June 2026
It's that time of year again!
If you wish to renew your membership
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Image 6264660
Pastelist
While you were mark making...
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In this issue
Making Memories
With Great Appreciation
An Interview with Linda Wells
Meet APS at the Blanton Museum
APS Summer Online Showcase
"Waterways in Pastel"
Visual Art League has an Idea
Albuquerque or Bust!
By Popular Demand...Let's Zoom
Volunteers are always Welcome
2026 Calendar at a Glance
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A Picture-Perfect Morning with Friends
Group Mayfield Park
Left to right: Lindy Rustam, Jennifer Pfeil, Robbi Cooper, Signe Cox,
Enid Wood,
Sarah Leslie and Alison Suttle
Making memories that we can take with us forever, that's what seven APS
members did at Mayfield Park Saturday, May 16th. The weather was
perfection! The peacocks were eager to greet us begging for food.
You're not allowed to feed them, but they haven't received the memo yet.
The above pictured group of plein air enthusiasts were eager to gain
more skills and share in the moment. On hand were Alison Suttle, Sarah
Leslie, Enid Wood, Lindy Rustam, Jennifer Pfeil, Robbie Cooper and
Signe Cox. The group held a brief "Show and Tell" to discuss their
painting efforts. It's always a treat to see the different approaches.
Lunch was definitely in order, so Central Market was the cafe of
choice. Brainstorming on future plein air destinations were discussed,
e.g. do you think Palo Duro is too big a dream for Spring 2027? The
discussion actually went there. What a memory that one would make!
Mayfield Park offers an endless supply of painting subjects and could
easily instigate a return. Let us know if you think we should schedule
another trip to Mayfield Park. It's close and easy to navigate. By the
way, don't forget that our fall plein air event will be at the
spectacular Lost Maples in Vanderpool, TX. Our tentative schedule is
November 6-7-8. More logistical information is forthcoming. You can
count on a two-night stay in well-appointed cabins. Grilling might be
in order.
The Plein Air Experience
Here is how Enid Wood approached her set up at the park. Enjoy the read!
"I felt nervous about the plein air session at Mayfield Park. What if I
didn't have the right setup? What if my tripod collapsed? What if I
couldn't find shade? What if I couldn't concentrate on my painting in a
new environment? I grabbed a setup I knew well. I had previously
painted in Albert Handell's mentorship program for 12 years, and had a
complete set of Cretacolor, Nupastel, and Faber Castell hard pastels,
broken into half sticks, in a backpack-size Heilman box with easel.
Enids Mayfield Subject
The red roof
Enids Mayfield Set Up
Her Set Up
Enids Mayfield Painting
The end result
The night before the paint-out, I packed a stick of soft vine charcoal
in my pastel box and also packed a complete set of Cretacolor pastel
pencils in a folding lightweight pencil palette, some hand wipes, and
two 7x5 Pastelbords. I had painted successfully before on brown
Pastelbord but not on green. My subject chose itself. When I saw one of
the other painters already joyfully blocking in a painting of lily
blossoms, I located a shady bench on the opposite side of the lily
pond, spotted some exciting lilies just coming into bloom, and I found
myself eager to paint. Because a red roof was reflected in the pond, I
knew my green board would work well. Complements are exciting. Halfway
through the painting, I discovered that my bold background competed
with the subject. I wiped it down with the foam divider that had been
packed between my two Pastelbords. Voila. Harmony. Now I simply need to
sign the painting and find a 7x5 photo frame that suits it. At that
size, I always frame directly against the glass. I sell my small
landscape paintings at Mosaic Art & Home gallery in Smithville."
The Whole Park was our Playground
Lindy and Jennifer
Lindy Rustam and Jennifer Pfeil
Robbi at Park
Robbi Cooper
Best Alison and Enid
Alison Suttle and Enid Wood
APS at the Park
Coffee, donuts and gear.
