Call for Entries Goes Out for Watercolor Show

Entry delivery for the 2013 "March is Watercolor Month" show is Friday, March 1, between 4 and 6 PM. This show is open to all artists 18 years and older with artwork in a water medium, framed with a wire on the back for hanging, no larger in any direction than 48 inches.

The watercolor shown at left is by founding member Helen Stein from a past watercolor show.

The opening reception will be Thursday, March 7, from 5 to 7 PM. First Place ($100), Second Place ($75), and Third Place ($50) winners will be selected by everyone who attends the reception, and two additional artists will be selected in a drawing for $50 Participation Awards. The public is invited, as always, and refreshments will be served.

The entry fee for members is $10 per piece and for non-members is $15 per piece. All art must be delivered to the Gallery, 109 N. River St. in Seguin, on March 1 and picked up between 4 and 6 PM on Tuesday, April 30. Insurance coverage is the responsibility of the artist, and the artwork entered will be handled with all possible care. All artwork must be for sale, and the Gallery takes a 25% commission on all artwork sold.

Entering artists must submit a completed entry form. Click here to open and print an entry form to mail or take to the Gallery with your entry fee. You can also pick up entry forms at the Gallery. If you have questions, please see the entry form and call Roger at 830.372.4479.

Kids Art Show Runs Through Feb.28

The 5th Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show opened recently with drawings, paintings, and multi-media sculptures from grades 1 through 8 in area schools.

Marion Middle School had the most entries with 18. Seguin schools had a total of 14 entries with Koennecke and Vogel Elementaries sending the most at four entries each. Two entries came from La Vernia Intermediate School, and Navarro Junior High sent one. Six home-schooled artists from Seguin, La Vernia, and Stockdale also entered the show.

Ribbons and cash prizes were awarded to 17 of the 41 entries. All three place winners in the Middle School division went to students from Marion Middle School: Molly Chambers, 8th grade, First Place for her Butterfly Color Wheel sculpture; Niah Avila, 7th grade, Second Place for a marker drawing “Candy Land;” and Skylar Shaw, 8th grade, Third Place for a pencil drawing “The Missing Colors.”

Awesome middle school winners include Kelsey Castaneda, Marion 8th grader for “Sweet Dreams;” Laura Oelke, Marion 7th grader for “Thunder Oak;” K. B. Hallmark V, 7th grader from Seguin’s A. J. Briesemeister Middle School for his photo “The Weird Eye;” and Kaela Steinbrenner, 8th grade, home school in Seguin, for her photo “A Look Through the Woods.”

In the Elementary division, two artists won Achievement Awards for two works each: Bryan Valadez, 5th grader from Koennecke Elementary for his ceramic “Leaf Tile” and his mixed media drawing “Norbert the Dragon” and Braxton Behrendt, Seguin home-schooled 4th grader for “Color Fall” and “Main Street.”

Other elementary winners include Vogel Elementary 2nd grader Logan R. Busskohl for his marker drawing “Cat R. Pillar;” LaVernia Intermediate School 3rd grader Tessa Pruski for her watercolor and pencil drawing “My Mother;” brother and sister from Weinert, 2nd grader Alexander Ablin for his photo “Christmas Lights” and 4th grader Daniela Ablin for her color pencil drawing “Great Barrier;” and home-schooled brothers George Seals-Ramos, 5th grade, and Jayden Seals-Ramos, 4th grade, for their metal sculptures of Junk-bot and Lab Rat.

Click here to see photos of the award presentations and most of the winners with their work. The public is invited to see the show through Thursday, Feb. 28. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

More Classes Begin in January

P. J. Lane, certified art teacher since 1985 with a master's degree in elementary education, is offering classes at the Gallery for kids and adults. The "So You Want to Learn How..." classes give you a chance to try out a medium before committing to use it. The following courses will continue as shown:

• "So You Want to Learn How to Draw with Graphite and Paint with Watercolors," fee $35 for four sessions, supplies included. For 18 years and older, choose four sessions to be held from 11 AM to Noon on Wednesdays through Feb. 13. Kid-friendly classes (6 years and up) will be held on Fridays through Feb. 15 from 5 to 6 PM.


• "I Want to Learn More About Drawing and Painting," $25 for four sessions, supplies not provided. Adults 18 and over choose four Wednesdays through Feb. 20, 10 AM to Noon. Kid-friendly (6 years and up) sessions on Fridays through Feb. 15 from 4 to 5 PM.


