Call for Watercolor Entries Due Feb. 29

March is time for our annual Watercolor Show, and anyone age 18 and older is invited to enter. The entry fee for members is $10 per piece, $15 per piece for non-members.

This year's show will hang in our new Gallery at 109 N. River St., and we've got a few more differences we hope you enjoy, including three People's Choice awards, cash prizes for three artists selected by popular vote, and cash Participation Awards selected in two drawings. The awards will be presented at the Opening Reception to be held from 3 to 5 PM Sunday, March 4.

Artwork must be delivered to the Gallery between 4 and 6 PM Wednesday, Feb. 29, and the show will be on display from March 1 through April 28. All watercolors must be suitably framed with a wire across the back for hanging.
Click here for complete instructions and an entry form.
When the page first appears, click the tiny printer icon at the left. If the page appears again, move your mouse over the bottom of the document and click the printer icon a second time to print the form.

4th Annual School Show Opens

The 4th Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show opened with a public reception Sunday, Jan. 22, for artists in the 1st through 8th grades from Seguin, Navarro, New Braunfels, and LaVernia schools.

In grades 1 through 5, Weinert Elementary School in Seguin had three Super Stars, all from the Ablin family: Alexander in 1st grade, Daniela in 2nd grade, and Justin in 5th grade. Two Super Stars came from LaVernia, 2nd grader Tessa Pruski and 4th grader Gavin Austin, and two from Lamar Elementary in New Braunfels, Marville and Cristanne Levitt, both 4th graders. Other Super Stars included Kaylee Nickels, 3rd Grader at Vogel Elementary, Seguin; Brishen Newton, 5th grader at Seeds & Sprouts Home School in New Braunfels; and Seth Tiemann, 5th grader at Koennecke Elementary, Seguin.

In grades 6 through 8, Awesome awards were presented to Camron Guttierez, 7th grader from A. J. Briesemeister Middle School in Seguin; Phoebe Smith, also a 7th grader at Briesemeister; and Victoria Kortz, 8th grader at Navarro Middle School.

First Place went to Will Eveld, 6th grader now at Navarro. Chloe Rincon, from Saegert Sixth Grade Center, took Second Place, and Third Place went to Bryanna Newton, 8th grader from Seeds & Sprouts Home School in New Braunfels.

Art league Show Chairman Roger Betschler introduced the artists and presented the awards. Click here for photos of the show and reception.

Other artists showing their work from Briesemeister Middle School are 7th grader Kiersten Gustafson, and 8th graders Tristiana Beck, John Harborth, Yareli Hernandez, Alexandra Morin, Kasey Morris, and Kelly Reser. Also showing from Saegert Sixth Grade Center are Elijah Bode, Anelhy Ceballos, Grace Gabriel, and Mark Anthony Menchaca, and Casey Yohe came from Barnes Middle School.

Younger entrants include Logan and Anna Busskohl, 1st and 2nd graders from Vogel Elementary; Julissa Martinez, Rodriguez 2nd grader; Eleanor Puchot, Weinert 3rd grader; Aiden and Joshua DeLaCruz, Navarro 2nd and 5th graders; Quinton Walker, 4th grader from Lamar Elementary, New Braunfels; and Tabitha Pruski, LaVernia 4th grader.

The 4th Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show will be on display through Feb. 29 in the Gallery, 109 N. River St. in Seguin. The Gallery is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.

Two Classes in February; Sign Up Now!

Roger Betschler, public school art teacher for 22 years, is offering the following two classes at the Gallery, 109 N. River:

> Moms and Wee Ones, two one-hour sessions on Thursdays, Feb. 2 and 9, at 2 PM. Lesson 1-Drawing shapes and Lesson 2-Painting wood form. Cost $20, supplies $10. Limit six moms.

