“Texas Wilderness,” paintings by Wimberley artist Lona Flocke, will be on display at the Redbud Café in Blanco through November 30. An opening reception will be held September 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The oil paintings in the “Texas Wilderness” show are based on images the artist has encountered while hiking the undeveloped lands of Central and West Texas. Ranging west from the granite uplifts of Enchanted Rock and the limestone washes that feed the South Llano River to the rugged Chisos and Davis mountains, these paintings reveal the beauty of wild Texas lands. With compositions chosen to place the viewer on elevated land, he or she has the opportunity to experience a sense of distance, down toward the valley and out toward the horizon. The paintings explore the contrasts that give Texas so much of its beauty.

“Whether in the contrasts of spiky shrubs and soft, supple grasses, bedrock and eroded gravel, mountains and valleys, or the first hint of spring green against withered hillsides, contrast lends character to the land,” says Flocke.

Flocke began her artistic career in the pine-palmetto uplands of North Florida. After eight years of seasonal employment in Yellowstone National Park, she settled in the Hill Country, where she has resided for the past thirty years. Whether in the hills of Central Texas, the swamps of Florida, or the mountains of Wyoming, the importance of place has remained a constant in her life and art.

Redbud Café is celebrating its first year of business this month. It is located at 410 4th St., on the courthouse square next to Brieger Pottery.

The public is invited to view the artwork and meet the artist at the opening reception, while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres. The café will be serving a special limited menu from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information about the artist, visit her website at www.lonaflocke.wordpress.com. For more information about the show or the café, call 830/833-0202 or visit www.redbud-cafe.com.