Mayfield Lillies
Mayfield Lillies
Sarah Leslie Painting
Sarah Leslie
Enids Peacock
Photo by Enid Wood
Robbi-S Pond
Photo by Robbi Cooper
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With Great Appreciation
Sarahs Dinner
Left to right: Lindy Rustam, Sarah Tacker and Signe Cox
A celebration over Red Fish and Gumbo was held at Maxine's Gumbo House
in Manor, Texas last month to show appreciation to Sarah Tacker for
eight years of volunteer service as Treasurer. Sarah served with
Presidents Joycelyn Schedler, Enid Wood and Signe Cox. We are grateful
to Sarah for providing expert financial support to APS with a glad
heart and a constant watchful eye. As a small token for her
contribution, she was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and
$100.00 Dakota Art Pastels gift. Her successor, Valinda "Lindy" Rustam
was voted into the position May 1st and has easily stepped into the
role to carry on the requirements of the function. Sarah assures us
she's going nowhere. That she will continue to stay involved with APS
and lend a helping hand when she can.
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An Interview with Linda Wells
June Featured Artist
Deep Winter Wells
"Deep Winter"
8"x16"
Linda-Wells-bio
Linda Wells
Then There Was Light Wells
"Then There Was Light"
24"x30"
We begin this interview with Linda sharing that she is a native Texan
with a deep-rooted passion for art that began in high school in
Victoria, Texas. Inspired by her father and a renowned artist uncle
from Portland, Oregon, Linda's artistic journey took shape early on.
After serving three years
in the Marine Corps, she pursued formal art education at Victoria
Junior College and further honed her skills at the Texas Academy of Art
in Houston, completing an
intensive eighteen-month graphic arts program.
Linda's professional career spanned roles as an Art Director for two
printing companies
and as a key member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's
Graphics Department. Following her retirement, Linda dedicated herself
to oil and pastel painting, with a particular focus on plein air
techniques. Her primary subjects are nature and animals, reflecting her
deep appreciation for the natural world.
Texas artist Bob Rohm introduced Linda to plein air pastel painting,
while Albert Handell remains a significant influence on her work.
Linda now resides in Lakeway, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her
artistic contributions to the Lakeway area are celebrated in Lew
Carlson's book, "Lakeway: Hill
Country Community," which features several of her paintings.
This is our starting point into Linda's diverse background. Now let's
dig a little deeper and learn what drives her on her art journey.
Q: When did you join APS? Are you a member of any other societies? And
which ones?
A: I joined APS in either 2003 or 2004 and served as the Non-Juried
Show Chair and Vice President. I am also a member of PSA, OPA, AIS,
PAPNM, Studio Texas and Red Rock Pastel Society.
Q: Tell us about when you started taking your art to a professional
level? When was that and what told you to make the leap?
A: I started volunteering in 1992 hanging art in galleries. In one show
I was responsible for hanging 200 works. Eventually, I held my first
one person show in 1998. I currently have work hanging at the Bee Caves
Arts Foundation.
Q: Do you work in any other mediums? Which do you prefer and why?
A: I work equally in oils and pastel with my most recent focus on
water-themed work. I find both mediums balance and help each other. I
do more oil work indoors.
Q: How do you choose your subject matter? Do you ever paint in a series?
A: Living part of the year in Lakeway I find I do a lot of works that
include water. I did a series of 175 paintings of the lake in 6x8 with
a date and time stamp recording the lake levels. These were done in
oil. When in Santa Fe I do mountains, streams and adobe.
Q: What do you like and/or dislike about entering exhibitions?
A: I predominantly enter online shows. In person is hard and expensive
with shipping costs. It is a way to get your work out there and gain
exposure.
Q: Where do you want to see your art career in five years?
A: I hope to be in a Santa Fe gallery.
Q: What artists do you most admire?
A. Albert of course, but I also like Richard Schmid, Frank Reaugh, Vie
Dunn-Harr and Donna Howell-Sickles.
Q: What is some of the best art advice you've received? And do you have
any personal advice for our new members as they pursue their art?
A: The best advice I've ever received is to focus on a good block-in
then don't overwork it as you work to finish (that is sometimes hard to
do). Try to keep it loose and fresh. My advice to share is if you don't
see where you want to go next in your painting, drop the brush or stick
and take a break. And most importantly remember to step back from the
painting every few minutes, take a photograph (looking at the photo can
reveal any problems) and come back. For me I just want to keep
improving!
"What can I say! I'm a realist. I like living in the real world and
painting my impressions of it. Nature is real and is a big part of what
inspires me. But I'm not a realist who needs to paint every hair on a
cat or every rock in the stream."
Editor's Note: From someone watching Linda's career from the cheap
seats she has surely accomplished her goals and keeps climbing.
