Our Best To You / vol.1

Our Best to You
/vol. 1
A Sampling of Artists
The Seguin Art League

The arts are ndamental to our humanity. They
ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity,
goodness, and beauty. The arts bring us joy, help
us express our values, and build bridges between
cultures. The arts are also a ndamental
component of a healthy community—
strengthening them socially, educationally, and
economically—benefits that persist even in
difficult social and economic times.
Americans for the Arts

Our Best to You /vol.1

Our Best to You
/ vol. 1
A Sampling of Artists from
the Seguin Art League
Phography & Design
Douglas Manger, HeritageWorks

Copyright © 2019 by HeritageWorks
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form
or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
HeritageWorks
108 E. College Street
Seguin, Texas
78155
All phographs by Douglas Manger,
with the exception of the dedication page image,
courtesy of Marika Bordes and Dennis Martin,
and the image on page 50, courtesy of Barbie Puckett Todd.
Printed in the United States of America
Cover Phograph: Ice Reflections, oil painting by Cherryl Pritts

CONTENTS
i INTRODUCTION
2 THE ARTISTS
3 Mieczyslaw Bednarski
5 Roger Betschler
7 Marika Bordes
9 Mary Cannon
11 Christian Dwyer
13 Howard Crunk
15 Kolleen Kallus
17 Cathryn Davis
19 Colleen Rose Donohoe
21 Holly Falkenberg
23 Robert Garcia, Jr.
25 Kelly Hallmark
27 Nancy Kissiar
29 Terrie Leyton
31 Clara Mae Marcte
33 Donna Maske
35 Henry Moore
37 Vicki Nielsen
39 Cheryl Pritts
41 Liz Romero
43 Kim Schmitt
45 Daryl Styblo
47 Joe Tion
49 Barbie Puckett Todd
51 Robin Walker-Roberts
53 PHOTOGRAPHER'S NOTE

This book is dedicated to Marika Bordes for her
unwavering commitment to advancing the arts in Seguin.

INTRODUCTION | Our Best to You /vol.. 1
Nestled in close by the Guadalupe River in the heart of Texas just east of San Antonio, the City of
Seguin is home to a surprising number of artists creating and sharing works of art across disciplines.
The artists featured in this celebratory publication are all members of the Seguin Art League.
Diverse as the city itself, their backgrounds are as varied as the canvases, sculptures, fiber arts they
produce. Some are ll blown professional artists formally trained with art degrees and impressive
show histories. Others teach art in our local schools. Some are now retired from long and productive
non-artistic careers. Still hers self-taught working privately out of the limelight; a day job to pay the
bills and care for family with enough le over to create art on the side.
Regardless of one’s background, art has the power to connect in the most intimate ways, one soul to
anher. No matter the language spoken, how educated, how rich or poor, how young or old, at its best
art speaks and connects sharing emions and ideals on a level playing field.
Founded in 1984, the Seguin Art League facilitates this communication by nurturing the skill sets of
its artist members, while sharing their art work with the broader community. The following pages are
filled with their stories, their dreams, along with stunning images of their work in the world as they
see it. Our hope is that this publication will inspire hers to take their own journey on the artist’s way
as enthusiasts and supporters of our Community Arts.
Nancy Kissiar | Liz Romero
Current and Former President
Seguin Art League
i

1

The Artists
2

3
Mieczyslaw Bednarski

Mieczyslaw Bednarski,
American abstract artist,
born in 1963, Chicago,
Illinois. Both my parents
immigrated from Poland. I
have been creating art since
the 4th grade. My
exploration into abstract
visioning started developing
in 4th grade special
education classes. I have had
many wonderful loving
artistic teachers over the past
40 years; all have added to
my artistic development. My
abstract visioning is selftaught.
To develop as a working
artist, I have visited scores of
contemporary galleries and
many of America’s major
museums. I have also
attended hundreds of
lectures at major art
exhibitions throughout the
Americas. My major interests
are action painters, abstract
impressionism, surrealism,
and abstract visioning.
Since 1998 I have maintained
a working studio in
Seguin. For the past eight
years I have been teaching
private arts lessons. I also
volunteer and teach art at a
local mental health, mental
retardation addiction
recovery program. I have
been disabled most of my
adult life. The opportunities
I face daily contribute
immensely to my abilities to
create.
The nature of my art is
abstract visioning. My best
work is not a means to an
end. Your interpretation of
my created work finishes the
creative process—the viewer
continues the visioning for
me. My artist code is "to
have the courage to try
anything and refuse to be
bound down by what others
have done or might think.”
There is progress when I
dare to break with tradition
and bring to art whatever
my creative genius might
freely have to offer.
Untitled
Oil on Wood
4 x 8 feet
4

