Venue
Ao5 Gallery – The Arboretum
10000 Research Blvd. Ste. 118
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 481-1111
10000 Research Blvd. Ste. 118
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 481-1111
Introduction
Austin Pastel Society is pleased to announce a big change in the way we are Celebrating Pastels! going forth. APS will now host both Open and Master Categories. The continued artistic achievements by our members enable this appropriate curation process. As usual we continue to include the Emerging Artist Award. This award is given to an APS Member who has not won an award in any pastel society exhibition and is eligible to compete for this award. Please be sure that you select the appropriate category and notation if you qualify for Emerging Artist.
Juror
Gareth Jones PSA IAPS/MC
This year’s juror comes all the way to us from North Wales, UK. Gareth has emerged as an internationally acclaimed pastel artist in recent years. Art school-trained and formerly a graphic designer, he switched to the world of fine art in 2010. His early works were painted in acrylic, but nine years ago, Gareth discovered the medium of soft pastels, and his career hasn't looked back.
In 2021, he became an Associate Artist of Unison Color, the world-renowned manufacturer of soft pastels. Later the same year, he was elected as a Signature Member of The Pastel Society of America, and in 2024, he achieved Master Circle status with the International Association of Pastel Societies.
Winner of several international awards, he has exhibited at the Mall Galleries, London, with both the Royal Society of Marine Artists and The Pastel Society. Working now exclusively in soft pastel, he has become a passionate advocate of his chosen medium, demonstrating and teaching workshops across the UK and Europe.
His main inspirations are the sea and coastal environs, but he is increasingly drawn to landscapes.
Gareth has a great understanding of color and composition; his works are filled with energy and passion. Above all, he appreciates the beauty of nature and the importance of light.
The Austin Pastel Society is honored to have the opportunity to introduce Gareth Jones to the Texas pastel community. We are planning on a special appearance by Gareth, streamed live or by prerecorded file, at our Award Ceremony on February 5, 2027.
In 2021, he became an Associate Artist of Unison Color, the world-renowned manufacturer of soft pastels. Later the same year, he was elected as a Signature Member of The Pastel Society of America, and in 2024, he achieved Master Circle status with the International Association of Pastel Societies.
Winner of several international awards, he has exhibited at the Mall Galleries, London, with both the Royal Society of Marine Artists and The Pastel Society. Working now exclusively in soft pastel, he has become a passionate advocate of his chosen medium, demonstrating and teaching workshops across the UK and Europe.
His main inspirations are the sea and coastal environs, but he is increasingly drawn to landscapes.
Gareth has a great understanding of color and composition; his works are filled with energy and passion. Above all, he appreciates the beauty of nature and the importance of light.
The Austin Pastel Society is honored to have the opportunity to introduce Gareth Jones to the Texas pastel community. We are planning on a special appearance by Gareth, streamed live or by prerecorded file, at our Award Ceremony on February 5, 2027.
Judge of Awards
Todd Gresley
Many of our past exhibitors have already met Todd Gresley. Todd is the Gallery Director for Ao5 Gallery. He has served in this position for nearly 30 years and brings a wealth of knowledge about fine art and the marketing and sales ability that comes with it. Todd will be curating the show and "getting to know" each piece as he places them on the walls. Over this period, he will have absorbed every detail of the paintings and have more than just a "quick review" before judging.
Todd has been on many art panels, conferences, and judged contests throughout his career. This is his first pastel contest to judge, and he is really anticipating the challenge and excitement of an often misunderstood medium. Todd will be judging both categories.
Todd has been on many art panels, conferences, and judged contests throughout his career. This is his first pastel contest to judge, and he is really anticipating the challenge and excitement of an often misunderstood medium. Todd will be judging both categories.
Artist Categories
Open Category
This category is open to all current APS members who are not eligible to enter Master Category. This is your time to shine!
This category is open to all current APS members who are not eligible to enter Master Category. This is your time to shine!
Open Category Awards
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
- (3) Outstanding Merit
- Emerging Artist Award
- Britta Herzog Award for most creative
- Janis Langley People’s Choice Award
Master Category
This category is open to all current APS members who have previously been awarded Best of Show in APS Annual Juried Member Exhibition, and/or have achieved Master or Eminent Pastelist status in PSA or IAPS or have been elected to the PSA Hall of Fame. The first entry is automatically in the exhibition. The balance of works entered by each Master Member will go through a jury process. Master members are eligible for non-cash awards. Master paintings will be labeled Master Member in the Exhibition. The Celebrating Pastels! exhibition strives to show the breadth of talent in our society’s membership.