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Meet APS at the Blanton
Saturday June 13 @ 1:00 pm
Blanton Exhibition
It is just as important to be inspired as it is to inspire. Our
members' do so much more than paint. We relish the times spent together
to share our love of art and the upcoming visit to the Blanton Museum
is to feed that need. The last time members gathered in 2024 we had so
much fun. We are long overdue to get inspired, and we don't even have
to bring our easels. The plan is to meet up at the ticket booth and
gift shop lobby then head over to the galleries. Maybe this year we can
go to dinner afterwards. Just another chance for us to make memories.
American Modernism from the Charles Butt Collection exhibits over 80
rarely seen paintings and works on paper by icons of American modern
art, including Romare Bearden, Alice Neel, Andrew Wyeth, Jackson
Pollock, Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper, Ellsworth Kelly, Jacob Lawrence,
Joan Mitchell, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Alma Thomas and many others. The
featured works span from the late 19th century through the 1970s and
will be grouped in seven thematic sections:
* Breaking Form: Cubism and Its Legacy,
* Urban Encounters,
* Intimate Perspectives,
* Precisionism,
* The Language of the Sea,
* Land Progressions,
* and Edges of Abstraction.
The Blanton Museum of Art is one of four exclusive venues in Texas to
host this exhibition. You can buy your tickets online or in person at
the ticket office. ADULTS $15.00 and SENIORS (55 plus) $12.00
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"APS Summer Online Showcase"
Idaho Springs by Aleksenko 2nd Place AOTP 2025
"Idaho Springs"
Tetyana Aleksenko
Judge of Awards - Tetyana Aleksenko
Previously titled "Online Members' Exhibition" is now "APS Online
Summer Showcase" and has more defined rules of engagement to ensure the
best experience for our members and their submissions. The competition
is clearly defined in (2) STAGES:
The "Showcase" is non-juried. Members are urged to submit their best
work completed in 2026. STAGE ONE of this competition begins with our
Judge selecting 4 finalists' works. Notification letters to ALL members
that submitted work will learn if they will be progressing to STAGE
TWO. To advance to STAGE TWO the 4 finalists must commit to delivering
their art to the Awards Dinner for completion of judging. This is where
your work will be judged in person and given an evaluation outside of
cyberspace. If a finalist is unable to advance to STAGE TWO due to
scheduling conflicts, then another work and finalist will be chosen.
The Awards Dinner (STAGE TWO) is scheduled for Saturday, September 26.
(Make sure nothing conflicts with that date prior to entering.) This
year we're going to Terry Black's BBQ in Lockhart, TX. We have reserved
a private dining room with festivities beginning at 5:00 pm. Artwork
needs to be delivered by 4:00 pm. Members don't have to enter artwork
to attend the Awards Dinner. This event is for ALL members and their
invited guests to enjoy. Dinner will be first with some brief
announcements, then our Judge of Awards, Tetyana Aleksenko will be
introduced. Tetyana is from Houston and is the President of Pastel
Society of Southeast Texas. She will make her final review of the top
four paintings and make a decision. We will be using ShowSubmit to
manage our entries and online gallery. A link will be posted on the APS
website as well as through social media. Call for Entry begins June
29th.
We asked Tetyana what she looks for in a painting?
"As a judge, I am looking for a strong composition, proportion,
confident mark making, and the unity of a painting. I would like to see
a clear message and an emotional impact on a viewer. I am not as much
interested in a unique subject matter, but mostly in an artist's
ability to present a subject or a scene from everyday life in a unique
way."
Just like last year, only the top 4 paintings will require framing.
Prizes will be awarded to Best of Show, and (3) Award of Excellence.
Entry Deadline is August 17. Notification letters to be emailed August
21.
Terry Blacks
900 N. Colorado Street, Lockhart, TX (512) 688-4617
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"Waterways in Pastel"
Image 6378849
Joycelyn Show Post Card
I'm so excited to share that I will be the Summer 2026 Featured Artist
at Found Fine Art in Bastrop, TX. I expect to show over 15 pastel
artworks with ten of them debuting for the first time. The show is
titled "Waterways in Pastel", and as you might guess, every piece
includes some form of water. I would be honored if you could come to
the opening on June 5th at 6p. If not, the show is up until August 29,
2026, and if possible, I will meet you there to show you around.
- Joycelyn Schedler
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Visual Art League has an Idea
The Visual Art League with Dell Jewish Community Center has presented
APS with a great idea. If any of our members are interested in setting
up small tours with local organizations, please contact Sharon Golden.
