A new three-panel mural celebrating Bandera’s heritage is taking shape at the O.S.T. restaurant, thanks to the work of local artist Melissa Sutherland.
The mural, which took approximately 80 hours to complete, pays tribute to several elements of the community’s history and culture. For Sutherland, a lifelong painter who spent 12 years teaching and creating art with Painting with a Twist before retiring, the project has been both challenging and rewarding.
“Now, this is my biggest project ever,” Sutherland said. “I got a lot of input and a lot of inspiration.”
After collaborating with O.S.T. owner Diana Walters on several design drafts, Sutherland began work on the three-piece installation, using outdoor acrylic paints for the pieces. The first panel honors Redneck, a well-known local longhorn remembered for his distinctive crooked horn and for serving as a popular photo opportunity for visitors before his death.
The second panel features a horse, a nod to Bandera’s identity as the Cowboy Capital of the World.
The final panel draws inspiration from ancient Indigenous rock art found in Pecos State Park and Seminole Canyon.
“The spirit I painted was first found in Seminole Canyon,” Sutherland said. “It’s been there for centuries, chiseled into the rock.”
Working with the building’s textured surface, Sutherland incorporated the roughness of the walls into the mural’s landscapes and imagery.
“When I first started, the walls were all beige,” Sutherland said. “A mural used to be there but got painted over.”
Today, the once-plain walls are filled with vibrant colors and imagery that reflect Bandera’s history and character.
For Walters, hiring a local artist was an important part of the project.
“I wanted to keep it local,” Walters said. “And I’ve seen her work from the CowParade. I thought she would be the perfect person to take on what we had a little bit conceptually in our brains and put it on properly.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the completed mural is planned for Aug. 1. Walters said she is working with the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce to finalize details for the afternoon event.
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