For the past several months, 30A has been taking advantage of Facebook's live video feature to promote various places and things along Scenic 30A and in South Walton. 30A Live gives viewers an opportunity to interact with locals and explore 30A from the comfort of their home. Perhaps 30A Live is the next best thing to actually being here?! Some of the 30A Live broadcasts have included tours of local art galleries, where viewers can watch the artists work in their studios. On July 26th, 30A's summer intern Caroline interviewed Andy at his gallery in Grayton Beach. The 32-minute live broadcast was streamed via 30A's Facebook page. Viewers were able to ask questions and enjoy an interactive experience. Many of the questions were great ("If we come to his studio, can we watch him at work, as he paints & creates?"), while some were silly ("If he were a pokemon which pokemon would he be?").

If you missed the live stream, you can still watch it online.

30A Live: Andy with Caroline Giddis

For the past several years, some of Andy's most popular pieces are his assemblage alligator art. He uses recycled and re-purposed materials to create mixed media assemblage art.

Let me introduce you to Herbie, Andy's recently completed piece. Herbie is 102 inches wide and 30 inches tall, making him almost the size of a real adult alligator. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, female alligators rarely exceed 9 feet in length, but males can grow much larger. The Florida state record for length is a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County. The Florida record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10-1/2 inches long) male from Orange Lake in Alachua County. The alligator became the official state reptile of Florida in 1987, when Andy was 10 years old. According to Visit Florida, the #1 question tourists ask is where they should stay. The #2 question is where they can see an alligator.

American alligators are found in the southeast United States: all of Florida and Louisiana, the southern parts of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, coastal South and North Carolina, Eastern Texas, the southeast corner of Oklahoma, and the southern tip of Arkansas. They live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, as well as in brackish environments. They may live to about 50 years in the wild.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders. Their diets include prey species that are abundant and easily accessible. Juvenile alligators eat primarily insects, amphibians, small fish, and other invertebrates. Adult alligators eat rough fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds. After it is four feet long, an alligator is safe from predators except humans and occasionally other alligators. That’s right, alligators display cannibalistic behavior.

This piece of assemblage alligator art is available for $1800. Materials used include reclaimed wood, a pot lid, piano keys, house keys, miscellaneous hardware, and found objects. To purchase Herbie, call or text Andy at (850) 502-0072.

Andy surfing in South Walton

While the kids and I drove across the country, Andy had several days to himself. Lucky for him, Tropical Storm Colin formed on June 5th, creating fabulous South Walton surfing conditions. On more than one occasion, Andy met our friend Chris Taylor at the beach with a camera and a drone to capture some good shots. Here's one of the photos Chris took, plus a video:

Uploaded by Andy Saczynski on 2017-11-13.

I've been wanting our family to visit the Colorado mountains since 1997, but we kept having kids and the years kept disappearing. Finally, back in February, I decided this was the year we would finally take our Colorado vacation, even if it meant driving across the country. I said that it would either be the best vacation ever or a total disaster. I'm happy to report that it was AWESOME and we will definitely be doing it again. We began our 16-day adventure on June 3rd. I traveled by SUV with our kids (ages 19, 14, 8, 7, and 5). I knew a road trip of this magnitude would only be doable if we traveled at a leisurely pace and did fun things along the way (for example, Hamilton Pool Preserve and Palo Duro Canyon). Andy isn't a fan of road trips, plus this is the busiest time of year at his gallery. We agreed it wasn't a good time of year for him to be away from the gallery for two full weeks, so he flew to Colorado and we picked him up. This allowed the kids and I to visit family and friends along the way.

We arrived in Colorado on June 8th. We spent the first four days in Estes Park. Our rental house was only a few minutes from the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. My two brothers (Rich and Ben) and my brother's wife (Ran) stayed in the same house. Their dad (Richard) and his wife (Caroline) stayed nearby. I guess you could say it was a family reunion!

