Destination Art

Local galleries draw visitors to the Texas Hill Country.

Fredericksburg Art Guild & Gallery

308 East Austin Street • 830-997-4949 • www.fredericksburgartguild.com

FredericksburgArtGuild@gmail.com

Open Thursday through Sunday, 10-4 p.m

Fredericksburg Art Guild is a nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by artist John McClusky to support the arts in the Texas Hill Country. All members are Texas artists. Featured shows rotate between the members each month.

Adult oil painting classes are offered throughout the year by Truby Hardin, and Nan Henke teaches watercolor. Most students participate in a juried show in February. A professionally juried show takes place in May for artists in and around Gillespie County. During Memorial Day weekend the guild hosts a weekend Art Fest on the grounds, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to celebrate art and those who have served our country.

Courtesy of Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance (PCAA), the guild is represented in a large tent at Oktoberfest. Support for the guild is provided by PCAA and the City of Fredericksburg’s Hotel Occupancy Tax.

During First Friday Art Walk the gallery stays open until 8 p.m. Visitors interact with the guild’s artists while enjoying fine art and local wine in a historic building. Stay updated on upcoming events through the guild’s website.

Fredericksburg Artists’ School

830-997-0515 • www.fbgartschool.com • bush@fbgartschool.com

Classes held at 237 West Main Street.

Fredericksburg Artists’ School, founded by Nancy and Bill Bush, brings nationally recognized artists to Fredericksburg. These professionals lead four- and five-day painting workshops, primarily in oil or pastel. It’s the premiere school of its kind in the Southwest. Classes are open to both the serious artist and the beginner, and all participants receive quality instruction and personal engagement.

“Our students come from throughout the United States, primarily to learn from these particular artists. And also because Fredericksburg is a wonderful city to visit,” said Bill Bush, who manages the school.

His wife, Nancy Bush, who shows in fine galleries across the country, is one of the instructors.

Bill is not an artist — he’s a CPA. More than 25 years ago, on the way home from attending an art school in Santa Fe, Nancy told Bill they needed to start an art school because of the abundant opportunities for plein air painting in the Texas Hill Country.

The Bushes also offer artwork for sale from their extensive collection, gathered over the past 35 years.

All classes are held at Appretiare, located at 237 West Main Street, home office of ISA-accredited appraiser Lee Ann Whatley.