Art

Cowboys and cowgirls desiring to look their best proudly accentuate their outfits with shiny buckles. In Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World,” Hyo Silver accommodates sharp dressers not only with buckles but also with distinctive pieces of jewelry to make eye-catching fashion statements. The boutique is now making its own fashion statement in a beautifully-restored historic structure in the center of town that’s been home to numerous enterprises including Bandera’s first bank. ...

Return with us now to those hippie days of yesteryear. From out of the past comes the sort of clothing that grabs your attention with colors and designs that seem more random and unique than you could ever imagine. Tie-dye clothing amazes us again. The Hill Country Mistress of Tie-Dye is Robin Wood of Wimberley who has been creating this distinctive clothing loveliness for more than 20 years now. “I always enjoyed wearing tie-dye clothing,” she recalls. In her travels Robin attended ...

“You know something,” mused Graham Avery. “The theatre is like sausage. You'll enjoy it. You’ll like it. You may even love it. But you don’t really want to know how it’s made!” I was chatting with the retired ophthalmologist who’s a regular performer at Hill Country Community Theatre (HCCT). It was a Wednesday evening and we were backstage waiting to begin Moon Over Buffalo.

The act of skilled, visual creativity is an astounding thing. The proficiency to physically and emotionally capture, in two- and/or three-dimension, likenesses that evoke an other-worldly reality has always been an appreciated and revered aspect within the greater realm of the recognized arts. It’s inspiring when encountered as are those few gifted with the abilities to actually execute.

I did not expect what I saw at JP Mazanec’s RustiCustom Wimberley workshop. He’s an expert woodworker. Name the wood, name the project, and he’ll do it whether it’s functional or art or perhaps both. His workshop is expansive — more than 2,000 square feet with every tool you can imagine accompanied by paints and stains and pieces of wood. The workshop is surrounded outside by wood, some exposed to the elements and some in sheds.

Leakey, the county seat of Real County, welcomes visitors and attracts newcomers to an area of outstanding natural beauty. Its steep, rugged terrain creates deep canyons which shelter the Frio and Nueces rivers. Lazy, slow-moving stretches of water are interspersed with thrilling whitewater rapids and deep pools, providing exceptional kayaking, tubing and fishing for outdoor enthusiasts. Driving tours are popular with both auto and motorcycle aficionados, where hairpin curves cling to the m ...

Located in the heart of sheep and goat country where live oaks dot the hills and clear streams flow, a vibrant South Texas artisan is creating colorful clothing and single-handily promoting an industry whose heyday peaked years ago. Dolores Vernor greets me at the door of her shop on Camp Wood’s main street.

It’s just a little old shop on a corner in the town of Goldthwaite. I walk in and I am almost overwhelmed by what I see—a huge variety of beautiful items on shelves, hanging from the walls, set up on the floor. Then the lady behind the counter tells me that everything I see is handcrafted by about 30 different people.

Ashe junipers, or the ubiquitous “cedar” trees covering the terrain, generally elicit scorn from Hill Country landowners. Most consider the bushy evergreens to be a nuisance, robbing the soil of moisture, causing miserable allergic reactions during pollination and serving no greater purpose than raw material for gnarly fence posts. But the Klaassen family views cedars as natural works of art that can be transformed into sturdy, attractive bed frames and other pieces of rustic furniture.

In a cozy stone cottage about eight miles outside of Llano, one of the most unique artists in Texas creates mesmerizing masterpieces. Ira Kennedy’s current art is unique and fascinating. You can’t just walk by one of his paintings—they catch your eyes and grab your imagination. Hill Country residents will recognize many of Ira’s subjects, from a longhorn by a creek to fields of bluebonnets to Enchanted Rock. Consider one he just finished: The Road Home. “The classic motif in b ...