Art City Austin 2014, an event put on by Art Alliance Austin, was held April 12-13 in Austin, Texas. This was Andy's first year to participate in Art City Austin, and he joined over 100 other artists. The two-day art festival was held on West Cesar Chavez Street along the Colorado River in downtown.

Andy's booth

Our friends Matt and Evan were kind enough to help us set up Andy's tent Friday night. Setting up a tent is fun! Actually, it's NOT. It's kind of miserable and time consuming. The tent and walls are the easy part. What's difficult is deciding just how to arrange the artwork so that it all fits and looks balanced. It's like Tetris, only heavy lifting is involved. (Pro tip: When tensions rise, it's a great time to leave the artist alone for awhile and go find delicious food.) I don't remember what time we finished, but I do know that it was well past my bed time. The effort was worth it, because his tent looked great Saturday morning.

One highlight of Saturday - other than selling art, of course - was bumping into a fellow Niceville High School graduate and his family! Gray graduated from our high school the year before Andy's sister. We have heard his name many times over the years, but it took a trip halfway across the country to finally meet him. Fun fact: Gray's mom was one of Andy's college art teachers!

Another highlight of Saturday was that I finally got to meet Chris and Stephanie. They vacation in South Walton and have bought art from Andy in the past. Thanks to last weekend, we can now call them friends instead of just customers! Chris and Stephanie volunteered at Art City Austin Saturday afternoon. When the festival closed for the day, they brought us to one of their favorite BBQ places in Austin. I'll gladly admit that Rudy's had the best brisket and cream corn I've ever tasted. I usually turn up my nose at chain restaurants, but this one is a winner!

On Sunday, Chad Goldwasser picked up Andy's skyline guitar piece inspired by Austin. Chad just signed a book deal, and his “Pure Gold” reality TV show will be coming soon on Bravo. In other words, Andy's art is totally famous now... or maybe not. But it'd be pretty cool if his art somehow made an appearance on the show!

Back to Chris and Stephanie. They were a huge blessing to us! Not only did they treat us to dinner Saturday night (thanks again, guys!), they showed up Sunday as the festival was ending and helped us break down the tent and load the trailer. Are you kidding me?! When they vacation in South Walton this summer, we will definitely have to find a way to repay the favor.

Overall, Art City Austin was a good event and we enjoyed finally getting to see Austin, Texas. Would I make the drive with a trailer again? Ehh, probably not, but we'll see. 

"I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them." - Pablo Picasso "Good artists copy, great artists steal." - Pablo Picasso

If Andy had to pick one artist who has had the greatest influence in his style, it would be Pablo Picasso. When Andy was in elementary school, he was introduced to Picasso's work. He has admired and studied it ever since. It's not a coincidence that many people have told Andy that his work reminds them of Picasso's. Below are 7 similarities and differences between the two artists.

1. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881. Andy Saczynski was born in England in 1977.

2. Picasso had four kids by different mothers. Andy has five by the same mother (yours truly).

3. Picasso produced approximately 1,885 paintings in his lifetime. Andy has documented almost 550 paintings, although this number doesn't include pieces he completed in his youth.

4. Picasso used common house paint in many of his paintings. Andy does, too - specifically, the cheap "oops" paint at Home Depot and Lowe's. My man is thrifty!

5. Picasso dated his works, often to the day. He explained: "I want to leave to posterity a documentation that will be as complete as possible. That's why I put a date on everything I do." Since Andy began his art career in 2010, we have documented every piece of his art. I like to think I do this for the same reason Picasso did.

6. Several paintings by Picasso rank among the most expensive paintings in the world. For example, Garçon à la pipe sold for $104 million in 2004. Let's just say that Andy hasn't quite hit that price point... yet? Ha!

7. More of Picasso's paintings have been stolen than any other artist's. To date, only one of Andy's paintings has been stolen. Should we be flattered?

Below are two pieces of Andy's art that were inspired by Pablo Picasso:

Dora Maar with Jewelry & Flowers | 23x49 inches

Jacqueline with Flowers & Curls | 23x26 inches

The first owl I was fond of was Big Mama in The Fox and the Hound. Her voice was soothing and I wanted to hug her, not that you can hug a cartoon. You may have noticed that owls have gained popularity in the past few years, as they appear on various types of home decor. Seeing them around more often than usual inspired Andy to make owl art. Typical owls are solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. You will notice that Andy doesn't necessarily follow this description in his art. Rather, his owl art is his interpretation of the details he notices.