5
Roger Betschler
Lil’ Saint #14
Raku
8 x 19 x 6 inches
Clay is my medium. I like to
throw pots with the Texas emblem,
but I enjoy sculpting in clay even
more.
I received my B.A. in Art from
the University of Wisconsin-
Whitewater with emphasis in
Painting and Sculpture. At the
University of Minnesota-Duluth,
I earned my M.A. in Art. I received
my certification to teach
art and taught art at the middle
school level for 22 years in
Seguin, Texas.
As an artist, I enjoy drawing,
painting, and sculpture. My
painting still shows the underlying
geometric bands that I
enjoyed in graduate school. The
human figure has always had a
dominant place in my sculpture.
After studying life casting at
Santa Fe College, I developed
a series of ceramic torsos,
emphasizing texture and color
during the firing process.
At the same time, I created a
series of clay whimsical bird
sculptures. Presently, I am
completing a series of 50 Lil’
Saints in primitive style
using raku.

Email: rogersartstudio@gmail.com
Website: www.rogersartstudio.com
6

Marika Bordes
Email: marikasculpture@yahoo.com
Website: marikasculptures.com
7

I am a creative
woman who
happens to
sculpt wood for
almost 20 years.
I do not have a
particular
background in
Art.
Late in life,
a master
sculptor taught
me how to
handle tools,
and from there
I began carving.
My work
describes the
sanctity of daily
life.
God Among Us
Woodcarving
Cypresswood Figure
Cottonwood Dove
12 x 4 x 2 feet
8

Mary Cannon
Email: marycannon989@yahoo.com
Medina Hill Country
Acrylic on Canvas
16 x 20 inches
9

Although I did not actually
start painting until the early
1970s, my passion for painting
has always been with me.
My first instructor was
Jerry Weers, a professional artist
from Seguin. I have also
studied under Karen McCauley,
Susan Carlin, Lilli Pell,
and John Potatschnik.
The early Texas painters are a
great source of inspiration for me,
especially Porfirio Salinas. My
artwork is mainly Texas
landscapes with bluebonnets and
other native wild flowers. Apart
from landscapes I also paint
custom portraits of pets: dogs,
cats, chickens, horses, pigs, goats,
prize bulls, Texas Longhorns, you
name it. These are great gifts for
the holidays, birthdays,
anniversaries, and memorials.
10

Christian Dwyer
Born and raised in Texas of Irish-
Welsh parents, my youth was
surrounded by ranches, country
life, and seven siblings. My heritage
is one of service for this nation’s
military, education system, and
healthcare. My early interests
included academic competition,
basketball, and track. All of this
paled in comparison to my
collegiate success as a bull rider
for Southwest Texas State
University. These experiences
prepared me physically, mentally,
and spiritually for my later adult
years.
A life altering experience with
a rollover truck wreck in 1995
resulted in major traumatic
injuries to my brain and spleen
with a fracture dislocation of my
neck. The resulting paralysis
changed the trajectory of my life.
My mother suggested therapeutic
art participation to strengthen my
lost motor skills through counselors
and therapists at the Warm
Springs Rehab Hospital. In future
years my artistic painting ability
has progressed with the aid and
assistance of my coach and teacher,
Liz Jerkin.
Now painting has become part of
my lifestyle. Being able to focus on
local scenic landscapes and the
wildlife of God’s creation gives an
endless supply of objects, themes,
and variation for paintings. From
painting as a mode of physical
therapy, it has now matured into a
genuine appreciation for painting
as a lifelong work to bring our
daily focus on God’s creations
around us…from the smallest
insect to the large sky above us all.
11
Email: dwyer_christian@yahoo.com
The View from the Porch
Oil on Canvas
16 x 20 inches

