Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Becky Hicks, Breckenridge’s Local Artist of the Year, celebrated the grand opening of her new shop, Boot House Mercantile and Exchange, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 15. She was joined by family, friends and Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce members for the event.

The Boot House Mercantile and Exchange includes t-shirts featuring the artwork of Becky Hicks. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The shop, which is part-art studio and part-boutique, is located at 119 E. Walker St.

Hicks has spent the past few months renovating the space, including painting a mural on one wall. She teaches art classes for both kids and adults. She said that she is also planning to offer a loosely organized paint time for anyone who just wants to come in and paint with other artists; she described it as a “paint bar.”

In addition to offering art lessons at the studio, Hicks also has a variety of products, many of which feature her original artwork and/or designs, most of which has a western theme. Some of the items include t-shirts, caps, nightlights, coasters and more. Several of her original paintings, as well as some prints, are also for sale.

“We’ve taken some of my artwork, and put it on merchandise, because I want to make it affordable enough that everybody can afford a piece of art,” she said.

She her her husband, Dwain Hicks, produce all of the items themselves. She said it took them a while to perfect the nightlights, which feature a leather frame and one of Hicks’ paintings on a transparency. They cut the leather frames themselves and then use the discarded leather from the center of the frame to create patches for caps that they design and sell.

Some of the items feature graphic designs, such as a unique Texas flag, which Dwain designs. The shop also includes a small display of jewelry crafted by a friend of the Hicks, Lynetta Mooney of Plainview.

Becky Hicks was honored by the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce as the Local Artist of the Year at the annual awards ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 9. Click here to read more about that event.

For more information about the shop, visit the website or Facebook page or contact Becky Hicks at 817-454-1384 or becky@boothousemercantile.com.

Artist Becky Hicks and her husband, Dwain Hicks, paint, design and even produce most of the artwork and merchandise at Boot House Mercantile and Exchange. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Boot House Mercantile and Exchange features hand-crafted nightlights and coasters featuring the artwork of Becky Hicks. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge artist Becky Hicks is surrounded by family, friends and Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce members for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Boot House Mercantile and Exchange on Friday, Nov. 15. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)