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. We explored the park June 9th, 10th, and 11th. I would definitely recommend weekdays, because it's much more crowded on the weekends. On June 9th, we hiked to Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. Half our group continued on to Emerald Lake, but Andy and I kept the little boys at Dream Lake so they could play in the snow.

Rocky Mountain National Park

our family in Rocky Mountain National Park

Nathan + Taylor (our two oldest kids)

our family

Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Jonah

Josiah + Andy 

On June 10th, we hiked to Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Alberta Falls.

How do you like Andy's hiking clothes? Ha ha!

Rocky Mountain National Park - Glacier Gorge

Jonah

Noah 

cute chipmunk

Andy, Noah, Josiah, and my brother Ben

Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park

Nathan

Richard, my brother Rich, my brother Ben, and me

elk in Estes Park

After lunch on June 10th, we drove up Trail Ridge Road. If you've never done it, add it to your bucket list. The views are incredible!

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (rainbow curve)

our family on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (rainbow curve overlook)

Trail Ridge Road - alpine tundra (the cars look tiny)

Trail Ridge Road - alpine tundra (we were impressed by the snow)

Rocky Mountain National Park sunset over mountains

Taylor in Rocky Mountain National Park

Andy

my brother Rich and his wife Ran Cui in Rocky Mountain National Park

Taylor and the elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

On June 11th, despite the weekend crowds, we headed back up Trail Ridge Road in an attempt to find the perfect sledding spot. Sadly, we weren't able to find a good place for sledding. Either it wasn't steep enough, or there was a cliff at the end. We decided flying off a cliff would ruin our family vacation. Not worth the risk!

Rocky Mountain National Park - Trail Ridge Road 

On June 12th, we left Estes Park and headed south to Colorado Springs. As soon as we drove into town, we made a stop at Garden of the Gods.

Garden of the Gods - Andy + me

visiting with friends: Blake, Brian, Melissa, Michael, + Michelle

One June 13th, we drove up Pikes Peak. I had considered taking the Pikes Peak Cog Railway so the boys could experience a train ride, but it was sold out. If this is something you want to do, I'd recommend reserving your spot way in advance.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak (I almost had a heart attack driving up)

Pikes Peak (I wasn't a fan of Nathan walking this close to the edge)

Pikes Peak 2016

Pikes Peak 1994

visiting with friends: Michelle, Michael, Jim, + Beth

Andy flew home on June 14th, and the kids I made our way back to Florida via SUV. After stopping in Wichita Falls, Carthage, and New Orleans to visit family and friends, we finally got home the evening of June 18th. So, we survived our first major (4031 miles) family road trip! Not only did we survive it, our Colorado vacation was even better than expected, and I'm already thinking about our next destination. Long story short... A+ adventure, will definitely do it again, very enjoyable, would highly recommend, deep gratitude for the family and friends who made it possible.

Almost three years ago (September 2013), Andy was asked to paint a "Grayton Beach Drive Five" sign, which was going to be posted at the beach access. Sure, they could have used your standard "5 MPH" sign. But this is Grayton Beach, where creativity and fun set the mood! Apparently permitting and whatnot took awhile, but the sign was finally installed, just in time for the summer! Unless you're a local resident, you might not realize that you need a permit to drive on the beach. Even if you're not lucky enough to have a permit, you can still walk down the sand path. So next time you're in the area, grab a meal at one of the two best restaurants in South Walton (The Red Bar or Chiringo), then take a walk down to the water. If you find Andy's sign, post a photo on Facebook or Instagram, and tag Andy to let him know you found it!

Grayton Beach Drive Five sign

Learn more about Grayton Beach, one of our favorite South Walton beach communities:

Visit South Walton 30A.com SoWal.com

Andy and I recently traveled to Nashville for the Harding Art Show 2016, which was held May 5th-7th. This show is older than we are, celebrating their 41st year. This was Andy's third year to have a booth. Since we travel without our kids, it's a nice little getaway for us.