Florida has nine species of owls: Flammulated Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Burrowing Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Which of those owls has Andy painted? I couldn't begin to guess, as I am not an ornithologist. Here's something interesting, though: I read that a Great Horned Owl can use up to 80 pounds of force with one claw. That's pretty crazy!

All owls eat their prey either whole or ripped into pieces. Several hours later, they regurgitate the unwanted parts (bones, fur, feathers) in pellets. When I was in high school, I had to dissect an owl pellet. I was not a fan of that particular experiment. It totally grossed me out. Anyway, you can get details about owl pellets and the like elsewhere on the internet (for example, The Owl Pages). I'm here to share art with you, not science! Below are a few pieces of Andy's owl art, which may or may not represent any of the species mentioned above.

Night Owl | 23x53 inches

Wisdom Comes From the Heart | 51x32 inches

Eye Hath Not Seen | 23x35 inches

Owl 3 | 25x39 inches

Who's Who Too | 24x25 inches

South Walton has 15 named coastal dune lakes along its 26 miles of coastline: Fuller Lake, Morris Lake, Campbell Lake, Stallworth Lake, Allen Lake, Oyster Lake, Draper Lake, Big Redfish Lake, Little Redfish Lake, Alligator Lake, Western Lake, Eastern Lake, Deer Lake, Camp Creek Lake, and Lake Powell. Perhaps the most recognizable and well known is Western Lake, which has been the subject of countless photographs and paintings for many years. Andy has painted Western Lake more times than he can count, selling over 40 last year alone. I moved here in 1990, and the trees lining Western Lake still take my breath away every time I drive on the stretch of 30A connecting Grayton Beach and WaterColor.

Western Lake 

Coastal dune lakes are rare, so it's pretty special that we have 15 of them. In addition to South Walton, they're also found along the coasts of Oregon, South Carolina, New Zealand, Australia, and Madagascar. Our coastal dune lakes were created by wind and waves thousands of years ago and are constantly evolving. They’re unusually shallow, with an average depth of about five feet, and the dunes surrounding them can get as tall as 30 feet high.

Western Lake

Recreational activities along the coastal dune lakes include kayak/canoe paddling, stand up paddle boarding, and fishing. Fishing is typically fresh water, however salt-water species can also be found in the lakes. Bream, bass, pan fish, catfish, redfish, flounder, speckled trout. and mullet are commonly caught. (Click here for a list of public access points.)

Western Lake

Lakes create an opening (outfall) to the Gulf of Mexico during periods of high water levels, causing fresh and salt water to mix. So, if you like the Gulf of Mexico to be sparkling turquoise, you should avoid Grayton Beach when the water levels are high, temporarily causing the water along the shore to turn a reddish-brown.

As mentioned, Andy paints South Walton's coastal dune lakes quite often, usually of Western Lake and the famous trees surrounding it. Here are a few examples of what he's painted over the last few years.

Andy likes to create assemblage art with found objects, but it's even more fun when the components have special meaning to the customer. Kevin won a guitar signed by Ben Harper when he and Tracy lived in Atlanta. It had been sitting in the corner of their bedroom for years when he suggested they have Andy incorporate it into a custom piece of art. Tracy thought it was a wonderful idea, since Andy specializes in assemblage art.

To be honest, it was a little scary cutting the guitar signed by Ben Harper. Once it's cut, well, it's cut. Hope they liked the end result!

Kevin and Tracy gathered a lot of other nostalgic items, including their Florida State University National Championship license plate. (Side note: I assume they were jumping for joy when FSU defeated Auburn in the BCS Championship last night.)

Music was definitely one of the main themes they wanted to highlight in this piece of art. They included their first albums: In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel (their wedding song), Listen Like Thieves by INXS (their first concert), and Standing on the Beach by The Cure.

Kevin and Tracy share a love of Jamaica, where they've vacationed several times, including their honeymoon. So, Andy added Red Stripe caps and three little birds to represent Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.