12

Howard Crunk
Email: howardec@hotmail.com
A Lazy Afternoon in the Savannah
Woodcarving
Mesquite sculpture mounted on cottonwood
20 x 46 inches
13

Although born in New Braunfels, I was raised
in Seguin. With pencil in hand I first started
drawing at the age of two. At the age of seven I
started watercolor painting lessons. From there, I
expanded beyond my monochromatic drawings
and sketches into a world of painted vivid colors.
After graduating from Seguin High School, I
took my college foundation courses at St. Philip’s
College in San Antonio. It was here that I met my
first influential instructors: Regis Shephard and
Brian Lipscomb. Under their tutelage I expanded
into acrylic, and later, oil paintings. I also took my
first true steps into subtractive sculpting, being
that I only dabbled in additive sculpting with
clay modeling before. During my time at St.
Philip’s I mainly worked on stone sculptures--
alabaster stone to be precise--as well as acrylic
paintings.
After my time at St. Philip’s, I transferred to
Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. At TLU, I
studied under Landa King, T. Paul, and S. Torres,
further improving my work in oil painting and
sculpting. After graduating from TLU with a BA
Degree in Studio Arts, I met wood sculptor, Marie
Carmel Bordes, to whom I became an apprentice,
and as well, a student and "adopted son.” My
personal mission-goal in my art is simply to
create; to take a piece of stone or wood into my
hands and recreate it anew.
14

Kolleen Kallus
In the dim
of resistant
patterning,
a breakthrough
...a flowering
of Divine
connection…
the undeniable
call of
the Soul.
15
Email: kolleen@hopeattheheart.com
Website: www.hopeattheheart.com
Contact #: (210) 260-3131
Reminded
Acrylic on Canvas
24 x 24 inches

Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed creating things. It wasn’t
until after I became a mom that I started to uncover my
heart’s desire to be an artist. The limitless, creative potential
of the blank canvas called me. I began by experimenting with
different mediums and decided on acrylics as my paint of
choice. I love how acrylics lend themselves to layers and
textures.
Painting became a way for me to access the deepest, truest
parts of myself. I describe my process as one of being a vessel
—letting go of self-limiting thoughts, staying unattached to
outcomes, and trusting the soul's inspiration and rhythm. My
biggest challenge was to listen and not to allow my mind, nor
doubt, get in the way of receiving what I can best explain as
Divine guidance coming through me. I see each painting as an
opportunity to grow and to express this purpose with greater
awareness and clarity.
As the artist, I’m not striving to create something
representational from the outside; I’m striving to convey a
feeling from the inside. As each of us is unique, I seek to
create originals maintaining a 100% unique combination of
color, depth, and light. I love matching pieces one-by-one
with my clients based on the inspiration.
I believe true art can make a difference and extend beyond
the limitations of its medium. I aspire to create art with
meaning and purpose—art that cuts through the distractions
of life, awakens connection, and shines a ray of hope.
16

Cathryn Davis
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
~ Pablo Picasso
Companions
Pit Fired Clay
M: 26 x 14 x 12 inches
F: 28 x 18 x 12 inches
17
Email: cathryn@sixpencefineartstudio.com

I guess I’d have to define
the current version of my
artist-self, as a sculptor. I
love all things 3-D. I find
the push and pull of clay
to be mesmerizing and the
physical presence of
artfully arranged found
objects and metals to be
equally captivating. This
said, my love of all things
art has seen earlier versions
of myself as a painter, a
printmaker, and a
photographer.
Remember that kid in
school who drew on all of
their work whether they
were supposed to or not, or,
was always asked to be part
of the group project so
somebody could do the
drawing part?
Yea…that was me.
“Be yourself, because those who matter don’t
mind, and those who mind don’t matter.”
~Dr. Seuss
My journey into art began
as soon as I could hold a
crayon and I eventually
earned my Bachelor of Fine
Arts at the University of
Texas at San Antonio.
I quickly found myself
teaching art and photography
and though I didn’t
set out to be a teacher, found
that I loved it.
As an artist who is also a
teacher - or - a teacher who
is also an artist, balancing
my time and energy can be
difficult, but the main thing
I tell my students is to keep
working...I try to take my
own advice.
New clay exploration is
underway, after that some
welded art pieces, and after
that, who knows!
18