She is eager to discuss and help orchestrate your tour of Pastel
Spectrum; Expanding the Boundaries at the Toby Shore/JGallery. This
could be a great idea to share with your church or other civic
organizations you may belong to. You can contact Sharon to make it
happen. You have until July 8 to visit the gallery. Click Here
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Albuquerque or Bust!
Hotel Albuquerque
Hotel Albuquerque
The last IAPS Convention is just around the corner. For members that
are attending the event, please know that a table has been reserved for
Austin Pastel Society at Friday night's Fiesta June 19th from 6-8 pm.
The July issue of Pastelist will cover the event activities and share
what is learned about the future of IAPS and what our society can
expect going forward. We are expecting a similar reimagining like APS
went through. The art industry is changing.
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By Popular Demand...Let's Zoom!
How would you like to strengthen your video communication skills? We
have just the right opportunity for someone. ZOOMING is a great way to
bring people together especially when members live at great distances.
This technology is the backbone for APS Officer and Chair
communications. In addition to this specific use, we are looking for a
Zoom Demonstration Chair to lead our instructional efforts providing
demo artists via the desktop or phone. If you are that person we want
to talk to you. The Zoom Demonstration Chair will be responsible for
presenting a plan to the President and Vice President with a slate of
artist candidates and dates for approval. We are looking for new guest
artists to inspire and raise our pastel painting skill levels. Contact
Signe Cox and let's get started! Click Here
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Volunteers are Always Welcome?
Why should only a handful of members get all the fun? We have made it
easy for you to tell us what interests you most and where you can
contribute. We offer long term Chair positions as well as brief
project-oriented needs. The workload has been distributed across teams
so no one person bears 100% of the effort. The work is fun and
interesting and serving helps to build a strong bench for the future of
Austin Pastel Society. Leadership faces do change.
Volunteer
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2026 Calendar at a Glance
Pay special attention to our "RED HOT" action items!
Please note: Pastel Spectrum runs through July 8th. If you haven't
visited the Toby Shore/JGallery at the Dell Jewish Community Center
yet, you really need to add this to your summer calendar. It is a real
tribute to APS. To gain access Click Here
June 1 - Membership Renewals begin
June 13 at 1:00 pm - "Meet APS at the Blanton"
June 17 thru 21, 2026 IAPS Convention Albuquerque, NM - APS Table
reserved for Friday night Fiesta June 19
June 29 - Call for Entries "APS Summer Online Showcase" (Non-Juried)
July 8 - Strike Pastel Spectrum Exhibition
August 17 - Deadline for "APS Summer Online Showcase" (Non-Juried)
September 26 @ 5:00 pm "APS Summer Online Showcase" Awards Dinner -
Terry's Blacks BBQ in Lockhart, TX. All APS members are included.
October 17 - Mini Workshop by Enid Wood - Calvary Episcopal Church,
Bastrop, TX (Registration opens in July)
November 7-8-9 @ Lost Maples State Natural Area - Two-day paint out
requiring overnight stay
December 6 - Holiday Party & White Elephant - Alison Suttle's residence
2027 On Deck!
January 16 - Annual Board Meeting Luncheon at Signe's residence
February - Celebrating Pastels! Ao5 Gallery in the Arboretum
March - Annual General Meeting and Paint Along
April - 2 Day Workshop and Officer Nominations
May - Plein Air Event and Officer Announcements
We welcome all ideas for an event. Please Send to Alison Suttle
, VP and Program Chair.
Click below for more details
Current Events
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APS Appreciates our Sponsors
Holbein - Terry Ludwig Pastels - Diane Townsend -
Blick Art Materials - Golden Artist Colors -
PanPastel Artist Pastels - Ampersand - Ao5 Gallery -
Gabourel Fine Art Framing, LLC
Sponsor Links
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2025-2027 Officers & Chairs
Signe Cox, President & Webmaster/Editor
Alison Suttle, Vice President & Program Chair
Valinda "Lindy" Rustam, Secretary/Treasurer
Maribel Mast, Archivist/Librarian Chair
Sarah Leslie, Public Relations Chair
Carolyn Doherty, Door Prize Chair
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Newsletter Submissions
Pastelist is published monthly and distributed to APS Members only.
Deadline for July 2026 edition copy and photos is June 30, 2026. Send
copy and JPEG images to Editor
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