We got to see a few friends, which is always nice. We met David and Jennifer for lunch by Opryland. Her dad was the pastor of our church in Jacksonville, but now they all live in Tennessee. Jennifer and her dad started the Kore Foundation, which establishes sustainable solutions to extreme poverty in Haiti.

us with Jennifer + David

We also visited with Chelsea and her son Smith. I worked with Chelsea at a restaurant when I was in college and she was in high school. Her husband is in the band Safety Suit.

me with Chelsea + Smith

Andy and I didn't have much free time, but we did manage to walk around our two favorite neighborhoods in the Nashville area: 12 South and Franklin. A trip to 12 South obviously included a stop at Jeni's for ice cream. I got roasted strawberry buttermilk, brown butter almond brittle, and brambleberry crisp - it was just as heavenly as you'd expect. And the weather was perfect for a stroll through picturesque Franklin.

Jeni's ice cream

historic Franklin

The Harding Art Show was held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Andy's booth was full of awesomeness. His life-size Johnny Cash piece got the most attention. Much to everyone's disappointment, it had already been sold months earlier and was only there for display purposes.

Andy

Andy's Johnny Cash piece

us

This year's show featured 70 artists. Below I've highlighted some of my favorites.

Amber Wallace

Sarah Kaufman 

Deann Hebert 

Liza Snyder

Kent Youngstrom

Kent Ambler 

Lauren Dunn

Grant Garmezy

Alex Beard 

Carrie Penley

Jacqueline Saporiti 

Omari Booker 

Bebo (John Paul Daniel)

Emily Ozier

Christina Cohn

Andy has made several pieces of contemporary biblical art over the past few years. This post highlights five recent pieces, four of which are available for purchase. Read more about what inspired these pieces below.

Andy painted this piece after hearing our friend John Bevere give a talk about his book, Good or God. Andy's painting was inspired by the following two verses:

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." (Genesis 3:6)

"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:12)

The general idea behind John Bevere's book is this: These days the terms good and God seem synonymous. We believe what’s generally accepted as good must be in line with God’s will. Generosity, humility, justice―good. Selfishness, arrogance, cruelty―evil. The distinction seems pretty straightforward. But is that all there is to it? If good is so obvious, why does the Bible say that we need discernment to recognize it?

You'll notice that in Andy's painting, Eve has a dove by one hand and the apple by the other. The apple seemed good to her because she was deceived. The dove represents the Holy Spirit, which gives us discernment to know what is truly good.

visiting with John Bevere

This piece also depicts the story from Genesis, but includes both Eve and Adam. It's actually a diptych and is sold as a set. Did Adam have a beard? I don't know, but you've probably noticed that Andy adds a beard to most men that he paints, which is perhaps a reflection of himself. Watermelon and pineapple are Andy's favorite fruits, so they both make an appearance. I also like the flowers in Eve's hair. As for the rings around Eve's arm... are they bracelets or the serpent? Andy left that intentionally ambiguous.

Andy's pieces inspired by Jonah and the whale have been almost as popular as his Western Lake pieces. Although the whale pieces vary in size and color palette, the prayer in Jonah 2 is always included. Several people have commented on how this piece touched their heart. I think a lot of people can relate to the story of calling out to the Lord in despair and being rescued by Him.

This piece was inspired by the woman who knew if she could simply touch Jesus, she would be healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Andy apparently had a pretty wild dream about the end of the world, and when he woke up he started painting this piece. It's a fictitious city that he named Nashvegas for no particular reason. While it's not necessarily a "biblical" piece, I love the details in it (Soul Train, Old School, etc).

If you're a fan of Andy's contemporary biblical art and would like to purchase one of these pieces, call him at (850) 502-0072.

Since September 2015, Andy has created six pieces of pelican assemblage art. These mixed media pieces include elements such as layered wood, ceiling fan parts, spoons, skateboard parts, paintbrushes, and more. Some were created for fun, while other pieces were made on commission. Some pelicans stayed locally, while some traveled all over the country. All of these pelicans have sold, but Andy would love to make more. Contact him at (850) 502-0072 to discuss a commission.