Alleen Rose Donohoe
As a child I loved to draw
scenes from nature that were
undisturbed by the
mechanics of "modern"
living. Since then, many
profound experiences,
studies, and observations
have taught me that the
beautiful balance of nature
that created and sustains all
things, including man
himself, still governs all. I
offer my works in honor of,
and gratitude for, the
blessings and protections
provided for us through the
Laws of Nature.
Email: aleluiah@gmail.com
19

Drummer Girl
Oil on Canvas
48 x 36 inches
20

Holly Falkenberg
21
Email: hollyfalkenberg@gmail.com

Angel of Hope
Watercolor on Paper
18 x 24 inches
Born and raised in Seguin, Texas, I now teach art and yearbook classes in the Comal
Independent School District. My fine arts degree, with an emphasis in graphic design, is from
Texas State University in San Marcos. When I am not teaching or designing, I enjoy painting
and working on photography projects for friends and family. Watercolor and chalk pastel are
my favorite mediums to work in. I also enjoy silk painting and making alcohol inks.
My paintings are mostly done in a representational style with the subject matter chosen from
my road trips and cycling trails. Often, I choose subjects in nature—flowers and animals or
architectural elements—and present them with a unique perspective. My paint strokes are rich
and fresh in color showing a lot of light. Most recently, I have shown my art at Rio Claro
Studio in San Marcos, Art on 12 Gallery in Wimberley, and at the Seguin Art League Gallery.
22

Robert Garcia, Jr.
23
Email: robgar23@hotmail.com
Mom I Love You
Acrylic on Canvas
30 x 40 inches

Laredo, Texas, is where I was
born and raised. My career as an
operations manager has given my
family and I a chance to relocate
these last couple of years. This has
brought us here to Seguin where
we’ve been for three years now.
My wife, Valerie, is a public
school teacher in Seguin. We have
two children with a third on the
way.
My passion for art started at an
early age but grew stronger
during my college years. Acrylic
painting is what I love. During
my college art classes I really
pushed myself to learn different
techniques. I practiced a lot. Soon
enough I was painting portraits
for family and friends. For the last
five years I’ve been painting
portraits. Almost all my paintings
come directly from photos I take.
Everywhere I go, my camera
comes with me. Bringing the
photo to life on canvas is what I
enjoy doing. Honestly, I just love
to paint.
Besides portraits, I enjoy
painting in the moment. My
personal paintings show what is
going on in my mind and heart.
Through the years I have seen my
personal work change for the
better. Recently, I’ve been working
on a Catholic series in honor of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
24

Kelly Hallmark
Born in Irving, Texas,
in 1972, after a move to
Arkansas, I eventually
returned to Texas in
1997.
I dabbled in art off and
on throughout my early
adulthood; more seriously
when I became an art
teacher.
Along with teaching
art, I belong to the Seguin
Art league where
I volunteer time. I also
volunteer as a fire fighter
with the Sand Hills VFD.
Often I am asked about
my motivations when
painting. To that I only
have a simple reply,
“I paint for enjoyment.”
My paintings are meant
to be happy, even silly,
to bring a smile to others.
Email: kellyhallmark5704@yahoo.com
25

