RecaP; Watercolor by Spring artist draws a record-setting price, Yazzy's at www.williamverdult.com

A $185,000 winning bid for the grand champion painting by a high school artist set a new record at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Sunday, beating last year's top bid of $165,000.

Packing Up, a painting of a cowboy unsaddling his horse at the end of the day by 18-year-old Spring High School senior Jennifer Light, was chosen as the best of 54 works of art at the auction.

Winning the grand champion award is an important benchmark in her ability as an artist and boosts the reputation of her school, Light said.

"I finally reached some point in my skill that's tangible," she said.

The purchase price was split by Courtney Somerville, 21, of Houston, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, and Joe Van Matre of Lafayette, La., a member of the rodeo board of directors and the art committee, along with his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Jeanie Van Matre.

The two buyers made the purchase in honor of late relatives: Somerville for her mother, Kathy Somerville, a member of the rodeo's school art committee who died July 26; and Joe Van Matre for his wife of 40 years, Elizabeth, a committee member who died June 4.

The reserve grand champion, or second-place painting, also set a record for the winning bid in its category, bringing in $150,000. Last year's reserve grand champion went for $100,000.

Maudie Revett, 18, a senior at Foster High School in Richmond, painted the reserve grand champion, titled Living My Dream, showing a cowgirl in chaps holding a lariat and leaning against a fence.

The name of the painting reflected Revett's feelings about winning second place. "This is living my dream," she said.

Van Matre, who says he and his wife always bid on the top two artworks every year, split the purchase of Revett's painting with three couples: Tom and Mimi Dompier, Pam and Jerrol Springer, and Jim Winne and Lynda Layne, all of Houston.

Light will receive $30,000 for a scholarship and Revett $15,000, with the remaining money going into a general scholarship fund.

Both artists plan on using their money to attend art school. Light said she plans to enroll at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Revett said she would go to community college for a year and transfer to the University of Houston while looking for a university with an art program that fits her needs.