February 9, 2026
Special Edition
2026 Celebrating Pastels!
with Christine Debrosky
Image 6264660
Pastelist
While you were mark making...
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And the Winners Are...
2026 Celebrating Pastels Graphic
tn_Wood_E_Zooming_paB3p
Best of Show
Enid Wood
"Zooming"
$500.00
tn_Handell_A_SomewhereInTeluride_GyV4b
Second in Show
Albert Handell
"Somewhere in Telluride"
$400.00
tn_Frazier_J_PeaceBeStill_ND6qj
Third in Show
Jan Frazier
"Peace Be Still"
$300.00
tn_Chen_Y_EarlyLight_dxRxA
Outstanding Merit
Yingying Chen
"Early Light"
$100.00 plus $50.00 Dick Blick Coupon
tn_George_J_BelowTheSurfaceOfThings_m1yWG
Outstanding Merit
Julien George
"Below the Surface of Things"
$100.00 plus $50.00 Dick Blick Coupon
tn_Bishop_L_RainyParkingLot_1VlE7
Emerging Artist Award
Larry Bishop
"Rainy Parking Lot"
$500.00 gift certificate from John Gabourel of Gabourel Fine Art
Framing - Bastrop, TX
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Britta Herzog Creativity Award
Jody Martin
"Resilient"
$100.00
tn_Cox_S_GhostOfIndustry_PG34O
Merchant Award
Signe Cox
"Ghost of Industry"
tn_Schedler_J_Clearly_ZKWEp
Merchant Award
Joycelyn Schedler
"Clearly"
Ampersand
tn_Edwards_J_DannyOnAWinterNight_XVQym
Merchant Award
Jennifer Edwards
"Danny on a Winter Night"
Diane Townsend Set
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Merchant Award
Ann Lisa Leal
"West Texas Line Up"
Holbein Set
Janis Langley People's Choice Award
to be announced in March issue of "Pastelist".
You have until February 25th to cast your vote at our Online Gallery
or at
the A05 Gallery.
Only (1) vote per person.
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APS Knows How to Party!
_____
More than 60 people attended this year's AJME Celebrating Pastels! It
was relaxed and upbeat. We were in our element. Our hostess, Robbi
Cooper, presented an opulent and scrumptious charcuterie that was to
die for. The "bubbly" was flowing. Once again, Lindy brought her
crowd-pleasing favorite baklava, and we had live music this year with
pianist Billy Leslie (the eldest son of Sarah Leslie). He woke up the
famous A05 baby grande. If the MC's feet hadn't been killing her, she
would have asked Albert for a swing dance. Maybe next year.
Once again, the Team at the A05 Gallery took very good care of us. In
fact, Todd Gresley, Gallery Director, extended a special gift to all of
our artists that didn't receive an award; a $50.00 custom framing
discount on a future purchasing need. FYI...they carry Optium and
Museum Glass.
Remember that the show is up until February 25th. Paintings are to be
picked up February 26 and 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Some of our pieces
are already selling.
Signe Announcing Christine
Signe Cox announces Christine Debrosky
Robbi and Sarah
Robbi Cooper, Hostess and
Sarah Leslie, PR Chair
Anna Lisa and Becky
Anna Lisa Leal and Becky Smith
Albert and Christine
Albert Handell and Christine Debrosky
Lindy and Christine
Lindy Rustam, Workshop Chair with Christine Debrosky
Jennifer Edwards with painting
Jennifer Edwards with "Danny on a Winter Night" Merchant Award
Andrew Cooper
Andrew Cooper and Lucy Humble
Food Shot 1
Jody with Resilient
Jody Martin with "Resilient"
Britta Herzog Award
Enid with Zooming
Enid Wood with "Zooming"
Best in Show
Albert with Telluride
Albert Handell with "Somewhere in Telluride" Second in Show
Jan Frazier with Peace
Jan Frazier with "Peace Be Still"
Third in Show
Yingying with Painting
Yingying Chen with "Early Light Outstanding Merit Award
Group & Food Table
2026 Judges Lunch
Judges Luncheon at Cheesecake Factory
Left to right: Maribel Mast, Enid Wood, Lindy Rustam, Jacob Cox,
Christine Debrosky, Alison Suttle and Sarah Leslie
Albert and Alison
Albert Handell and Alison Suttle
Billy Leslie at Piano
Billy Leslie at the piano
Sarah and Signe
Sarah Leslie and Signe Cox
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Christine Debrosky Workshop
_____
Valinda "Lindy" Rustam, Workshop Chair, booked us again this year at
The Cordovan Art School in Dripping Springs, Texas. Working hand in
hand with Christine Debrosky, students were generously served up an
inspiring two days of pastel experience entitled: "It's All About the
Light". Everyone left feeling inspired and cannot wait to apply what
was learned...all in a nurturing and sharing environment. One of our
new APS members, Diana Burns, traveled all the way from Hot Springs,
Arkansas to join in the fun. We think everyone would agree that Diana
gets the prize for "most dedicated". (Far right on the back row.)