• "Getting Crafty," $10 per class, held every first and third Saturday beginning Jan. 19. Adults 18 and older 10 to 11 AM, kid-friendly classes ages 6 and up, 11 AM to Noon.

Sunday through Tuesday call P. J. Lane at 830.379.8703 and let the phone ring awhile to sign up, or call the Gallery Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM-6 PM starting Jan. 2.

5th Annual Call to Artists Grades 1-8

Artists in grades 1 through 8 are invited to bring up to two pieces of their work to the Gallery on Wednesday, Jan. 16, between 4 and 6 PM for display in the 5th Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show to be held through February.

Hanging art must be matted or framed, and frames must have a wire across the back plus the full name, grade, school, and home phone number of the artist. Suggested media for the show includes acrylics, watercolor, oil, pastels, colored pencil, charcoal, pencil, pen & ink, colored markers, collages, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, and mosaics. Imagination is the key, so don't be afraid to do something we haven't thought of yet. If you have any questions or problems, please call 830.372.4997.

All your hard work will be rewarded with about six-weeks of display in the Gallery, and you can put a sale price on your piece if you want to. The Gallery takes no commission on sale of student work.

When first hung, the exhibit will be viewed by a panel of judges, and cash prizes will be awarded to winners present at the Opening Reception from 3 to 5 PM Sunday, Jan. 20. Cash prizes will be awarded in each grade group.

Click here for detailed information and to print an entry form to bring with the artwork. Please tell every child you know who might be interested. This show is one of the most fun we have all year.

Animal Clay Sculpture Class for Holidays

Students 10 years and older can use their holiday freedom to make their own animal sculpture. Noted ceramist and teacher Roger Betschler will lead two classes of 10 students each in creating their favorite animal in clay.

Classes will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Jan. 2, 3, and 4, in the Gallery at 109 N. River St. One class will meet from 10 AM to Noon, and the other class from 1 to 3 PM. The cost of the three sessions is $30 plus $10 for supplies.

Betschler has taught Art for 22 years in the public schools. In this class he will teach how to draw animals with a focus on form and texture, demonstrate how to model clay to create form, and help students add texture. The finished products will be fired in his studio kilns (rogersartstudio.com) and brought back to the SOAL Gallery for pick-up.

Because the Gallery will be closed for the holidays until Jan. 2, be sure to register by Saturday, Dec. 22. To sign up or get more information, call the Gallery at 830.372.4479 or 830.379.7625.

New Officers Plan Regular Events Plus Big Changes

Robin Roberts Walker, left, new SOAL President for 2013-2014, with outgoing 2011-2012 President Debbie Zengerle at the Holiday Party held at Jeanne Palmer's home. New officers have planned the 2013 schedule to contain all our regular shows and ask members for ideas about a new location when necessary.

Looking back, SOAL membership has grown from 52 in early 2011 to nearly 150 now, our Gallery and gift shop have enhanced downtown Seguin for more than a year, and we had a full house for YuleFest, which was a huge success. It's true that the building housing the Gallery has been sold, but looking ahead, both presidents foresee a bright future.

The 5th Annual Elementary and Middle School Art Show will be held through February with the Opening Reception from 3 to 5 PM Sunday, Jan. 20. Prizes will be awarded in each grade group. (See the posting above.)

Also, classes will continue in January for adults and young artists as well. Please keep an eye on this blog and our website for new developments.

More Vendors Welcome at YuleFest

YuleFest, our annual sale of handmade arts and crafts, is Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Seguin/Guadalupe County Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St. from 10 AM to 4 PM. Vendors from all around Central Texas will offer holiday shoppers gifts and goods in a variety that defies the imagination.

To reserve a vendor booth, click here to open the entry form, print and complete it. The form includes instructions on where to mail it with copy of your sales tax certificate and booth rental fee, or you can take your entry to the Gallery at 109 N. River, Seguin. Hurry, because the remaining spaces will fill quickly.

All goods for sale will be handmade or enhanced by hand by the vendor. The booth rental fee for vendors is $55 plus $10 for electricity, $5 for each table, and $2 for each chair needed. Each vendor also donates a door prize. Vendors must display their sales tax certificate in the booth throughout the day and are responsible for collecting and paying applicable sales taxes.

Art league volunteers will start marking off spaces for booths and decorating before dawn. Vendor setup is from 8 to 10 AM, when SOAL will provide free coffee and doughnuts. Loading docks are available, and parking is free.

Admission to the public is free all day, and door prizes from vendors are awarded every 15 minutes.