They loved the end result and said it turned out wonderfully. Since taking these photos, however, they have asked to replace Peter Gabriel's face with Bob Marley's face. Not a problem for Andy! Sometime this month, they'll stop by the gallery so Andy can quickly make the switch.

Every Little Thing | 35x59 inches

Do you have a stack of sentimental items and you’re not sure what to do with them? Contact Andy to discuss having him make a custom piece for you. (Yes, he can work with your budget.)

As an assemblage artist, Andy has gained a lot of recognition for his guitar art. He likes the shape of guitars and has fun working with them. When one isn't readily available, he's used various other materials to create the illusion of guitars. Below is a small sampling of his guitar art. 

Behind Door #1 | 30x52 inches | door, suitcase, silverware, beach chairs, piano parts, etc.

Cellitar | 31x59 inches | acrylic, wood, cello parts, trombone parts, trumpet parts, piano parts, clock, sheet music, vinyl record, ruler, etc.

Count Every Star | 39x47 inches | acrylic, wood, shutters, wine crate, metal, etc.

Daily Grind | 30x53 inches | wood, metal, piano keys, antique coffee grinder, etc.

Every Little Thing | 35x59 inches | acrylic, wood, guitar parts, records, license plates, spoons, etc.

Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright 2 | 35x56 inches | acrylic, wood, suitcase, fishing reel parts, piano parts, etc.

Free Little Birds | 18x61 inches | acrylic, wood, functional light, metal, rake, paper, records, etc.

Hump Day Funk | 24x42 inches | vintage table, metal, piano keys, wire, records, license plates, etc.

Mixed Emotions | 36x48 inches | acrylic, wood, telephone parts, sheet music, piano parts, paddle, etc.

One Man Band 2 | 36x49 inches | acrylic, wood, guitar parts, trumpet, piano parts, metal, etc. 

The Clock is Tickin' | 26x57 inches | acrylic, wood, metal, tin, piano parts, clock, mailbox, cookie sheet, shovel parts, etc.

The Heart of the Matter | 33x46 inches | acrylic, wood, cabinet doors, egg scrambler, record, coffee grinder parts, cow bell, flute, etc.

Andy recently painted a mural on the north wall of the Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Northwest Florida State College's South Walton Center. After being asked by the college earlier this year, Andy agreed to paint the wall. The public announcement was made at the Native Plant Demonstration Garden Grand Opening & Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on June 21st. If you would like to see the mural in person, visit the South Walton Center at 109 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Andy was once a student at Northwest Florida State College, back when it was called Okaloosa Walton Community College. He attended 1995-1997 on a fine arts scholarship. He took drawing, 2D design, watercolor, painting, and pottery classes. The mural opportunity felt like he had come full circle, and it was cool being able to give back to the school where he had learned so much about art. We hope that people enjoy the mural and feel it adds more beauty to the Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Northwest Florida State College.

This isn't the first mural Andy has painted. In October 2008, he painted a 65x12-ft mural on the interior walls of the Mirror Maze at Pier Park in Panama City Beach. Call (850) 230-6249 for hours of operation. Tell them the artist sent you!

Andy loves to work on a large scale. Murals are fun for him! Maybe you want a mural in your baby's nursery or in your kids' playroom. Or maybe you're a business owner of a hip little cafe and a mural would add an element of fun and creativity that you want. Or maybe you manage a preschool and want Andy to turn the walls into a magical place of learning. If you like Andy's style and you're in need of a mural, contact him to discuss your ideas. I'm sure he can come up with a concept you will like.

The 8th Annual Moss Rock Festival was held at The Preserve in Hoover, Alabama, November 2-3, 2013. This was Andy's second time to participate in the Moss Rock Festival, the first time in 2011. (He was supposed to go last year, but something came up at the last minute.) The Preserve is a classic American neighborhood in Hoover, just south of Birmingham. The 300-acre community adjoins the 250-acre Moss Rock Preserve, with miles of hiking trails through unspoiled forests. It's gorgeous and every house within it is my dream home. If not for our white sand beaches and turquoise Gulf waters, I would have already packed our belongings and moved.