On Easter Sunday, Destiny Worship Center played a video during the service while our worship leader, Nate Kelly, sang "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music ("No Longer Slaves" is available on iTunes). The video, which was filmed and produced by Nate's brother, Jonathan Kelly, featured Andy on the beach collecting miscellaneous items and... well, I don't want to give it all away, so you should watch the video at the bottom of this post. I love how it turned out! It was totally worth Andy meeting them at the beach at sunrise to film it.

Andy's sketch

our boys modeling the shirts

(sorry, these t-shirts are sold out)

Easter video with Andy for Destiny Worship Center

Each year, people flock to 30A.com to vote for the 30A Hot Spots. Over 4,200 people voted in 28 categories to determine the hottest spots in South Walton for 2016. Each category has five winners, and Andy was voted as one of the Hottest Artists! I've known my man was hot since 1993, but now he's officially a 30A Hot Spot Award Winner! He shares the title with four other local artists:

1. Justin Gaffrey
2. Allison Wickey
3. Bryan Hand
4. Andy Saczynski
5. Mary Hong

Thank you to everyone who voted for Andy! See all of the 30A Hot Spot Award Winners for 2016!

Destin is located on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Mexico from Choctawhatchee Bay. At the western tip of the peninsula is East Pass (also known as Destin Pass), separating it from Okaloosa Island to the west. East Pass is the only outlet of Choctawhatchee Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this, it's a popular spot for boating and other water recreation. The Destin Harbor, the Destin Pass, Norriego Point, and Crab Island are sentimental to locals and tourists alike. Indeed, it's one of Florida's most beautiful destinations. Although only accessible by boat, Crab Island is one of my favorite swimming spots during high tide when the water is perfectly clear turquoise. I also like taking our kids to Norriego Point to swim. In my opinion, Norriego Point is the best place to watch the sunset and to watch fireworks! If you've never been to Destin, here are a few photos so you can get the idea...

Emerald Grande and HarborWalk Village

Norriego Point

Norriego Point

Norriego Point

As mentioned, this area is sentimental to so many people. That's why our friend Katie commissioned this piece:

If you'd like Andy to paint a special place for you, call him at (850) 502-0072 to discuss.

In early February, Andy and Ryan Manthey of Pure 7 Studios released their first artist and photographer collaboration of painted photography. The response was fantastic, with hundreds of likes, comments, and shares on both Facebook and Instagram. Although well-loved, their first two examples of painted photography had a limited customer base - being only the Manthey family and the bride and groom. In an effort to appeal to the masses, Andy and Ryan decided to highlight some of the scenes that have made 30A famous. First on their list? Western Lake, Seaside's Coleman pavilion, and the beach. But first, for those who don't know...

Painted photography is certainly not a new artistic medium. What is painted photography? It's similar to hand-coloring, which refers to any method of manually adding color to a black-and-white photograph, generally either to heighten the realism of the photograph or for artistic purposes. It's also known as hand painting or overpainting. This process was most popular in the mid- to late-19th century before the invention of color photography. Artists would apply watercolors, oils, crayons, pastels, and other paints or dyes to the image surface using brushes, fingers, cotton swabs, or airbrushes. While overpainting is not a new artistic expression, our recent "artist and photographer collaboration" is a relatively new concept... or at least it seems that way from my limited online research.

The concept is simple:

1. Ryan takes an awesome photo.
2. He has the photo printed on a canvas.
3. He gives the canvas to Andy.
4. Andy adds paint to turn the photo into an original piece of art.

