Art, Philanthropy Unite at Austin Settings

Last week, I was proud to participate in Austin Settings, in its 14th year of raising money for local community organizations. This year's beneficiaries are Hospice Austin and the Austin Children's Shelter. Over 400 people viewed the trendiest and most stunning "tablescapes" at the two day event. As the new co-chair of exhibits for the Austin Pastel Society, I was gratified that we were able to partner for the first time with Settings to exhibit and sell our works, to the benefit of the local organizations and our artists. I was pleased to donate the art pictured here for the program cover, created specifically for the event. Fleur-de-lis notecards with envelopes are still selling! Please see austinsettings.com for more event information.

Preparing for July Exhibition at Old Sculpin Gallery

I just painted this in a class I recently took with noted Pastelist Claudia Seymour. This painting, called "Lighting the Way," focuses on a lantern from my husband's extensive collection, an antique map of the New Bedford harbor, and other marine-related antiques.

Teaching 5th Graders at Langley Elementary

One of the highlights of my family's year has been the dedication of a new elementary school in Northside School District in San Antonio in the name of my father Ralph Langley. The staff and students have been so warm and welcoming to us. Yesterday I worked with the art teacher, left, Jessica Allen, to teach a class on portraiture to 90 fifth graders! We had a lot of fun, and three of their classmates served as models. I'm talking about "Jose Ascension de Gasca," a favorite painting (note Longhorns in background).

"Mollie II and III"

After completing a commission of Mollie this summer, I had so many good poses of this great model that I wanted to present her in different moods and sizes. The far painting is smaller, 14x16, and the other is much larger, 20x24.

Fall's Here

But I am still focused on all the material from the great summer in Martha's Vineyard. Pictured here is "Susa," the daughter of the Old Sculpin Gallery manager Melissa, who is masterful at running the gallery and who offered her striking daughter as a model for one of my portrait classes.

"Mollie"

I just completed this 14x20 portrait of Mollie Richards, whose aunt purchased the portrait at the yearly silent auction at the Settings fundraiser here in Austin. Mollie had more enchanting and natural poses than I could possibly paint, and I love this one in the garden of her home.

I have also added new paintings from this summer in Martha's Vineyard to the online album to the right including "Chappy Ferry" and "Edgartown Welcome," as well as "Texas Cactus" and "San Antonio Sunday" from here.

Martha's Vineyard July 2009 Exhibit Update

The two-week summer exhibition went well, with great attendance at the receptions and strong sales. The two works below -- "Menemsha Red White & Blue," and "Paris Cafe" -- were both sold in addition to the strongest of the "Jaws Jumpers" series, pictured on the right long wall below. Here are some photos of the attendees and buyers, as well as several of the classes I taught -- in portraiture and still life. My work will continue on exhibit through the season in the Members' Gallery.