Rockport, IAPS, Luling... Summer Art News!
Sent: 6/12/2026 3:42:12 PM

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Paintings, Paintings and more Paintings!

Rita Kirkman Studio

Summer 2026

Dear Subscriber,

Yep, it's SUMMER! (The calendar says it's still 9 days off, but Texas doesn't pay attention to that!) I'll be off to Albuquerque next week for the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Convention. (The final one! I'm so sad!) But I'm looking forward to recharging my creative energies and revisiting old friends.

After that I've got just two hot events in June and July. The rest of my summer I plan to spend in the studio - painting!

Rockport Art Festival

July 4-5

Rockport TX

Sharing Sheepish Secrets

A have a strange affinity for Rockport and the Rockport Art Fest, in spite of it always being in early July and always being so incredibly HOT and HUMID!!

But there's something about the Gulf coast and the sea gulls and the salty air that encapsulate all the good things about summer.

AND... I'm beating the heat at Rockport this time (and so can you!) They've put up another AIR CONDITIONED TENT... for some of the ARTISTS this time!! And my booth is IN IT! YEAH!!

:)

My latest large sheep painting "Sharing Sheepish Secrets" (24x48) will be with me there, along with all of my other available paintings. Come into the coolness and find me!

I have also donated this cute little kitten painting to the Art Auction Gala on Friday evening. I believe tickets are still available for that VIP event!

Playful Kitten

Caricatures!

at the

Luling Watermelon Thump

June 25-28, 2026

My other hot summer event that I just can't give up. Luling TX is a small town with a big heart!

I've been doing caricatures there for... gosh, a long time!

Come enjoy the weekend, the music, the crafts and the cool watermelon!

It's "Bunny Buddy" Summer!

Visit Me in My Studio!

Ever curious about what goes on behind the scenes in the studio of a working artist? Did you know that each month I stream live from my studio on select days via Zoom?

I call these streaming events Virtual Open Studio days, (VOS for short) and anyone can come with a Bunny Buddy (or higher) membership on my Patreon. Hang out with me as I work on ... whatever I'm working on! From pasteling little "warm fuzzies" to batches of new underpaintings, portrait commissions, projects large and small, and occasional Paint-Alongs for some fun participation!

July and August are plentiful months for my VOS, while I stay home in the cool... You can see my schedule here.

My Patreon Page also holds over 250 inspiring full-length recordings from from the Virtual Open Studio Days since 2020 (also instantly accessible to Bunny Buddies!)

Check out my Patreon!

Pastel Workshop

Grapevine Texas (Dallas area)

Sept 28-30, 2026

Full with Wait List

See all Learning Opportunities Here

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

~ Thomas Merton

Thanks for reading my News. Please do share with your friends. I hope to see you soon! Be artful and enjoy life,

Rita

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