Some ideas include but aren't limited to:

• sentimental places
• vacations
• wedding
• anniversary
• pregnancy
• new baby
• families
• high school senior portraits
• pets
• family homes
• musicians/concerts

Andy plans to have painted photography pieces (such as those featured below) available at his Grayton Beach gallery. But let's say you want a photo of your family. Well, I have great news for you! Pure 7 Studios is offering special discounted portrait pricing for this collaboration! Call (850) 654-6523 and tell Ryan or Erica that you want a piece of painted photography. They'll take good care of you!

Here are the first three painted photography scenes of 30A (Western Lake, Seaside's Coleman pavilion, and the beach):

Ryan's original photo

Andy's painted photography 

Ryan's original photo

Andy's painted photography

Ryan's original photo

Andy's painted photography

Thanks to the Walton Skate Society, the first South Walton skatepark will soon be a reality! This is a dream come true for people like Andy, who has been skateboarding since he was a kid.

South Walton Skatepark History A few years ago, a group of like-minded people from the Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast Chapter decided to advocate for a public skatepark in South Walton. The group is called the Walton Skate Society, and anyone in the community can be a part of the mission.

South Walton Skatepark Location

The Walton Skate Society currently has a commitment from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to provide approximately 20,000 square feet of space at Helen McCall Park (325 Moll Dr, Santa Rosa Beach). The master plan originally called for a skatepark. However, this was put on the back-burner while other mainstream sports facilities were built. Due to the efforts of the Walton Skate Society, it is now back on track. Helen McCall Park offers parking, clean restrooms, a playground, and various sports fields. A skatepark is a perfect addition to the facility.

South Walton Skatepark Cost

This isn’t going to be cheap. The Walton Skate Society knows that getting the right builder to produce a quality skatepark is going to cost money. Early research shows they will need close to $300,000. They will raise that money through fundraising events, sponsorship programs, grants, etc.

Sk8 Deck'O Fundraiser

Surfrider Foundation's Emerald Coast Chapter hosted Sk8 Deck'O at Trebeaché on the evening of February 20th. The event featured a skateboard art auction, live music by The Owsley Brothers, and special “skate inspired” grinders by chef Jim Richard. Andy created one of the fifteen pieces of skateboard art included in the live auction. His piece was made of three skateboards, which he arranged into the shape of a pelican, and then painted. "Templeton" is 64x35 inches. His wings and head are made from skateboard decks. His eye is one of Andy's old skateboard wheels. His legs and feet are made from Independent trucks and Spitfire wheels.

Andy's pelican art

Sk8 Deck'O was a huge success! About 225 people attended, and they raised over $20,000! Here are a few photos from the event...

Andy chatting with Justin Gaffrey

Andy with Fran Adaro

Fran Adaro's skateboard art 

Stefan Daiberl's skateboard art

The Owsley Brothers 

How You Can Help

Your help is still needed! Please consider doing the following:

1. Spread the word by sharing this blog post with your local family and friends.
2. Join the Walton Skate Society's Facebook group. Invite your local family and friends to do the same. It's the best way to stay in the loop! (You can also like their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram.)
3. Are you a business owner? Perhaps you could make a generous donation!
4. Contact the Walton Skate Society at info@WaltonSK8s.com or (850) 225-1747, and ask them how to get involved (pass out flyers, put a sticker on your car, etc).

Painted photography is certainly not a new artistic medium. What is painted photography? It's similar to hand-coloring, which refers to any method of manually adding color to a black-and-white photograph, generally either to heighten the realism of the photograph or for artistic purposes. It's also known as hand painting or overpainting. This process was most popular in the mid- to late-19th century before the invention of color photography. Artists would apply watercolors, oils, crayons, pastels, and other paints or dyes to the image surface using brushes, fingers, cotton swabs, or airbrushes. While overpainting is not a new artistic expression, our recent "artist and photographer collaboration" is a relatively new concept... or at least it seems that way from my limited online research. Andy and I have been friends with Ryan and Erica Manthey of Pure 7 Studios for several years (we actually went to high school with Erica). Last fall, Ryan approached Andy about an idea he had for Andy to hand-paint some of his canvas photography. What's funny is that Andy had been thinking about doing the same thing, but hadn't approached a photographer yet. We like the Mantheys and respect Ryan's work, so we felt it was a perfect fit.

