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The Things We See The Old Bakery Emporium presents Capitol Art Society

The Capitol Art Society is a juried organization of artists in a variety of two-dimensional media. Representing diversity in styles the group strives to promote professionalism in its members and to further the appreciation of the visual arts through exhibits and education in the community.

Members come from various backgrounds, many including art education, art instructors, illustrators and advertising background. There main goal is to promote and encourage local artists to the greater Austin area.

The Things We See -

What is here and now? What is in the past and what will be in our future, these are the things we see. Please enjoy our collection of art.

See more art and information about the Capitol Art Society

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Participating Members

Sophia Besondy

I express life through an uncertain combination of colors, curves, and lines that blend into something unique and mysterious — like life itself.
"Melted Ice Cream" and "Uplifted"

My acrylic and colored pencil paintings express life as a marvelous fractal of God’s creation. My art represents this view of life. At first glance each piece seems random, meaningless, and even chaotic. But as each piece is fully experienced it takes on shape, a meaning, an emotion, an idea, a life.

I serendipitously discovered a love for painting one summer during college. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t touch a paintbrush again for over 40 years. Encouraged by my husband after I retired in 2015, I started painting again.

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Betty Jameson

Exploring the visual interplay of color as it affects and is influenced by the spectrum underlies her creative output. Working in water media and collage, she finds creative focus in allegorical and nature inspired compositions. Betty will execute paintings that use traditional watercolor planning and techniques.
"Midnight Moon" and "Romeo and Juliet"

Betty taught from Florida to Hawaii and Virginia and has conducted numerous single day workshops in Texas. She has been published in Steamboat, Colorado, Watercolor Magic magazine, the cover of Holistic Magazine and a CD series and book by author, Sue St. John. Betty has illustrated three books, "A Dragon A Day, "The Little Tree That Found Love" and "Your Magical Party". She also created a winning label for Messina Hof, a Texas winery's private reserve offering in 2005.

Betty has won prizes and recognition from national art organizations and water media societies across the United States, She is a signature member of Texas, Southwestern, Southern and Montana Watercolor Societies, the International Society of Watercolor Artists, Watercolor West and the National Collage Society.

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Sue Kemp

I see paintings everywhere I look and strive to interpret in my own unique way, in watercolor. I find myself looking beyond what we take for granted in everyday life, as I capture the richness of color and texture or the graceful lines or strong patterns, which others may not notice. I look for harmony and rhythm and a sense of balance, which is important to all aspects of life.
"Baile Flamenco" and "Moonlight Cruise"

I am a Watercolor Instructor at The Contemporary Austin, Art School faculty at Laguna Gloria, and have taught at UT Informal classes - Wildflower watercolors at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, D*Lux Travel as Lead Instructor. I am a Southwestern Watercolor Society Signature member, Texas Watercolor Society Past President, Purple Sage Signature member, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Signature member, Artists Changing Tomorrow, Bronze level Signature, Waterloo Watercolor Group, Past President, Capitol Art Society, elected member, and listed in Who’s Who in American Art. Publications are – watercolors included in 7 books, including Splash! and on 5 posters. BS, M.Ed., University of North Texas and workshops with nationally known artists.

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Eileen Pestorius

I seek a loose style and exciting color, with some departures from reality. I like a painting, even a quiet one, to show vigor, enthusiasm, and joy of creation.
"Wandering Near Ephesus" and "Duck Duck Goose"

Eileen Pestorius is a long time artist, active in several art groups locally. She was an adjunct professor at ACC and is docent emerita at UT's Blanton Art Gallery. She works in watercolor or oil and has taken fun groups to France and Italy to paint.

She teaches when corvid’s not involved and welcomes commissions. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Nazareth College and a Master's in Art Education from UT Austin.

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Rhea G Pettit

A consistent thread through her works is the concept that we are connected to each other, to other species, and to the natural world. She often paints dual portraits, combining two people, or people and other animals.
"Photobooming Modigliani" and "Photobooming Mucha"

Rhea Pettit majored in fine art at the University of Texas, but ultimately switched to a more "practical" degree in graphic design. For 25 years she was a professional graphic designer, doing a few paintings here and there as time permitted. Since 2013, Pettit has diligently devoted time to practice fine art and grow as a painter. She’s taken numerous workshops, including those with David Shevlino, Jennifer Balkan, and Karen Offutt. She continues her education with at least one workshop a year, because she feels more information is essential to growth.

In June 2016, Pettit transitioned to painting and her preferred medium is oil, and favorite subjects are people and animals. Her style is realism, sometimes loose and painterly, sometimes more tightly rendered. Part of her practice is painting from life regularly, because it improves her skills in observation.

She has shown at galleries in Austin, NYC, Georgetown, Dallas, Round Rock, Taylor, Waco, and Conroe group shows, and had a solo show in Georgetown in 2018. Her work has sold locally, nationally, and internationally.

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Paula Robertson-Rose

Being a professor of English at Austin Community College, I do not have an academic training in art, but I grew up in a family of artists (father, grandmother, and a relative whose first name I share) in a house whose walls were covered with paintings. There were even a few on the doors.
"Solana Sunset" and "Bahamas Beach"

I specialize in watercolor and particularly enjoy painting travel scenes, boats, reflections, food, and flowers. I studied drawing and painting at the Art School at Laguna Gloria and have had small group lessons with Eileen Pestorius. I have been on a number of art trips to France and Italy. I paint on a weekly basis with the 620 Group and participate in frequent critiques.

As suggested by the poet William Wordsworth, one can recollect moments in tranquility. One can then stretch out these moments while painting a scene. I might rush around on a trip, but I paint my memories slowly, all the more to enjoy them.

Many of my paintings are set in France and Italy with colorful buildings and lavender fields of that region that appeal to the artist in me.

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Martha Ruth

As I enjoy walking around downtown Austin, the vibrant energy of the city and our people excite me! Everywhere I look is a painting!
"Breakfast at Whole Foods" and "Food Truck Lunch"

I have a BFA in Communication Design with Honors from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. My work experience includes graphic designer and art director for a printer and advertising PR agency; free lancing graphic design and illustrations; painting murals, teaching drawing and painting classes as well as workshops, demonstrations and jurying art exhibits. I now pursue my painting fulltime.

I have had commissions using watercolors depicting the music venues of Austin, and acrylic painting about the history of Seguin, Texas. I have been represented by galleries in Tucson and Scottsdale, Arizona, and in Austin, Lakeway and Bee Cave, Texas.

Credits:

Capitol Art Society