Our APS 2026-2027 season

is off and running!

Dedicated to the finest pastel community on the planet!

Pastelist

While we were mark making...

In this issue

Summer Showcase Winners

Enid Wood Mini Workshop

Hitting the Painting Trail

Please Welcome our 10 New Members

Rena Cotti - Temple, TX

Carolyn Wiginton - Bastrop, TX

Glynis Burner - Austin, TX

Lynn Erickson - Horseshoe Bay, TX

Catherine Saberon - New Braunfels, TX

Kristen Schaffer Long - San Antonio, TX

Diane Carbone - North Yarmouth, ME

Mary Jean Davis - Longview, TX

Tetyana Aleksenko - The Woodlands, TX

Natalia Arnett - Spring, TX

APS now stands at 68 members

Get Your Swag Gear Here

October Birthday Wishes

2026 Calendar at a Glance

Our Summer Showcase Winners

Tetyana's Observations

Time will tell if the way APS conducts its online competitions will begin to catch on. There was a special feeling in the room seeing the actual work on display and off the electronic page. The evening was most definitely a deference to the painting and the artist that created it. Cyber space has its place, but we'll leave it as an administrative backroom function not a replacement for relishing fine art. Please visit the Summer Showcase Online Gallery where you can be view all 26 works submitted by 15 members.

Announcement was also made regarding Celebrating Pastels! Call for Entry later this month. A special edition of Pastelist is forthcoming in October. You will have two and half months to finish that next great piece of art you've already started. There will be the usual links to take you to ShowSubmit to view the Prospectus and learn about our new category structure. APS is moving over to two divisions: Open and Master. The society is blessed to have many talented artists that need to be appropriately matched and properly marketed to the world. This is our effort to ensure better distribution of awards and enticement for continued submissions in all of our very important exhibitions.

We still have some seats available for Enid Wood's Mini Workshop

October 24 - 10 am to 3 pm - Bastrop, TX

Here is a workshop you won't want to miss, especially if you are new to pastel or need to brush up. Participants will design and paint still life setups in warm and cool light, noting shadow temperature. A 7x5 or 6x6 Pastelbord will be provided. Participants will also learn technical skills for producing colorful, transparent shadows, creating new work, or adjusting paintings in progress. Participants are encouraged to bring unfinished work, and to work on their own choice of subject matter.

The workshop concludes with an "Art Walk." Participants view one another's work and learn from successes and struggles.

Limited to 12 students. Members $50.00 and non-members $75.00.

Register Here

Lost Maples is Happening

November 6 thru 9

There will be stories from the trail in the December issue of Pastelist. Eight members are feeling frosty to dive deep into 3 to 4 days of plein air. It has been a long-held wish that we could entice enough members to make a trip like this happen. We've got three cabins on the Sabinal River waiting for us. Whose going? Jan and Phil Frazier, Jody Martin, Robbi Cooper, Signe and Jacob Cox, Becky Smith and guest (s). We have room for 2 more if you're game? The price is $200.00 for 3 nights and includes all the amenities you will need to be comfortable and safe. There will be a gathering Friday night upon arrival with refreshments. Saturday night we will be traveling to Utopia Cafe for dinner and Sunday night we're going to do a potluck at Cabin #7. We are on our own for breakfast and lunch each day. There are park benches we can return to for lunches and take a break. The deadline is October 18th to purchase your ticket. A complete itinerary and park pass will be sent to you later this month in plenty of time to plan your trip. All we need is a couple of cold days for the leaves to turn their color. Let's all pray for great weather! Register HERE

If, you need a ride, we'll make that happen. For questions ask Signe Cox

Get your Swag Gear Here!

Sarah Leslie (PR & Branding Chair) has assembled a beautiful APS merchandise offering with Yeti products, aprons, stickers and so much more for the taking. Here is a sampling below. You'll find more options and colors on the JotForm link below. This QR code will take you directly to the JotForm to make your purchase. Pricing includes shipping. Have fun!

Maribel has a reminder for us...

...don't forget we have a comprehensive DVD library that we are closing out. All of the pastel painting tutorials are going cheap to best offer. I may need to add a little postage for shipping. If you're needing good resource materials reach out to me. I'll send you a list to choose from. I can be reached at Maribel Mast - Librarian

October

Birthdays

Denise Beard

Yingying Chen

Robin Lively

Maribel Mast

2026 Calendar at a Glance

Pay special attention to our "RED HOT" action items!

October Call for Entry for Celebrating Pastels! - DATE TBA

A Pastelist Supplemental will be issued later this month with

everything you need to know to enter.

October 24 - Mini Workshop by Enid Wood - Calvary Episcopal Church, Bastrop, TX. Click here for JotForm Registration

November 7-8 @ Lost Maples State Natural Area Plein Air event - 2 beds available.

December 6 - Holiday Party - Alison Suttle's residence RSVP HERE

2027 On Deck!

First week in January Deadline for Celebrating Pastels! Date TBA

January 16 - Annual Board Meeting Luncheon at Signe's residence

February Dates TBD - Celebrating Pastels! Ao5 Gallery in the Arboretum - Juror, Gareth Jones and Judge of Awards, Todd Gresley

March 21 - Annual General Meeting and Paint Along @ Precision Camera 1:30 to 4:30 pm

April Date TBD - Greg Stone 2 Day Workshop at Cordovan (JotForm). We will also have Officer Nominations with digital voting. Announcements will go out in May Pastelist.

May - "Painting on the Porch" with Rita Kirkman - We set up on a 60' by 15' second story covered veranda at Signe's house in Bastrop. Jacob lifts art gear to the porch with his Versahandler. Rain or Shine...IT'S BIG FUN!

We all bring munchies.

We welcome all ideas for an event. Please Send to Alison Suttle, VP and Program Chair.

Click below for more details

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

2025-2027 Officers & Chairs

Signe Cox, President & Webmaster/Editor

Alison Hightower 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

Artist Announcements and Newsletter Submissions

Pastelist is published monthly and distributed to APS Members only. Announcements are related to pastel medium only. November 1, 2026, edition deadline for copy and photos is October 29, 2026. Send copy and JPEG images to Editor