A legacy in color: Sibling artists leave their mark on Nixon with mural

NIXON, TX — What started as a city beautification project quickly turned into something more — a heartfelt tribute to Nixon’s past, a celebration of its present, and an investment in its future.

Local teens Noe and Natalie Hernandez, a senior and junior at Nixon-Smiley High School, have transformed the side of the Nixon Public Library into a bold, meaningful mural that now stands as a permanent legacy in the town they’ve always called home.

The mural, which features both the original Nixon Bobcat and the current Nixon-Smiley Mustang mascots, tells a story of transition and tradition. The siblings, working closely together with guidance from Dominick Dejesus, president of the Nixon Chamber of Commerce and a local artist, developed the concept and brought it to life side-by-side—blending the old and the new into a unified design.

The right side of the mural honors Nixon’s legacy as the Bobcats, while the left side celebrates the current Mustang identity. The full design reflects the journey of the community—where it’s been, where it is now, and where it’s going.

“It represents Nixon’s story,” Dejesus said. “You see the pride in the past and the hope for the future—painted by the kids who are that future.”

One of the mural’s most meaningful elements is an interactive tradition: graduates from the original Nixon Bobcat years will be invited to sign the Bobcat side, while each future Nixon-Smiley senior class will sign the Mustang side—literally marking the passage of time on the wall itself.

Noe, 17, primarily works in pencil and recently earned third place in the San Antonio Stock Show for his art. The mural taught him new brush techniques and opened his eyes to different ways of seeing a project unfold. It also pushed him to think more critically about how to plan a piece of art on a larger scale and work collaboratively—lessons he’ll take with him as he explores other artistic avenues, including tattoo art, a medium he’s recently started learning.

His 16-year-old sister Natalie brought her own creative flair to the project. While she hopes to become an ultrasound technician, the mural experience sparked ideas for how she might blend that career path with her love for art. It helped her realize that creative expression doesn’t have to be separate from a profession — it can be part of it. She also learned the importance of trusting the process — understanding that even when mistakes happen, they can lead to something unexpected and beautiful.

Their mother, Brittany Martinez, said she was surprised when both her children were selected — not even the organizers initially realized they were siblings. “I’m proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zones and learning so much. It’s something they’ll carry with them forever,” she said, also expressing her thanks to Dejesus for giving her kids the opportunity to be part of something so meaningful.

Dejesus, who was originally asked to paint the mural himself, made student involvement a condition. “This was about giving kids the chance I didn’t have growing up,” he said. Mentoring Natalie and Noe throughout the process was deeply rewarding for him—both personally and professionally. He emphasized the importance of young artists learning to explore different mediums and expand their creative skillsets.

City Administrator and Gonzales County Judge Darryl Becker, who supported the mural alongside other city leaders, sees it as part of Nixon’s forward momentum. “We’re investing in improvement projects and exploring partnerships that build a stronger, more beautiful community. This mural is a powerful symbol of that progress,” he said.

As Becker put it, “Nixon-Smiley may be the Mustangs, but Nixon will always be the Bobcats.”

And for Noe and Natalie Hernandez, the mural will always be more than paint on a wall—it’s a piece of their story, and a lasting reminder of the strength, pride, and creativity that make Nixon, Texas, one of a kind.