The Moss Rock Festival's web site describes the event as follows: 100 juried artists will be exhibiting on 3 Artist Rows surrounding The Preserve’s Village Green. Artwork from these artists is primarily inspired by nature, depicting nature, or created using natural materials like wood, clay or glass, plus recycled materials and/or found and repurposed objects. All artist mediums will be represented.

Based on that description, you can see why Andy was a perfect fit for the Moss Rock Festival. And Alabama loved him! Our trailer was much lighter on the way home. Here are a few highlights and photos from the event.

Upon arriving, we were greeted by lovely southern belles.

Andy's tent was constantly flooded with people, which was great! Birmingham people love art and they love 30A.

Susan Shoemaker was the 2013 featured poster artist. I don't know if she's ever illustrated a children's book, but she should.

We saw our friend Marian Baker of Blockhead Arts. You may remember her from the Slotin Folk Fest. I still intend to get two commissioned pieces from her - one of our children and one of our cats.

Andy and I were both crazy about Michael Ballew's art. When Michael approached us about trading art, we were thrilled! One of his churches is now proudly displayed in our living room.

Our tent was located near Andrea Marty of Anchor and Daisy. Cool jewelry! I'm annoyed with myself that her photo is blurry, but I wanted to be sure she was mentioned in this post.

You know who was fun and had cool stuff? Zade Denny of Digs Design and Lucy Farmer of Lucy's Inspired.

I was totally inspired by Chad Moore's photography. Having four boys, our house is flooded with toys. I couldn't help but think of what shots I could take with our collection of super heroes and Little People!

I liked the bold and colorful folk art of Anthony Tavis.

I admired Darrell Ezekiel's creative use of quilts. If he has a web site, I can't find it. But you can reach him at ezekiel_431@hotmail.com or (256) 404-8377.

Inside the Town Hall, local bakers showed off some amazing cakes. Unfortunately, I had three little boys climbing on me, so I didn't get to taste any of the cakes. But aren't they gorgeous?

This is Emily Forsythe of Louise's Cakes-N-Things.

This is Kimberly Wiggins of Cakes by Kim.

Sadly, I didn't get her name, but this creation is from Any Way Cakes.

I met Rudy, a distant relative of an Ewok. OMG, he was so cute!

I took this photo of the Village Green before the crowds arrived. While standing in line for lunch, our three little boys pretended they were bowling balls and almost knocked over a group of ladies. It was embarrassing, needless to say.

After the bowling ball incident, our boys were put in time out behind Andy's tent. I had high hopes of them taking a long nap while I chatted it up with people. Did that dream come to fruition? No, it did not. A+ for effort, though.

FYI, Andy Saczynski is an introvert. As to avoid awkward small talk, he paints during festivals. The irony is that it usually attracts more conversation. Bless his heart. People just can't resist communicating with the A Sac!

The best part of the festival was bumping into my 10th grade English teacher. I haven't seen her since 1995. Let's just say that I may have gotten a little emotional and cried tears of joy. I love her so much! She was one of the first influences and to this day remains one of the main influences in my writing career. I credit her with giving me the encouragement and direction I needed. If not for Gale Flynn, formerly known as Gale Skinner, this blog likely wouldn't exist. God bless teachers!

Celebrating its 18th year, the Destin Festival of the Arts 2013 was held October 26th-27th at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. The event combined more than 100 juried artists (both local and national) specializing in acrylic, clay, collage, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, mosaic, oil, pen and ink, photography, digital art, pastel, pottery, sculpture, fiber, textile, wood, and watercolor.

Andy's booth

Andy's design was selected to represent the Destin Festival of the Arts 2013. T-shirts and merchandise, including a commemorative festival poster, were available for purchase at the event. If you'd like to order a t-shirt or poster, there may be some left. Call the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation at (850) 650-2226.

The festival offered good food, great entertainment, and free activities for the kids. The weather was perfect and it was a great way to spend the weekend.

Saczynski boys

Josiah

Emerald Coast Magazine’s Readers Choice Poll is held each June, and the magazine announces the winners the following October. Best Local Artist was introduced as a category in 2012, and Andy has won the title two years in a row. This is a huge honor, especially considering the many wonderfully talented artists who live and work on the Emerald Coast. 

Each October, a party is held to showcase the individuals and businesses that have won Best of the Emerald Coast, and people from all over the area gather to enjoy great food and music. The Best of the Emerald Coast 2013 celebration was held Saturday, October 19th, at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach.

