Andy has lived in Florida since the summer before he entered third grade. Inspired by Florida's wildlife since childhood, it's no surprise that he now creates sea turtle art. After our family visited the Cayman Turtle Farm in September 2011, he was even more artistically inspired.

Sea Turtle Art 

3 Little Turtles | 42x40 inches

Sea Turtle 2 | 45x43 inches

Florida Sea Turtles

Five species of sea turtles inhabit Florida's waters. During the summer months, there are approximately 50,000 sea turtles in Florida. This makes it the most important nesting area in the United States. Sea turtles come ashore to nest beginning in May and hatching continues until late October. A female can lay several nests during one season and only nests every two or three years. After incubating for two months, the hatchlings break out of their shells and thrash about together causing the walls of the nest to collapse and the bottom of the hole to rise. Once near the surface, the hatchlings wait until the sand temperature cools to emerge, which usually happens after dark. Once out of the nest, the turtles scramble to the water. (If you'd like to see some great footage of this process, watch Turtle: The Incredible Journey).

South Walton Sea Turtles

The South Walton Turtle Watch is a group of volunteers whose purpose is to locate endangered and threatened sea turtle nests and to protect them along the beaches of Northwest Florida during the crucial nesting and hatching season. By law, only certified members are allowed to interact with endangered sea turtles. Sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act and only those with special permits are allowed to touch the nests, turtles, or hatchlings. For more information, visit South Walton Turtle Watch's web site or Facebook page.

Protecting Sea Turtles

The Sea Turtle Conservancy has a helpful list of Things to Remember During Sea Turtle Nesting Season, including ways you can protect them. If you come across a sea turtle that is stranded or dead; a hatchling that is wandering in a road, parking lot, or directions other than the water; or if you see someone disturbing a nest or turtle, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement at (888) 404-FWCC.

Cayman Turtle Farm (Cayman Islands)

Cayman Turtle Farm (Cayman Islands)

Andy specializes in assemblage art, a form of mixed media. One of his favorite projects to work on is when customers approach him with a box of their sentimental family keepsakes. It seems like everyone has a bunch of odds and ends that are treasured, yet they don't know what exactly to do with them. I have a few storage bins that hold miscellaneous items from my childhood, teenage years, wedding, and early adulthood. I don't really want to display them all, but I don't want to part with them, either. Some items are special, some not so much. Yet they are all important enough that I hang onto them. Their value is in the memories or in what they symbolize. Do you have a storage container like that? I think most people do.

This was the case when Tom and Valerie contacted Andy three months ago. Their bag of keepsakes, which spanned many years and multiple generations, included:

• foot and hand prints of both of their little girls (Sophie and Ella Kate)
• license plates from the states they are from (Tennessee and Iowa)
• a clock from a service award Tom's dad received from his employer (his dad is now deceased)
• a medallion Tom's grandmother won in a 4th grade spelling bee in 1923
• parts of their wedding program and invitation
• a wine cork from the day they were engaged
• a CD of songs that were special to them
• a coaster of their family crest

As an artist, it can be intimidating to tackle a project like this. Once you start cutting and painting on keepsakes, there's no going back! Andy asked Tom and Valerie what size they wanted, what colors they preferred, and the general theme they envisioned. Only a few of the items they provided didn't get used, which Andy returned to them. Tom and Valerie were pleased with their finished assemblage art, and now they have a fun and unique way to display their family keepsakes. Surely this custom statement piece is a source of conversation when family and friends gather in their home.

Love Birds | 32x50 inches

Recognized as one of Northwest Florida's premier fine art shows, the 18th Annual Destin Festival of the Arts will be held October 26th-27th at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. The event combines more than 100 juried artists (both local and national) for two days of art, live music, and inspiration.

Saturday, October 26th (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Sunday, October 27th (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Admission donation $3 for adults

Free for members and children under 12

*Pets are not permitted

Andy first participated in this festival in 2010, when our fifth child (Josiah) was only five days old. That year, Andy won the People’s Choice Award. We liked the beach view when the festival was held at Henderson Beach State Park, but it was too windy. Unfortunately, a few artists' tents were damaged due to high winds blowing off the Gulf of Mexico.