> My Clay Box, three one-hour sessions on Wednesdays, Feb. 1, 8, and 14 at 4 PM. Lesson 1-Drawing 1-point perspective, Lesson 2-Making slabs for box and creating a pattern, and Lesson 3-Using a brush to glaze and finish the project. Cost $30, supplies $5. Limit 10 students 10 years and older.

Call 830.379.4479 for more information and to sign up. More classes taught by art league members are coming. Watch here for announcements.

New Gallery Open for Holidays

The Grand Opening of the Seguin Oakwood Art League Gallery began with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Seguin Chamber of Commerce. Almost 200 guests attended the reception that followed, roaming the halls and showrooms to see work by many of the area’s finest artists and enjoying the music of renowned classical guitarist George Gaytan. Refreshments included chile chocolate cake, cookies, sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, punch, and champagne, and the door prizes awarded lucky guests were original art donated by participating artists. Click to see a short slide show.

Since Thanksgiving the Gallery was open as part of the City's Holiday Stroll during the Christmas parade. We also brought Santa and Mrs. Claus in out of the rain during the Downtown Business Association's Sip 'n Stroll so kids could visit and have their pictures made with the big man while members of the Seguin High School Matador Band played Christmas carols out front. And then we filled the Coliseum with 78 vendors for YuleFest, our all-day arts and crafts sale where we awarded between 50 and 60 door prizes.

The Gallery at 109 N. River St., Seguin, Texas, is open regularly now Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM. The phone number is (830) 379-SOAL. If you have work in the current exhibit, be sure you sign up for your day as docent. Remember, you only need to work 8 hours a month.

Painting on Fabric Made to Look Easy

The visiting artist for our October meeting drove up from Victoria to teach us about painting on any kind of fabric. Velma Mathis showered us with ideas and examples, plus she brought us each a treasure trove
of information about Victoria, its history and its community of artists.

Merry YuleFest Sunday, Dec. 4!

YuleFest, our annual sale of handmade arts and crafts, is Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Seguin/Guadalupe County Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St. From 10 AM to 5 PM a total of 78 indoor booths will be open to Christmas shoppers. Admission is free, and door prizes are awarded every 15 minutes.

Art league volunteers will start marking off spaces for booths and decorating before dawn. Vendors’ setup is from 8 to 10 AM.

All goods for sale will be handmade or enhanced by hand by the vendor. Each vendor donates a door prize, and the Booth Rental Fee includes a membership in the Seguin Oakwood Art League if the vendor is interested. Vendors must have a Sales Tax Certificate in the booth throughout the day and are responsible collecting and paying applicable sales taxes.

Elementary/Middle School Art Show Opens

The 3rd Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show opened Oct. 2, and 16 awards were presented for outstanding achievement: 10 in the kindergarten through fifth grade division and 6 in sixth through eighth grades. The winning artists present at the opening reception received cash prizes, and ribbons were hung next to all winning paintings and drawings.


From Weinert Elementary School, winners include Rushton Skinner, fifth grade; Alexander Ablin, first grade; and Daniela Ablin, third grade, with two wins. Other elementary winners are Morgan Hamilton, first grade, St. James Catholic School; Kaylee Nickels, third grade, Vogel Elementary School; Maya Rodriguez, third grade, Navarro Elementary School; and Kari Sanchez, Patlan Elementary third grader with two wins.

A. J. Briesemeister Middle School had four winners: eighth grader Alicia Romero who won first place for her pen and ink painting on cloth; seventh grader Kiersten Gustafson in second place; eighth grader Lee Brandenberger in third place; and Honorable Mention went to eighth grader Yareli Hernandez. Also winning Honorable Mention were Samuel Johnson-Vrooman from Saegert Sixth Grade Center and Savanna Russell, eighth grader from Navarro Middle School.

Click to see photos of the reception and the program of artists.

The 2011 student show remains in the Ezell Gallery at the Seguin Silver Center, 510 E. Court St., through November. The artists must pick up their work after school on Wednesday, Nov. 30.