Amaryllis
Acrylic on Canvas
9 x 12 inches
26

Nancy Kissiar
I am a newcomer to the artistic
lifestyle. After raising four children,
then attending Texas Lutheran
University in Seguin, I entered the
work force. At the age of 51, I quit
my job and began photographing
events and producing high quality
commemorative keepsake books. In
the years since this beginning, I
moved into art photography and
painting. Now, I am a full-time
artist, selling my work at local
events and shops. The most popular
works include the trademark
TEXAS TINY landscapes and
beautifully rendered portraits of
both people and pets.
My approach to learning my craft
has not been through the traditional
route of academic instruction or
apprentice training. Instead, I
employed the strategy of trial and
error, watching video instruction
and hanging out with accomplished
artists as they create and explain. I
value the time other artists have
27
Email: nancykissiar@gmail.com

spent demonstrating different techniques. Their honest feedback has helped
me gain strength and competency.
Since joining the Seguin Art League several years ago, I have served on
various committees, helped with shows, and even judged a time or two. For
three years I also served on the Seguin Commission on the Arts. I am currently
president of the Seguin Art League. During my two-year term, my foremost
goals are to raise public awareness of how the league serves the community,
and to complete the restoration of the Klein Opera House, the future home of
the Seguin Art League.
Sunrise on
Rockport Bay
Acrylic on Canvas
12 x 24 inches
28

Terrie Leyton
Terrie Leyton
Email: terrieleyton@gmail.com
Website: www.terrieleyton.com
Rockin’ with the
Rhythm of the Waves
Acrylic on Canvas
30 x 30 inches
29

Growing up I watched a commercial
artist make her art. When I was old enough I
became her helper. That artist was my
mother, Alleen Donohoe. My dream was to
make amazing art, too, but life sidetracked
me for a time.
Nineteen years ago, a Jerry Yarnell
television show pulled me back on track.
With my new acrylic paints, brushes, and
canvas, by the next weekend I was painting
along with Jerry. The results surprised me.
From there I bought how-to-books and
videos to study. YouTube was also a great
source for how-to information. Later, master
classes with watercolorist, Angie Brown,
and the renowned landscape painter, John
Pototschnik, also helped me improve my
technique. And, as always, I remain grateful
for the advice given by artists I’ve met along
the way.
My paintings—oil, acrylic, conte’,
watercolor, graphite, or pencil—are
expressions of what I see, feel, and think.
Seventeen of my works were shown in a
two-woman show at the Silver Center in
Seguin; 28 works at a one-woman show at
Craig’s Sauté and Grill Restaurant, also in
Seguin. My work has also been shown at
First United Bank in Seguin, the Seguin
Business Showcase, and the Bijou Theater in
San Antonio. My art work can be purchased
on-line from my website, the River Arts
Gallery in San Antonio, New Braunfels Art
League Gallery in New Braunfels, and at the
Seguin Art League Gallery in Seguin.
Email: terrieleyton@gmail.com
30

Clara Mae Marcotte
I received my bachelor degree in
1964 and my master’s degree in
1966 at the University of Florida.
My fields included English, speech,
and journalism (which included
photography). After
teaching in high school for 17 years,
I worked as a writer/reporter in the
Office of Public Affairs at Texas
A&M University-Kingsville.
In the late 1960s, a two year stay
in Ohio opened my eyes to the joys
of watercolor and nature studies.
During the 70s and early 80s I
studied under Milford Zornes,
Emily Rutland, George Post, Tom
Hill, Bill Renfrow, Harold Phenix,
Al Brouillette, Homer O. Hacker,
Naomi Brotherton, and Zoltan
Szabo.
My watercolor paintings are in the
permanent collections at the First
Email: rcm.marcotte@gmail.com
31

State Bank of Alice, Corpus Christi
Bank and Trust, and the Corpus
Christi Museum. My one-woman
shows include those at the Corpus
Christi Museum, Bayfront Plaza in
Corpus Christi, the Texas A&I Art
Gallery, and Court Street Coffee
Shop in Seguin. I am a past
president of the Southwestern
Watercolor Society, Corpus Christi
Chapter.
After I retired from teaching, I
started taking photographs—not
related to teaching journalism—and
also moved into the field of fiber
arts. Fiber awards include ribbons
at the Guadalupe County Fair.
Photography awards include
ribbons at Seguin Art League
shows. Currently I demonstrate
fiber arts at Seguin’s AgFest and
Country Christmas.
Nature's Design
Digital Print
14 x 11 inches
32