This October, the festival will find a new home at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. Artists and attendees will appreciate the layout on the Village Green and live musical performances on the new Dugas Pavilion. As you arrive, you will notice the stunning 20-foot entrance way sculpture created out of stainless steel by sculpture artist Frank Ledbetter. Explore a diverse palette of artistic styles, including acrylic, clay, collage, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, mosaic, oil, pen and ink, photography, digital art, pastel, pottery, sculpture, fiber, textile, wood, and watercolor. Spend time meeting the artists, discovering their inspiration, and adding to your own collection. Other highlights include a bistro-style food court, Kid’s ArtStop, and a board-painting workshop by Meyer Boarding Company.

Andy's design was selected to represent the 18th Annual Festival of the Arts. T-shirts and merchandise, including a commemorative festival poster, will be available for purchase at the event. We also invite you to stop by Andy's booth to bid on the original piece. The winner of the silent auction will be determined at 5:00 PM on Sunday. All proceeds from the sale of this piece will benefit the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation.

The Slotin Folk Fest is the world’s largest folk art show and sale, hosting 100+ galleries and dealers from around the nation specializing in self-taught art, outsider art, folk art, Southern folk pottery, and anonymous antique folk art. The 20th Annual Folk Fest was held August 16-18, 2013, at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross, Georgia. The country's best folk artists filled the 85,000 square feet of space for three days. This was Andy's first year to participate. We loved it and plan to return next  year. Below is a sample of the artists who participated this year. There were way too many to include in one blog post. George T. Borum created the Folk Fest's sign.

Steve and Amy Slotin started Folk Fest twenty years ago. Thanks for the fabulous show, guys!

An indoor festival with pre-constructed walls is much easier than an outdoor festival with a tent. And thank goodness it was indoors, because it rained almost the entire time we were there.

Over 12,000 visitors were expected to attend Folk Fest this year. I lost count after about 30. Ha!

These sisters loved Andy's new owl painting and attempted to draw it themselves. They did a great job!

I'm a huge fan of Pete the Cat, so I was honored to meet creator James Dean. Does he consider me a friend, fan, or stalker? Only time will tell. If you're also a fan, you'll be pleased to know the newest Pete the Cat book releases October 1st.

I fell in love with Blockhead Arts. Artist Marian Baker is going to make us a custom piece representing our two cats, Alys and Blue. (And that says a lot, because right now our house is only full of Andy's art, with the exception of one small flamingo piece by Lisa P. Young.) Marian's art will make an appearance in the new movie Prisoners - how exciting!

Andy and I are both crazy about Chris Cumbie's art. We met him in Fairhope in 2011. I would love to see Andy and Chris collaborate on a piece. How awesome is that owl?! It sold almost immediately, of course.

Marcia Weber Art Objects represented several well-known and well-respected folk artists. It was an impressive collection!

Main Street Gallery displayed work by Dorethey Gorham. I love that each of her pieces tells a story. I might need to get one!

Kathleen Taylor's art was so fun! I definitely recognized her work, but I'm not sure where I've seen it.

Andy thought the Haitian art of Le Primitif was really cool.

Joel Pinkerton was another of our favorites. His work reminded me of the animated movie Robots (in a good way).

Michael Banks had some interesting art. Some of his baby paintings freak me out a little, but overall his work was cool.

Jamaican artist Athlone Clarke had some creative pieces. His booth was right next to Andy's, so we spent a lot of time studying each piece.

Andy has been a big fan of Mary Proctor for awhile, so it was exciting to finally meet her.

Bebo is another artist we've followed for awhile. Is that his real name? I have no idea. Does he have a last name? I assume so, but I don't know what it is. He's a cool guy.

I didn't have a chance to meet Tim and Lisa Kluttz, but I loved their paintings.

Herschel Kranitz is a little crazy. When I asked to take his photo, he asked if I preferred him to be with or without clothes. Ha! I love his mosaic art... and his bright blue socks.

Stephen Webber had amazing work! I loved the three dimensional aspect. So cool!