The concept is simple:

1. Ryan takes an awesome photo.
2. He has the photo printed on a canvas.
3. He gives the canvas to Andy.
4. Andy adds paint to turn the photo into an original piece of art.

Ryan and Andy started with two photos: one of the Manthey family and one of a wedding party. These would serve as examples to display in Ryan's photography studio, as well as a personalized gift for Erica! These are the first two products of Ryan and Andy's painted photography collaboration, but there are more to come! In addition to families and weddings, some other ideas include but aren't limited to:

• high school senior portraits
• new baby
• pregnancy
• wedding anniversary
• vacations
• sentimental places
• family homes
• musicians/concerts
• pets

To discuss adding a piece of painted photography to your personal collection, call Pure 7 Studios at (850) 654-6523. Be sure to mention this blog post!

original photo of Manthey family

Andy's painted photography

Andy's painted photography

original wedding photo

Andy's painted photography

Andy's painted photography

Since 2011, Andy’s mixed media guitar art pieces have been some of his most recognizable and unique work. It’s been awhile since he’s created any assemblage guitar art, but he started off 2016 with an awesome one. I absolutely love how it turned out. This piece, entitled Songbirds, was inspired by the 30A Songwriters Festival. With having 165+ songwriters performing all over South Walton for three days, it’s no surprise that music found its way into Andy’s artwork.

Of course, this piece doesn’t feature an actual guitar, but rather the shape of one that Andy carved out of wood. He then added wire to give it an authentic feel. The background for the piece is a cabinet door that was salvaged from one of Seagrove‘s original homes before it was demolished.

Songbirds is 26 inches wide and 69 inches tall. It hangs on a wall, yet is dimensional. It’s created with multiple layers of wood, including a “double frame” (as seen in up-close, detailed images below). Songbirds can be purchased for $2600. Call Andy at (850) 502-0072 to discuss, or stop by his gallery.

Thanks to the Walton Skate Society, we will soon experience the first Walton County skatepark! This is a dream come true for people like Andy, who has been skateboarding since he was a kid. Walton County Skatepark History A few years ago, a group of like-minded people from the Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast Chapter decided to advocate for a public skatepark in South Walton. The group is called the Walton Skate Society, and anyone in the community can be a part of the mission.

Walton County Skatepark Location

The Walton Skate Society currently has a commitment from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to provide approximately 20,000 square feet of space at Helen McCall Park (325 Moll Dr, Santa Rosa Beach). The master plan originally called for a skatepark. However, this was put on the back-burner while other mainstream sports facilities were built. Due to the efforts of the Walton Skate Society, it is now back on track and will soon become a reality. Helen McCall Park offers parking, clean restrooms, a playground, and various sports fields. A skatepark is a perfect addition to the facility.

Walton County Skatepark Cost

This isn’t going to be cheap. The Walton Skate Society knows that getting the right builder to produce a quality skatepark is going to cost money. Early research shows they will need close to $300,000. They will raise that money through fundraising events, sponsorship programs, grants, etc.

Sk8 Deck'O Fundraiser

Surfrider Foundation's Emerald Coast Chapter is pleased to present Sk8 Deck'O! This event will take place on February 20th from 5:00-8:00 PM. Walton Skate Society invites you to take part and enjoy a night of skateboard art, live music, and tasty food. Local art legends (including Andy), area VIPs, and guest artists from around the country are creating works of art out of blank skate decks. These decks will be part of an exhibition and silent auction at Trebeaché (2052 W County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach). Like the finest of gallery events, there will be food, drink, and music. Talented chef Jim Richard will prepare special “skate inspired” grinders. Setting the mood for their kickoff fundraiser will be local sound legends, The Owsley Brothers. Tickets are $30 general admission or $15 for students:

How You Can Help

You can help in some or all of the following ways:

1. Spread the word by sharing this blog post with your local family and friends.
2. Attend the fundraising event on February 20th, and bid on some of the auction items (such as Andy's original skateboard art, seen below).
3. Are you a business owner? Consider making a generous donation!
4. Join the Walton Skate Society's Facebook group. Invite your local family and friends to do the same. It's the best way to stay in the loop! (You can also like their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram.)
5. Contact the Walton Skate Society at info@WaltonSK8s.com or (850) 225-1747, and ask them how to get involved (pass out flyers, put a sticker on your car, etc).

The Walton Skate Society asked Andy to create a piece of art for Sk8 Deck'O, which would be sold via auction at the February 20th event to help fund the new skatepark. Andy cut three skateboards, arranged them into the shape of a pelican, and painted this piece:

"Templeton" is 64x35 inches. His wings and head are made from skateboard decks. His eye is one of Andy's old skateboard wheels. His legs and feet are made from Independent trucks and Spitfire wheels.

I especially like the signature plate on this piece, which Andy tore out of a Thrasher magazine from 1989.

So, why the name Templeton? When Andy was growing up, Ed Templeton was one of his favorite skaters. Now, as an adult, Ed is one of Andy's favorite artists. Ed frequently posts pelican photos from the Huntington Beach pier, which he posts on his Instagram account. I guess you could say this piece is a tribute to both skateboarding and art. And YOU can bid on it at Sk8 Deck'O!

If you're a local resident or fan of 30A, you probably know that the 30A Songwriters Festival 2016 is this coming weekend! Between January 15th-17th, over 165 artists will perform at more than 20 venues along Scenic 30A in South Walton. Andy isn't involved in this year's festival, but you may see his previous festival artwork at various venues. He painted stage backdrops in 2011, 2012, and 2013 (see below). Actually, he painted the 2013 backdrop while Suzanne Vega and Mary Chapin Carpenter performed, which was super cool. If you attend the 30A Songwriters Festival this weekend and see one of Andy's three backdrops, or his t-shirt (at the bottom of this post), do us a favor and post it on Facebook and/or Instagram. Be sure to tag Andy so we can see it!

Two years ago, Andy made his first piece of lionfish art. Since then, he's created a few more. They seem to keep getting bigger and more elaborate. For example, the lionfish art featured in this post measures 50x50 inches. It's pretty fabulous when you see it in person. If there's a breeze in the room, such as one caused by a ceiling fan, its fins (tentacles? spines?) move in a way that it almost looks like it's swimming.

How much do you know about lionfish?

• They are found mostly in the Indo-Pacific.
• A typical adult measures almost 15 inches and weighs just over one pound.
• They possess venomous dorsal, pelvic, and anal spines that deliver toxin through an unpleasant puncture wound.
• Their venom can cause extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, breathing difficulties, convulsions, dizziness, redness on the affected area, headache, numbness, paresthesia (pins and needles), heartburn, diarrhea, and sweating. Rarely, such stings can cause temporary paralysis of the limbs, heart failure, and even death. Fatalities are common in very young children, the elderly, those with a weak immune system, or those who are allergic to their venom. (How to avoid being stung and what to do when you are stung.)
• They prey mostly on small fish, invertebrates, and mollusks in large amounts.
• They were first reported off Florida's Atlantic Coast near Dania Beach in 1985. Today, the red lionfish is found off the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean Sea. Apparently, they're also found in Destin. Before you panic... we've been swimming in Destin waters since the mid-1980s and have never encountered them.
• The population density of the invasive lionfish is increasing very fast, and efforts are underway in several areas to bring it under control. For example, check out the Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition and the REEF Lionfish Derbies.
• Can you eat lionfish? Yes! Their white, buttery meat is delicious (or so I've been told - I haven't had an opportunity to taste it myself). Try these recipes or visit these restaurants.