Donna Maske
Email: ddhm51@yahoo.com
33

Cass County Sweetgum
Fiber
48 x 29 inches
I grew up in the piney woods of East Texas in
a house surrounded by forty acres of woods
belonging to my grandfather. Plants and animals
always interested me and I loved being
outdoors. Later, as I developed as an artist,
organic forms began to influence my work.
From my childhood on I was surrounded by
women who worked with many types of fiber
art. This exposure has influenced the kind of art
I create up to this day. I enjoy working in many
mediums using a variety of techniques to
develop my artwork.
Over the past few years I have worked mainly
in the fiber arts. Working in this medium has
helped me return to my roots. My quilts and
fiber creations are not my mom's or my granny's
kind, but I think that they would be happy to
see that I have been honoring our family
traditions—traditions that will always be a part
of my work.
Retired now, for twenty-five years I taught art
in Texas public schools. In preparation for my
teaching career, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Secondary Education from East Texas Baptist
College, a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southwest
Texas State University, and a Master of Arts in
Education from Texas Tech University.
My career in art education, along with my
applied experience as an artist, have honed my
creative skills. Taken as a whole, this exposure
has enabled me to develop a body of work much
stronger than I would have otherwise achieved.
34

Henry Moore
Email: hhmjr@att.net
35

Although I drew in
high school, I never considered
painting. When
we bought our home in
Seguin in 1965, we
wanted art for the walls.
The price of original art
was shocking, so I
decided to try to create
my own. Back then Texas
Lutheran University
allowed community
members to audit classes,
so I took Painting 101
from Professor Charles.
Homer Parker let me use
the room above his
pharmacy as a studio.
Abstract painting is
what I like. At first I
worked with car paints,
but the toxic fumes were
too much so I switched to
acrylics.
During the 1960s, at the
Texas Fine Arts Association
shows, my paintings
took several awards
including a Juror’s
Choice and a Merit
Award. In 1967, I wrote
Untitled
Oil on Wood
4 x 4 feet
and illustrated a
children's book entitled
Germs. In the dedication I
wrote, "To all the precious
children whose simple
delights are so envied by
sophisticated adults."
Through the years the
more my medical practice
grew the less time I had
to paint. All that changed
in 2000, however, after
our first medical mission
to Honduras. Upon our
return I got with the
program with two firstplace
awards, two years
running, in the art
competition at the Texas
Medical Association
annual meeting.
A good abstract will
hang in any direction.
Abstractions of Bible
verses and the St. Andrew’s
Cross are recurring
themes in my work.
My preference is to use
bold, bright, primary
colors with some black
and white.
36

Vicky Nielsen
Poppy Field
Oil on Canvas
40 x 72 inches
Email: superchick_1973@yahoo.com
37

My husband, Don, and I moved to Seguin in
May 2017. We adore our home, and have made
connections with wonderful people since our
arrival. Family and friends are key to us.
As a kid, I traced my mother’s sketches of
vintage pinup girls. This nurtured a love for the
human form and a desire to continue doing art.
While in high school, I worked at Six Flags Over
Texas doing quick pastel/watercolor portraits. I
attended the University of Texas-Arlington as a
fine arts major, then got disheartened with the
prospect of moving “up North” to pursue fashion
illustration. Subsequently, I gave up art and
landed in the hotel industry until 1997. I
eventually obtained an Associates Degree in Art
from Austin Community College. I continued my
art and art history education at the University of
Houston until 2015, then shortly thereafter
relocated to Seguin.
While at Austin Community College, a
gentleman found my work on exhibit at the
campus. He became my greatest patron,
remaining so to this day. I joke that his home is
my gallery. He continues to buy my art, when not
globe-trotting, and recently purchased a piece
that was hanging at the Court Street Coffee Shop
last summer depicting an Italian coastal town.
My hope is that my passion for life and
discovery is reflected in my work. I use a variety
of mediums, but oil is my favorite. I consider
myself an impressionist/symbolist, still evolving
from the school of realistic objectivity to a more
subjective art form.
38