Andy and I both adored Jackie Haliburton's faceless women. Beautiful!

Saint or sinner? Naughty or nice? Ask Theresa Disney. I asked if she was related to Walt and she said she wasn't in the will. So, there you go. And in case you're wondering, she gave Andy a "nice" pin.

Hallie Edwards of Big Gully is so much fun! She started off as a fan of Andy's work and, long story short, now we're friends. Don't lose any digits, Hallie!

Somehow I didn't get a photo of Beverly Hayden or her incredible mixed media art. You will just have to check out her web site.

The adorable William Reed provided musical entertainment throughout the weekend. If you'd like to book him for your next event, call (404) 755-7056.

Visit South Walton invited us to attend the New Orleans White Linen Night with them, since Andy is the 2013 Visit South Walton Artist of the Year. We left Destin early morning on August 3rd and arrived in New Orleans around 12:30. You guys, it was so hot. I think I heard someone say the heat index was 105.

We were starving, so the Zehnder folks introduced us to La Casita on Julia Street in the Warehouse District. It was a short walk from where we would be setting up our tents for White Linen Night. The food was so great! Andy ordered The Mission and Jockamo Taco. I ordered two Jockamo Tacos, but I substituted the crawfish with shrimp. All were wonderful. Their salsa and tres queso were also delicious. So, although I'd usually come to New Orleans for Cajun food, I would definitely recommend La Casita.

After setting up our tent, we went back to the Courtyard New Orleans Downtown Convention Center to shower and change into our white linen. That felt good while it lasted, but we were hot and sweaty within about one minute of walking back outside. Ha! The hotel, by the way, was gorgeous. I love old buildings that have been renovated. I'm kind of obsessed with brick walls and exposed beams, so the hotel basically had me at hello. The only thing that would have made it more lovely is some of Andy's art hanging on the wall. What do you think, Marriott?

As mentioned, we were hanging out with the Zehnder folks. What is Zehnder? I'm glad you asked. They are the company that handles the marketing and public relations for Visit South Walton. They are doing an amazing job and we adore everyone we've met there. They have an impressive list of clients, so if you need someone to represent your company, you should give them a call. If you're lucky, one of these three ladies will handle your account.

Visit South Walton's display was incredibly cool. You could walk into their "beach" and hear the waves, show off your smile in their photo booth, pick up some South Walton swag, and even grab a $50 gas card for mentioning Visit South Walton on social media. Score!

Erica Falls performed right near where we were set up at the corner of Julia Street and Camp Street. She was fantastic! We really enjoyed listening to and watching her performance. She got the crowd dancing!

Our friends from Destin, Lissa and Paul, just happened to be in New Orleans celebrating their 8th anniversary. It was cool to see them. They didn't know about the event beforehand, so they weren't wearing white linen. No worries, though. In the crowd of 35,000+ people, they weren't the only ones not wearing white linen.

See? There were a few people wearing something other than white linen. Mostly everyone participated in the "not required" dress code, though. So cool!

Andy made a lot of new friends and gathered a lot of new fans, like this super cool couple. We chatted with them for awhile and I'm pretty sure we convinced them that South Walton is the best vacation spot in the country. Maybe they will come visit us?!

These three New Orleans inspired guys didn't stay in NOLA, but they sure were popular with the locals. If you want to purchase any or all of them, call Andy at (850) 502-0072 before someone else claims them!

Florida black bears were spotted in Grayton Beach on July 18, 2013. They weren't sunbathing on the actual beach or swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, but they were hanging out in the pine trees by Mystic Porte and the Shops of Grayton. Although black bears are common in this part of northwest Florida, it's not every day you see them. In fact, this was the first time I've seen black bears outside of the zoo. The kids and I went out to Andy's art gallery and drove down Logan Lane to see the furry visitors. Apparently, the mama bear and baby bear had been hanging out in the tree all day. I'm not an expert, but my guess is that they were waiting for people to leave so they could raid the dumpster behind Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill.

The Florida black bear is a subspecies of the American black bear that has historically ranged throughout most of Florida and southern portions of Alabama and Georgia. The large black-furred bears live mainly in forested areas, which surround Logan Lane, Mystic Porte, and the Shops of Grayton. So, it's not a surprise that they were spotted there.

