January 2026
Image 6264660
Pastelist
While you were mark making...
Banner Nyear
_____
In this issue
Remembering some "Best of Show" Winners
APS Welcomes Christine Debrosky
Still Very Good Advice by Natasha Isenhour
Introducing a New Partnership...JGallery
Please Welcome our New Members - 71 Total
Diana Burns - Hot Springs, AR
Patty Lovelace - Marshall, TX
Member Gallery Update
2026 Calendar at a Glance
_____
Celebrating The Best
of the Best!
_____
Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit
some of our finest moments.
Rita Kirkman 2021 Cousins
2021 "Cousins" by Rita Kirkman
Judge: Karen Margulis
Sunrise from the Tent Chen
2022 "Sunrise From the Tent" by Yingying Chen
Judge: Lyn Asselta
Nancy Lilly 2023 BOS Proud Opuntia
2023 "Proud Opuntia" By Nancy Lilly
Judge: Liz Haywood-Sullivan
Rita Kirkman 2024 Idol
2024 "Idol" by Rita Kirkman
Judge: Natasha Isenhour
20240910W_West Texas Sundial
2025 "West Texas Sundial" by Anna Lisa Leal
Judge: Desmond O'Hagan
And AJME Celebrating Pastels!
Best of Show for 2026...
Winner 3
We strongly encourage ALL of our members to enter their best work
within the last two years. This exhibition is
the highlight of the APS Calendar. Win, lose
or draw, be a part of the legacy. You have 5 more
days to enter. Revive that painting you
haven't finished...the one you still believe in.
_____
APS Welcomes our 2026
Juror and Judge of Awards
Christine Debrosky
Debrosky Head Shot New
Christine Debrosky relocated to northern Arizona to paint its brilliant
sunlight, a move that continues to inspire her exploration of color,
form, and atmosphere. Raised in New York's Hudson Valley, with early
access to Manhattan's world-class museums, she developed a strong
artistic foundation. Her career gained early recognition when Lowry
Sims, curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, praised her work. A
later shift to pastel brought a more impressionist style and led to
numerous awards and exhibitions. She has earned signature status with
the American Impressionist Society and American Women Artists, is an
artist member of the California Art Club, and was inducted into the
Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies. Her
paintings have appeared in leading publications including American
Artist, The Pastel Journal, Southwest Art, and PleinAir Magazine, and
are held in corporate and university collections worldwide.
From her Sedona studio, overlooking the red rocks,
she continues to paint the light of the Southwest and has shared her
expertise for more than 30 years across the U.S. and in Europe.
Awards to be Presented:
Best of Show $500
Second in Show $400
Third in Show $300
(2) Outstanding Merit $100
Emerging Artist Award
Britta Herzog Creativity Award
(4) Merchant Awards
Janis Langley People's Choice Award
We are in the home stretch sliding into home. You have until Monday,
January 5, 2026 midnight DEADLINE to submit your entries. Notification
Letters go out Friday, January 9, 2026. You will have 24 days to frame
your work. Deliver art to A05 Monday and Tuesday February 2nd and 3rd
from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The Awards Ceremony starts at 4:00 pm on Friday, February 6th, 2026.
Your collectors, friends and families are most welcome.
Christine will also be our Workshop instructor in conjunction with the
exhibition on Saturday and Sunday February 7th
and 8th at the Cordovan Art School SW. If you enjoy impressionism, here
is your chance to work with one of the best! There are 2 seats
available.
ShowSubmit
Workshop Registration
Image 6243188
_____
Still Good Advice from Natasha Isenhour
_____
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.
A reprint from April 2025 Pastelist
_____
New Partnership and "Call for Art"
_____
Jgallery-Color-Of-Memory-Reception
JGallery Reception
As part of Reimaging APS we sought out opportunities to get our
members' art in front of more audiences. The Visual Arts League with
the Jewish Community Center of Austin (JCCA) answered that call. We are
going to have a very busy spring! Exclusive to APS, the show titled:
"The Pastel Spectrum: Expanding the Boundaries, is a curated show. They
are seeking works that respond to the 'growth' theme that may depict
anything from plants to portraits and even skylines. They are
envisioning that the show will bring familiar traditional paintings as
well as taking the pastel medium even further into the abstract. We
have posted their invitation on our website and you
can learn more by clicking on the link below. Alison Suttle
, our Vice President and Programs
Chair, will help you navigate through this wonderful opportunity. VAL
is rolling out the red carpet for APS and our medium. Not only are they
seeking artwork, but they would like to have demonstrations in the
medium and speakers too. We hope many of you will want to participate
in their gracious invitation.
The Pastel Spectrum
Enter Show Here
_____
Member Gallery Update
_____
This is your call for updating your Member Gallery listing. Now is the
time to refresh. We update twice a year: January and August. If you
would like to change out artwork, bio copy and links...NOW IS THE TIME.
If you haven't participated before, we encourage you to consider
showcasing your art. Our media is designed to market not only APS but
our members' art also. Send your NEW content, i.e., JPEG images and
copy to Editor
_____
2026 Calendar at a Glance
For details visit APS website Events
_____
Pay special attention to our "RED HOT" action items!
January 1 - March 8 - "The Pastel Spectrum" CALL FOR ART. The
invitation from VAL can be read Here
January 5 - Celebrating Pastels! Entry Deadline
January 9 - Notifications letters go out. TIME TO FRAME!
January 17 - Board Meeting - Officers and Past Presidents - Signe's home
February 2 & 3 Artists Deliver paintings 1 - 3 pm to A05 Gallery
February 6 - Celebrating Pastels! Award Ceremony A05 Gallery 4:00 pm
February 7 & 8 - Christine Debrosky Workshop at Cordovan Art School
February 25 Celebrating Pastels closes
February 26 & 27 - Pick up artworks at A05
March 8 - Deadline for "Pastel Spectrum"
March 10 - Notifications mailed.
March 21 - General Meeting with Demonstration - Location and Artist TBA
April 13 - July 8 - "The Pastel Spectrum" Show at JCCA Toby Shor
JGallery
April 16 - Reception for "Pastel Spectrum" Demos and Speakers included
May - Spring Plein Air Event to be decided at General Meeting in March
June - Call for Entries Online Member's Exhibition (Non-Juried)
June 17 thru 21, 2026 IAPS Convention Albuquerque, NM Register Here
**Looking for someone to conduct a Mini Workshop. Contact: Signe Cox
We welcome all ideas for an event. Please Send to Alison Suttle
, VP and Program Chair.
_____
2025-2027 Officers
Signe Cox, President
Alison Suttle, Vice President & Program Chair
Sarah Tacker, Treasurer (Retires May 31, 2026)
Valinda "Lindy" Rustam, Secretary & Membership Chair
_____
Newsletter Submissions
Pastelist is published monthly and distributed to APS Members only.
Deadline for February 2026 edition copy and photos is January 30, 2026.
Send copy and JPEG images to Editor
{{FASO_DOMAIN_VISIBLE}}
{{AM_COMPANY_NAME}}
{{AM_COMPANY_ADDRESS}}
{{AM_CSZ}}
{{AM_COUNTRY}}
Unsubscribe
Sent with ArtfulMail