Cherryl Pritts
My work has been inspired by Betty Ritchie, the
acclaimed landscape painter from San Marcos. Our
teacher/mentor relationship continues to this day. Betty
has taught me the essentials of landscape painting
including color tones and the appropriate light key for
the time of day, season, and location. She helps me with
Texas. I don’t get it like I should. She always brings me
back to reality when it comes to the landscape.
A brush painter at first, I later switched to the palette
knife which I find more freeing. Copious amounts of
paint are used in my paintings. The layers create the
impressions I’ve been taught: “Make it what your mind
sees; make it the way it feels.” The mix of colors gives
me the most joy.
My transition into palette painting was inspired by
Lois Griffel. After absorbing her book and videos, I
called her up. From Griffel’s teachings I learned how to
block out my paintings, working each shape and form
individually to create the whole. Instead of using one
color, like white or black right out of the tube, I learned
the value of combining colors to create a more distinct
feel in my paintings.
Continued growth as an artist is an absolute for me
with ongoing lessons and workshops. With no interest in
using the same approach over and over again, I keep
trying different methods to see what works. The real
satisfaction comes, however, when someone likes my
painting well enough to take it home.
Email: chibatc@aol.com
39

Enchantment
Oil on Canvas
16 x 20 inches
40

Liz Romero
Seguin has been my home
since 2000. In middle school I was
honored to be selected for art
instruction at the University of
Texas at Austin. Later while in high
school I was awarded a medal for
art achievement. After graduating, I
enjoyed two semesters of landscape
design at Houston Community
College.
In 2013 I joined the Seguin Art
League and began taking classes
from Patricia Lange, Donna Maske,
and Roger Betschler, all highly
qualified art teachers. My travels
have since taken me to New York,
North Carolina, and Virginia for
instruction from artists Nan
Cunningham, Wesley Sherman, and
Nancy West. In 2018 I studied with
Joan Fullerton in New Braunfels.
I enjoy using different media,
including glass mosaic, pastels,
Prickly Pear #3
Colored Pencil on Paper
12 x 9 inches
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pen and ink, and colored pencils.
Currently acrylic and oil paints on
larger surfaces is my focus.
Shadows, color, and light reflected
by water are all fascinating to me.
Capturing movement in all my
work is what I strive for.
My art has been exhibited in both
local and regional shows including
those presented by the Seguin Art
League, Court Street Coffee Shop,
New Braunfels Art League,
Gonzales Art Group, Luling Oil
Museum, Guadalupe Regional
Medical Center, and First United
Bank in Seguin. Honors to date
include multiple ribbon and special
awards at both local and regional
art shows. In 2017, my painting
“Park Plaza Christmas” was chosen
by Seguin’s Main Street Program to
be featured on their annual holiday
Sip ‘n Stroll cocoa mug.
Email: fleurromero@gmail.com
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Kim Schmitt
As an artist…as an educator…a wife,
mother, and grandmother…I love art!
I love to create art, look at art, and teach
art. My students often ask me, “When did
you start doing art?” My answer is always
the same, “As long as I can remember.”
My concentration at both Texas Lutheran
University and the University of Houston
was studio art. Later I earned a BA Degree
in Education from Texas State University
with a specialization in art. Now, after 22
years of teaching art for the Seguin
Independent School District, I am retiring. I
look forward to hopefully having more
time to paint.
At this time, my preference is to work in
several different mediums. In college,
ceramics held my interest, but now I
consider myself a painter. My favorite
medium as of late has been ink and acrylic.
If you look at my paintings, you can tell I
love color. The rural landscape around our
home east of Seguin is the source of
inspiration for my paintings.
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Email: kiminseguin@yahoo.com