Florida black bears are typically large-bodied with shiny black fur, a light brown nose, and a short stubby tail. The average male weight is 300 pounds and a few have grown above 500 pounds. I'm glad we didn't run into the dad! Florida black bears are mainly solitary, except when in groups or pairings during mating season, so maybe that's why he wasn't around. Or maybe he was hiding in the forest, daydreaming about mauling all of us. Hard to say! Females generally weigh less and on average are about 198 pounds. Average adults have a length of between 4 feet and 6 feet. I have no idea how old or how big this baby is, as it was hard to tell while standing on the ground looking up. However, I do think the baby bear would have looked adorable in footed pajamas. Ha!

The current black bear population in Florida is estimated at more than 3,000 bears. In addition to black bears, wildlife that calls our local habitat home includes sea turtles, herons, egrets, white tailed deer, fox, coyote, raccoon, gopher tortoise, numerous species of birds, alligators, deer quail, turkey, and wild boar. I would rather not meet most of those animals face-to-face, but it was cool to see the black bears from a distance yesterday in Grayton Beach.

One thing that creates a buzz along the Emerald Coast is South Walton and 30A celebrity sightings. Because of Andy's involvement in the art community, we've had the opportunity to meet a few of those celebrities. In January 2013, several songwriters came into town for the 30A Songwriters Festival. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Suzanne Vega both performed at Gulf Place. During their performances, Andy was set up next to the stage painting a backdrop. I was very excited! Carpenter's Come On Come On album and Vega's Solitude Standing album were the soundtrack for my early teen years. In fact, both of those albums got a lot of play time when Andy and I were still "just friends" and in our teen dating years. If someone had told me in 1993, "Hey, you know those songs you and Andy listen to while you drive around town? One day he'll be painting right next to those ladies as they perform those songs live!" I would've never believed them. And yet, twenty years later... Life is full of surprises, isn't it? I regret that neither of them returned home with a piece of Andy's art, but maybe next year.

Mary Chapin Carpenter with Andy

Suzanne Vega with Andy

Andy's completed 30A Songwriters Festival backdrop

The Sandestin Wine Festival is a big event held every April. This year, the guest of honor was Paula Deen. Yesterday, Andy and I were asked to drop in during the media brunch and present her with a custom piece of art. The piece pulls together our home (Western Lake on 30A, Walton County, etc) with her home (Savannah), and also includes some of her recipes. She seemed to like it, saying that she planned to hang it in her lake house. (Click here for more photos from the Sandestin Wine Festival.)

Paula Deen with Andy

Andy and me

How much South Walton can Andy fit into one piece of art?

• The title of the piece is Visit South Walton's tagline.
• The clouds are Visit South Walton license plates.
• The frame is reclaimed wood from a dock on Western Lake.
• The background wood was from a renovation of a Seaside home.
• The glass and mirror pieces were from 2006 South Walton Artist of the Year Phil Kiser.
• The palm tree trunks are beach chairs pieces from Miramar Beach. When the chairs were cut, you could smell suntan lotion - no joke!
• The palm tree leaves are from the bar tops at Cowgirl Kitchen in Rosemary Beach.
• The sheet music is from various South Walton musicians.
• Notice the "2013" on the name plate? Those numbers were cut from a 1967 health almanac. Andy used the 2013 as a reflection of his title of 2013 Visit South Walton Artist of the Year.

Find Your Perfect Beach | 76x60 inches

As previously mentioned, Andy will be painting live at the 30A Songwriters Festival. T-shirts with his art will be available at the event. If they don't sell out, the general public may purchase them after the festival weekend.

Andy's art on a shirt

The 30A Songwriters Festival, a three-day music festival with over 200 performances, will be held January 18-20. As the 2013 Visit South Walton Artist of the Year, Andy will be painting live by the stage at Gulf Place both Saturday and Sunday, 1:00-5:00 PM. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. 

stage backdrop Andy painted for 2012 festival

stage backdrop Andy painted for 2011 festival