_____
P2081199
Front row: Alison Suttle, Linda Wells, Carolyn Griffith, Laura Griffith
Bushong, Lindy Rustum, Christine Debrosky, Maribel Mast, Cynthia
Bsaibes. Back row: Carolyn Kilday, Jan Frazier, Jennifer Pfeil, Robin
Lively and Diana Burns.
P2081191
Carolyn Kilday
Alison & Christine
Alison Suttle and Christine Debrosky
P2081188
Carolyn Griffith with her daughter, Laura, taking a lunch break.
P2081186
Cordovan offers a good space.
P2081181
Jennifer Edwards
P2081184
Jennifer Pfeil
P2081177
Maribel Mast
P2081176
Diana Burns, Robin Lively and
Maribel Mast
P2081178
Maribel Mast's classwork
P2081183
Two pieces by Linda Wells
The attendees provided some noteworthy take aways from the workshop. We
asked them what they found to be the most valuable:
- Pastel quality, paper quality, strokes and marks.
- Instead of only working dark to light, identify the light, the focus
of the scene.
- It's great to see the various approaches. I learned about using vine
charcoal to start a painting.
- Keeping light and shadow colors separate in your tray.
- Yes...wonderful use of varying strokes.
- I will improve edges.
- Yes...take time to do thumbnail and interpret photo.
- Yes...I will be more aware of creating more variety of textures in
the painting to create receding.
_____
Annual General Meeting
Saturday, March 21
_____
As part of the "Reimagining APS" design, we have adopted in accordance
with our bi laws a single Annual General Meeting. This meeting coming
up will include a state of our business presentation first, and then we
will move into a "Paint A Long" with a lead artist and paint for about
2 hours. Both the Lead Artist and the reference photo will be a
surprise until you arrive. We're looking at a couple of different
locations that will suit our needs, and all will be announced shortly.
So, time to dust off your pastel boxes because we're painting together
again.
_____
NOTE: Deadline for "Pastel Spectrum"
with Dell JCCA is March 8th
_____
Right now, the most important thing for members to remember is if you
want to have work considered for the "Pastel Spectrum" Expanding the
Boundaries, you need to send your three submissions to Alison Suttle by
March 8th. Notifications will go out March 10th. There are no fees and
no age limit on your artwork. Just go with the best of your catalogue
and be ready for a great experience. This curated show is a first of
its kind for Austin Pastel Society.
As the title of the show suggests, they are looking for works that will
expand on the theme of broadening pastel's boundaries. The theme of the
show is on 'growth' of the pastel medium and may depict anything from
plants to portraits and even skylines. They are envisioning that this
show will bring familiar traditional paintings as well as taking the
pastel medium even further into the abstract. Mixed medium artwork can
be included as long as pastel is a significant part of that mixed
medium. Please refer back to their Prospectus
on APS events portal. More details will be distributed in
a couple of weeks. For questions and submissions click here: Alison
_____
Zoom "New Member" APS
Orientation Meetings
begin this month.
_____
Newsletter Submissions
Pastelist is published monthly and distributed to APS Members only.
Deadline for March 2026 edition copy and photos is February 28, 2026.
Send copy and JPEG images to Editor
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