Blue Burro
Ink & Acrylic on Canvas
24 x 20 inches
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Daryl Styblo
Email: drstyblo@hotmail.com
Scarlet Tanager
Digital Photograph
11 x 14 inches
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A career computer programmer,
in the 1960s I took up photography
as a sideline after a SCUBA dive trip
on a coral reef off the Florida coast.
As for my learning curve in
photography, my first serious
camera was a Nikonos underwater
camera. Without any formal
training using a single lens reflex
(SLR) camera, I went from underwater
photography to macro
photography of insects, flowers,
and mushrooms. Later I branched
out to animals and birds, with some
side trips to motorcycles and cars.
That’s the nice thing about photography;
you can photograph almost
anything you are interested in.
My work has been featured in a
variety of publications to include
Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas
Highways, Texas Iron, and
Easyrider Magazine, and most
recently, on the cover of the
Chihuahuan Desert Research
Institute newsletter.
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Joe Ticson
My interest in art started in
grade school. With my vivid
imagination, I preferred to draw
rather than to pay attention in
class. My art work really began to
blossom during my high school
advance placement art classes.
Later, in the Air Force, I was
given the opportunity to install
numerous murals in our squadron's
hangars. I also repainted
some WWII era warbirds on
display on the post (Kirtland
Air Force Base). During my more
recent enlistment in the Army at
Fort Hood, the process was
repeated, but without the warbirds.
Over the past few years I have
attended college for some needed
art history courses and for more
exposure to the current arts
climate. During my time there I
came to realize I had hardly been
Email: joeticson@hotmail.com
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influenced at all by art history
growing up. My influences—as
far as art was concerned—were
the typical media of the day
during the 80s and 90s, my faith,
plus all the novels I was reading
(fantasy books by the dozens).
While considering all this in
college, the real importance of my
art work finally came to me. My
work removes the viewer from
the stress of their everyday lives
and pulls them into a story full of
wonder, but often wrought with
danger. In my paintings, using
otherworldly landscapes, I try to
capture that moment when
something wonderful…or
something catastrophic…is about
to happen.
Along with commission pieces,
to apply my love of illustration, I
have started a mural business to
serve the area.
Wizard Tower
Oil on Canvas
48 x 36 inches
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Barbie Puckett Todd
Teboe
Pastel on Paper
16 x 12 inches
Email: rockinbarb@gvec.net
Webpage: www.texwanderer.com/rockin-bar-b.com/wordpress/
Contact #: (210) 416-3991
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For 31 years I
taught art and art
history in Texas
public schools.
Now in retirement
I specialize in
creating realistic
images of pets.
As an animal
lover, I understand
how special the
relationship is
between an owner
and their pet.
I also create
original paintings
of children, adults,
and landscapes
using acrylics,
pastels, pen & ink,
or pencil.
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Robin Roberts-Walker
As an award winner at both Texas
and national shows, my work has
been shown in hundreds of juried
exhibitions, group, and individual
shows in 45 cities in 13 states
including every major city in Texas.
Recent 2018 awards include
recognition in the Art Center of
Corpus Christi show, the New
Braunfels Art League Texas show,
and the Reflections of Texas exhibit at
the Luling Oil Museum. As an
exhibitor in the national Aqueous
and Southern Watercolor exhibitions,
I was the featured artist at the Texas
100 and Beaux Arts Festival in
Miami.
A past president of the New
Braunfels, Laredo, and Seguin Art
Leagues, I am also past president and
signature member of the Texas
Watercolor Society.
My fine arts degree is from the
University of Texas at Austin with
further studies at the Instituto de
Allende in San Miguel de Allende,
Mexico. Married to Bill Walker, my
studio is located on Lake McQueeney
near Seguin, Texas.
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Email: robin@robinhroberts.com
Website: www.robinhroberts.com
1986 West Texas Ticklers
Watercolor on Canvas
30 x 38 inches

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Phographer’s Ne |
Our Best to You celebrates the artistic talent
in Seguin and vicinity seen and unseen,
discovered and undiscovered. With over
100 members in the Seguin Art League
alone, this is but a small sampling of the
talent that lies beyond.
Privacy is paramount to most artists.
Without their willingness to allow access
with my camera, this project would not
have been possible. Thankfully the
response was overwhelmingly positive.
For this I am grateful.
Raising awareness of the wealth of artisan
talent close at hand was the motivation
behind this project. It is our hope that this
publication, with its collection of original
works, will inspire others to join with us in
support of our community arts.
Douglas Manger, founder/principal at
HeritageWorks in Seguin, Texas, is a
researcher, writer, and photographer.
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