It rained off and on all day Saturday, but thankfully the weather cleared up in time for the event. The good thing about the materials Andy uses in his art (including reclaimed dock wood for the frames) is that they can be exposed to humidity or get wet without being damaged. We weren't concerned about the occasional mist, but we're thankful it didn't pour! The weather didn't seem to bother guests, and the event drew a large crowd. Andy and I had a great time and saw many friends, both old and new. Here are two friends who have been invaluable in Andy's career...

Andy met Zandra Wolfgram in April 2011. It may have been by chance, but we like to think of it as fate. Zandra is the editor of Emerald Coast Magazine, which featured a story about Andy six months after they met. That was the boost we needed to get the courage to open his gallery the following spring. In August of this year, Zandra was once again our shining star, as she promoted Andy's gallery in an article highlighting 30A businesses in 850 Magazine. We are both thankful for Zandra's support.

Chester Kroeger is known by many as Father Fud. Andy's friendship with Chester started when Andy still had a landscaping business. When Chester discovered that Andy's true passion was art, they were a match made in heaven. Chester first hired Andy in late 2011 to re-design the Down Under Bar at Fudpucker's in Destin. 

Emerald Coast Magazine's Readers Choice Poll is held each June, and winners are announced the following October. The Best of the Emerald Coast event is held October 19th (details below). Prior to the big event, a Winners Orientation Cocktail Party and Awards Ceremony is held. I was able to attend the Winners Orientation with Best Local Artist Andy Saczynski (obviously, since we're married and whatnot).

Crab Island Cantina did a great job catering the Winners Orientation. The food was good and, let's face it, you can't beat their view of the Destin pass. It's THE place to catch a sunset in Destin! I don't know about you, but I think fresh pico de gallo and guacamole make the sunset at least 53% more enjoyable. Agree?

We had a lot of fun at the Winners Orientation. We shared a table with our friends Chris and Heather Thomas of Destin Vacation Boat Rentals and Shane and Bethany Keller of Rock the House. We laughed until my abs hurt! 

The Best of the Emerald Coast event is next weekend! Andy will have a booth at the event, where he'll display a few of his favorite pieces. He also donated a gift card to the silent auction, so you can be looking for that.

Event Details: Saturday, October 19th 6:00-9:00 PM Grand Boulevard (Miramar Beach)

As you may recall, Andy was voted Best Local Artist in 2012, as well. We are honored!

To see a complete list of the 132 Best of the Emerald Coast 2013 winners, please visit Emerald Coast Magazine's web site.

Andy often creates Florida alligator art. He uses recycled and re-purposed materials to create mixed media assemblage art. The alligator became the official state reptile of Florida in 1987, when Andy was 10 years old. A Florida resident since childhood, it's no surprise that Andy is inspired to create Florida alligator art. 

Southern Groove | 46x34 inches

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.

Florida Gator | 43x24 inches

American alligators live in freshwater environments, such as ponds, marshes, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, as well as in brackish environments. However, as if Shark Week didn't give you enough nightmares, an alligator was found playing in the surf on a South Walton beach in March 2009. Sweet dreams and happy swimming, friends!

Flower-Ida Gator | 68x24 inches

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. I'm guessing most adult alligators would also gladly eat you and your children, which is why they make terrible pets.

Grayton Gator | 65x25 inches

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. And this is why I don't swim in lakes.

Dis-funk-tional | 59x21 inches

American alligators may live to about 50 years in the wild. 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. They don't play around, do they?

Allie 5 | 65x23 inches

If you're in Destin or South Walton and want to see live alligators, I would not recommend hanging out in a swamp. Instead, visit Gator Beach at Fudpucker's in Destin. Gator Beach is a free alligator exhibit developed in May 2002 using the pond in front of Fudpucker's to house 80 live alligators. You can feed live alligators, have your photo taken with one, watch an educational show, and swim with the alligators. Just kidding! They don't let you swim with them and you'll probably get arrested if you try. But all that other stuff is true. While visiting Fudpucker's, be sure to check out their Down Under Bar, which Andy painted in early 2012. If you're lucky, you'll be seated at one of Andy's four alligator tables!

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