 3rd at 8:30 am to The Antique Rose Emporium in
Brenham, TX. APS will be renting a 15-passenger van to carry us and our
gear to the gardens. It is a 90-minute trip, so we need to leave on
time. The van will be parked at Signe Cox's house in Bastrop. Come
early so we have time to get everything loaded. We will be ordering
lunch from "Must Be Heaven" - a quaint little restaurant in Brenham. We
will confirm your RSVP with more details and a sandwich/salad lunch
menu. Please bring your own beverages and snacks. It is our intention
to make this an enjoyable yet inexpensive event. We have settled on
$30.00 to pay for lunch and transportation. You can pay cash or check
the day of the event.
The plan is to paint for a couple of hours, break for lunch and then,
JUST FOR FUN, Karen Vernon will judge the top three paintings. Also,
this is your chance to freshen up your personal gardens with Texas
Natives and beautiful Antique Roses. A gift shop is also on site.
Please RSVP Signe Cox no later than April 24th
webmaster@austinpastelsociety.com
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Something to Think About
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Tip of the Month by
Natasha Isenhour...
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Competition, great word with reference to sports, frankly, pretty
cringeworthy to me with regard to Art. When I enter a "competition" I
go into it knowing, there is no loser. I lose nothing by entering. The
only thing my painting can possibly be in competition with is the last
painting that I painted. So, if my work happens to stand out to a
judge, it's because the planets aligned.
1. I crossed all my T's and dotted all my I's in terms of
composition, technique and other time-honored elements of a "great"
painting that the particular judge holds as a priority.
2. I managed to get across my emotion about the subject and
fortunately this particular judge managed to resonate with that.
That pretty much sums up how to come out with a win. Over-simplified of
course as there are dozens of other considerations that factor in. But
you get the gist. So, if I "win," great! If I don't, then
well, nothing! I cannot take it personally, and I cannot categorically
say I had a bad entry (see above items 1 and 2).
So, here is how I handle competitions...
1. I enter only my best work.
2. I support local shows but mostly aim for big shows I feel are
going to be difficult to get into.
3. I embrace rejection (of course I'd much rather have my painting
recognized). I look at what gets in/wins and study the attributes of
those works.
4. I KEEP DOING IT!
Believe in what you do and if you want in a show badly enough, start
entering right now and don't stop until you get in. Do NOT put all your
eggs in one basket. Branch out, try lots of things! After all, there is
no loser, but you only have an opportunity to win if you stick your
neck out there.
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APS Member Announcements
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Jody Martin Honored as
Legacy Artist
Jody-Martin-headshot
Congratulations to Jody Martin for being selected Legacy Artist at Art
on the Llano Estacado this year at the Texas Tech Museum in Lubbock,
TX. It is their annual fund-raising event with dinner, live music, bid
books, etc. The event features artwork from forty different artists,
each with six paintings or sculptures. Jody, however, will be showing
25-30 pastels. What an accomplishment!
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Rita Kirkman
Pastel Workshops
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August 18 thru 20 Midland, TX
Contact:
Dee Kemp deeckemp@gmail.com or,
Sherry Thomas thomasstudioart432@gmail.com
Rita Kirkman workshop sample pics 2023
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Nuts & Bolts...with Lindy and Sarah
From Lindy Rustam...Membership Chair
As of March 26, APS has 82 members! I would like you to please extend a
warm welcome to Becky Smith of Lago Vista, Sarah Leslie of Cedar Park,
and Deborah LoJacono-Vasquez of West Lake Hills who have recently
joined us as we celebrate the joy of pastels!
You might also be interested about the diverse demographics of our APS
members:
42 members are local to Austin
16 members live more than 50 miles away
10 members live more than 100 miles away
6 members live more than 200 miles away
8 members are from out of state! WOW! 40 of our members live 50+ miles
away...
From Sarah Tacker...Treasurer
I think it is important that we hold a workshop coupled with the Annual
Membership Juried Exhibition (AJME) historically both held in March. As
we plan the new season, for those who step up and want to Chair these
events, the funds collected from the exhibit fees hasn't been enough to
cover the guest juror costs. We need some of the workshop income to
offset it.
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Competition Corner
Studio Texas' 2025 Online Competition is up on ShowSubmit. Registration
runs Aprill 15 - June 23. The show will be up online for a year. $5,000
in cash prizes, plus manufacturers' awards. Diane Mason of Loveland,
CO, and Robert Burridge of Arroyo Grande, California are the Jurors.
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We've introduced a quick link for convenience that will take you to
details for our upcoming events. Click link below.
Upcoming Events
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2025 Calendar at a Glance
January 19 - Anna Lisa Leal "Big and Shiny"
February 10 - March 3 AJME "Celebrating Pastels!" Exhibit at A05 Gallery
February 21 - Celebrating Pastels Awards Reception at A05 Gallery
February 22 & 23 - Desmond O'Hagan Workshop - Cordovan Art School
March 23 - "Painting at Precision" with Karen Vernon
April 27 - "Experience Share" with Top Pastelist Panel
May 3 - APS/CTPS Joint Plein Air event in Brenham, TX - Antique Rose
Emporium
May 18 - New Mexico Skyscape artist Kathryn Irish
June 22 - Installment of Officers
July & August Break
September thru December dates TBD.
**There will be no garage sale this year.
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APS Officers
Signe Cox, President . Sarah Tacker, Treasurer
. Lindy Rustam, Secretary & Membership Chair
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Newsletter Submissions
"Pastelist" is published monthly. Deadline for May edition copy and
photos is April 30th. Send copy and JPG images to Signe Cox:
webmaster@austinpastelsociety.org
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