This category is open to all current APS members who have previously been awarded Best of Show in APS Annual Juried Member Exhibition, and/or have achieved Master or Eminent Pastelist status in PSA or IAPS or have been elected to the PSA Hall of Fame. The first entry is automatically in the exhibition. The balance of works entered by each Master Member will go through a jury process. Master members are eligible for non-cash awards. Master paintings will be labeled Master Member in the Exhibition. The Celebrating Pastels! exhibition strives to show the breadth of talent in our society’s membership.
Master Category Awards
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
Entry Fees
- APS Members only: $50 per artist
- Limit of three (3) entries per artist.
Entry Requirements
- Open to all paid members of the Austin Pastel Society. To join APS, visit the APS Website.
- Paintings must have been completed in the last two (2) years.
- Entries must not have been previously exhibited in any prior APS Annual Juried Exhibition, received an award from an APS "Summer Showcase", or exhibited in an Ao5 Gallery exhibit. We are seeking fresh new work!
- To be eligible for the Emerging Pastel Artist, APS Members must have not won an award in any pastel society exhibition to compete for this award.
Medium:
- Work must be minimum 80% soft pastel. No oil pastel is allowed.
Originality:
- All work presented for this juried exhibition shall be original. Compositions based on another artist’s work or published materials of any kind are NOT considered original and are not eligible.
- Paintings executed in a workshop under another artist’s supervision or paintings based on another person’s photograph (even if it is copyright-free, and even if you have been given permission) will not be eligible.
- Paintings created with the help of optical projects or digital assistance are not eligible.
- Work derived from, or similar to, work shown in previous APS juried exhibitions will not be accepted.
- Accepted works may be refused if digital image does not accurately represent work.
Subject Matter:
Realistic, representational, or abstract works are accepted. Figural nudes in good taste are also accepted. The Exhibition Committee reserves the right to reject work deemed unsuitable for exhibition at the venue.
Size:
- Up to 40 inches in either direction, framed size.
Framing
- Artwork must be framed in a professional manner, ready to hang, using wire supported by two sturdy hangers. D-Rings are recommended.
- No saw-toothed hangers, metal frames, colored top mats (a colored liner is allowed), or colored frames (gold and silver are considered neutral for purpose of framing).
- All frames should be sturdy and suitable for the size and weight of the work.
- Either Plexiglas or glass is allowed.
Labels
Attach a label at back of juried paintings in the upper left corner with:
- Artist Name
- Artwork Title
- Price
- Artist Website (if available)
- Phone number
- Email address
The Juried Exhibition Committee has the discretion to reject any work that, in their estimation, does not meet the guidelines.
Notifications
Registrants will receive their acceptance or rejection email by Friday, January 8, 2027.
Artists Reception and Award Ceremony
Friday, February 5th, 4–6pm.
- Artists, Members, and Guests are welcome to attend.
Guidelines for Artwork
- Artwork must be available to be exhibited in the gallery.
- There will be no substitutions or paintings prior to or during the exhibit.
- Pick-up and delivery are the responsibility of the artist or their agent. No work will be removed from the premises or stored by aps.
Strike Show and Pick Up Paintings at Ao5 Gallery
- Show ends on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.
- Artwork must be picked up Thursday, February 25 or Friday, February 26, 2027, during business hours.
- All shipping costs to Ao5 Gallery, to and from, are the responsibility of the artist. The address is Ao5 Gallery, 10000 Research Blvd. Suite 118, Austin, TX 78759. Phone number is (512) 481-1111.
Invitations
A printable invitation that you can print, mail, or email to your client list will be produced and made available January 15, 2027.
Sales
- All work in the exhibition must be for sale.
- The gallery will retain a 20% commission on sales of artwork.
Agreement and Liability
Submission of a work of art in this exhibit shall constitute an agreement by all parties to all conditions of this prospectus.
Although the Exhibition Committee will exercise due care in handling works, APS, its agents, Ao5 Gallery, or its agents, will not be responsible for any loss or damage to any work of art.
Entry in this exhibit gives both APS and Ao5 Gallery the right to photograph or use the submitted images for promotional purposes. Entries will benefit from the ShowSubmit online gallery provided to this and all APS exhibitions.
Although the Exhibition Committee will exercise due care in handling works, APS, its agents, Ao5 Gallery, or its agents, will not be responsible for any loss or damage to any work of art.
Entry in this exhibit gives both APS and Ao5 Gallery the right to photograph or use the submitted images for promotional purposes. Entries will benefit from the ShowSubmit online gallery provided to this and all APS exhibitions.
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30MB maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (January 4, 2027.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Notifications Are Posted in Your Account
Results will be posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on January 8, 2027. You will also receive an email.
Log in and check your account. We are unable to answer individual inquiries about results.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Signe Cox ([email protected]) or Alison Suttle () for questions about the prospectus, APS, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.