The art featured in this post, Big Lionfish, is available for $2200. 

Koi are a group of fish that are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp. Koi are usually kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens. Because of their beauty, Andy has painted a small sampling of koi art.

History

Koi were originally domesticated in Eastern Asia in the early 400's as an important source of food. In fact, koi fish were staples to Eastern Asian families in early times. Today, some still eat koi fish.

Koi Fish Meaning in China

A couple thousand years ago, a legend in China was formed that told how carp (koi) that swam up a waterfall and through the dragon gate were magically transformed into dragons. Through perseverance and endurance, the carp were able to become mythical beings. Today, koi fish still symbolize perseverance and endurance.

Koi Fish Meaning in Japan

In Japan, koi are known for their masculine and positive qualities. They are the official symbol for the Children's Day (May 5th) festival in Japan. On Children's Day, families hang koi windsocks for every member they have in their household. Another quality that the Japanese symbolize with is strength for overcoming life's difficulties. By persevering in life's endeavors, one can better him or herself.

Characteristics of the Fish

The koi is a hearty fish. It thrives in cold, fresh waters. Often confused with goldfish, koi are generally a bit larger and can be identified by their characteristic "whiskers," or barbels, protruding from their lips. Also, koi typically have a similar body shape while goldfish have much more variation in body and tail shapes and sizes.

Koi Fish Symbolism

Koi fish symbolize many things:

• Power
• Independence
• Masculinity
• Passionate love
• Friendship
• Good fortune
• Success
• Prosperity
• Longevity
• Courage
• Ambition
• Perseverance

International Coastal Cleanup Day will be held in South Walton on Saturday, September 19th, from 8:00-10:00 AM. Join Visit South Walton as our community helps keep Walton County’s beaches clean and pristine! Visit South Walton will be hosting the event at the following beach accesses: Dune Allen, Ed Walline, Inlet Beach, and Miramar Beach. It's easy to get involved! There is no age limit or special skills required. Supplies and water will be provided to all volunteers. For more information on how you can support beach cleanup in South Walton, contact Stacey Infinger at (850) 267-4578.

If you're not located in South Walton, you can still help! Bring a trash bag to the beach of your choice and do your best to fill it. You'll likely be horrified by just how much trash beach goers leave behind. In fact, the Ocean Conservancy estimates that well over 144 million pounds of trash have been removed from beaches during the International Coastal Cleanup over the last 25 years. The top 10 items found were cigarettes, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bags, caps/lids, plastic utensils, straws, glass beverage bottles, aluminum cans, and paper bags. They've even found 117 mattresses. I mean... what the heck?! That breaks my heart. If everyone cleaned up their own trash, this mess could be avoided. For the past several years, I've made a point to always bring a bag with me to the beach. Not only do I make sure all of our trash is in the bag, but I also pick up trash I see that others have left. If we all took this little step, it would make a huge impact. Although I think everyone who lives near the coast should participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19th, there's no need to limit efforts to one day. Every beach visit should include a little housekeeping. 

Josiah + Jonah 

According to Ocean Conservancy, here are 10 things you can do for trash free seas:

1. use a trash can with lid
2. drink tap water in a reusable bottle
3. be a green boater with with Ocean Conservancy's Good Mate program
4. write your legislator asking for policies that address ocean trash
5. clean up with the International Coastal Cleanup
6. use an ashtray so cigarette butts don't reach waterways and the ocean
7. go the extra mile to sort and separate items that can be recycled
8. take along your reusable coffee mug, picnic supplies, or shopping bag
9. buy less to reduce the amount of manufactured items winding up as trash in the ocean
10. send emails to companies asking them to reduce packaging and create new ocean-friendly materials

Our family loves our area's turquoise water and the sea life that calls it home. Not only do we try to protect it, Andy also finds artistic inspiration from it. Here are some of his ocean-inspired pieces of art that are currently available...

If you're interested in purchasing any of these pieces, contact Andy.