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What is outsider art? It's a term used to describe art that is loosely understood as "outside" the mainstream art world, while "outsider artist" usually refers to any untrained artist. It's sometimes misapplied as a catch-all marketing label, regardless of the artists' circumstances or the content of their work. There are actually several terms that fall under the "outsider art" category. Definitions vary, and there are areas of overlap between them. Andy's art has been given many different titles and descriptions, so I thought it best to educate myself. I may as well share my findings with you.
Outsider Art
- catch-all marketing label
- self-taught artist
- never institutionalized
- outside the mainstream art world or art institutions
- illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds
Art Brut
- usually insane-asylum inmates or the mentally ill
- sometimes children
- immune to the influences of culture, because the artists themselves are not willing or able to be influenced
Naive Art
- childlike simplicity in subject matter and technique
- may or may not have formal art training
- more conscious interaction with the mainstream art world than outsider artists
Folk Art
- any product of practical craftsmanship and decorative skill
- typically embodies traditional forms and social values
- art of the people, as distinguished from the mainstream art world
Visionary Art
- refers to the subject matter of the works
- includes images of a spiritual, religious, or mystical nature
Marginal Art
- essentially the same as Neuve Invention, but no interaction with the mainstream art world
Neuve Invention
- essentially the same as Marginal Art, but some interaction with the mainstream art world
Are you still confused? I am, too. As mentioned before, a lot of the definitions overlap. I know for sure Andy isn't classified as Art Brut, though! Below are examples of his work that have been labeled outsider art, due to the unconventional ideas that inspired them.
Face 2 Face | 16x22 inches
Scrappy | 24x29 inches
What the Folk | 36x34 inches
To better understand the history and development of outsider art, check out Raw Vision or Outsider Art Fair.
Founded by Scott Blackwell, Immaculate Baking Company is dedicated to premium taste and ingredients, art, and fun. In the mid 1990s, Scott discovered folk art and artists. He was drawn to their simplicity, creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness, so he decided to celebrate them by featuring their work on his cookie and coffee packages. In the mid 2000s, he established the Folk Artist’s Foundation to give support, aid, encouragement, and exposure to artists working in the folk art tradition. Immaculate Baking Company's products can be found in stores nationwide. (You can read the full history of Immaculate Baking Company here.) In August 2013, Andy and I traveled to Atlanta so he could participate in the Slotin Folk Fest for the first time. It's 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. At the event, we had the opportunity to meet Angela from Immaculate Baking Company. She was sent to the Slotin Folk Fest for the purpose of finding new art for their packaging. Fortunately for us, Angela selected two of Andy's pieces:
Queen of the Jungle | 47x35 inches
Bon Temps Butterfly | 46x33 inches
The process of developing new products and designing the packaging takes several months. We have been very excited about this project, so it wasn't easy to be patient! The products were finally released this month. Queen of the Jungle is on their Double Chocolate Cookie Mix and Bon Temps Butterfly is on their Organic All-Purpose Flour. The products are currently being distributed to stores across the country, although I'm not sure when they'll make their way to the Destin area.
Also, Angela called us last October and the company bought a third piece from Andy:
The City That Never Sleeps | 59x31 inches
We aren't sure when The City That Never Sleeps will appear on packaging, as the product is still being developed. Any ideas on what the product could be?
This post was updated June 8, 2017.
The following beach activities have higher fatality rates than shark attacks: getting hit in the head by a coconut, collapsing sand, driving to the beach, boating accidents, drowning, and injuries/fatalities from surfing. Yet, people tend to be terrified of sharks. I've collected some information about Florida shark attacks so that you don't have to live in fear or spend the rest of your life swimming only in chlorinated pools.
World's Most Dangerous Sharks
Four species of sharks account for the vast majority of fatal attacks on humans: bull shark, tiger shark, oceanic whitetip shark, and great white shark.
Sharks That Call Florida Home
Florida has seven common species of shark: blacktip shark, bonnethead shark, bull shark, great hammerhead shark, lemon shark, nurse shark, and tiger shark. That means that Florida has two of the world's most dangerous sharks. Fantastic.
Florida's Most Dangerous Beaches
The Florida counties with the most shark attacks include Volusia, Brevard, and Palm Beach. If you like vacationing in Destin and South Walton, you'll be happy to know we have some of the safest beaches in the state. In the past 135+ years, Okaloosa County has only reported four shark attacks, and none were fatal. Although Walton County has only reported one, it was sadly a fatal shark attack. Statistically, though, our beaches are safe compared with others in Florida.
watching sharks in Destin
Why Sharks Attack
Humans Sharks do not normally hunt humans, but if they do attack, it is usually a case of mistaken identity. Sharks may confuse humans with sea lions, seals, and similar-bodied prey. There are four basic types of shark attacks on humans:
- Provoked attacks, which are the most common.
- Unprovoked hit-and-run attacks — when the shark grabs, releases, and leaves the scene.
- Unprovoked sneak attacks, when a deep-sea shark moves upon a diver unaware.
- Unprovoked bump-and-bite attacks, when a shark head-butts a person before it takes a bite.
How to Avoid a Shark Attack
Most of these seem obvious, but here are 13 tips on how to avoid a shark attack:
- Stay in groups of people.
- Don't wander too far from shore.
- Stay away from sandbars, steep drop-offs, and estuary inlets.
- Avoid being in the water during early morning, late afternoon, and evening.
- If you're bleeding, stay out of the water! That includes menstruation.
- Don't wear shiny jewelry when in the water.
- Avoid wearing brightly colored or high-contrast clothing in murky waters.
- Refrain from excessive splashing.
- If you see someone fishing, stay away from them.
- Avoid large groups of fish, dolphins, and seabirds.
- Stay away from dead animals in the water.
- Avoid areas where animal, human, or fish waste enter the water.
- Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted, even a small one.
Do Not Fear Sharks
It's wise to know how to avoid shark attacks, but you don't need to live in fear of them. Get out there and enjoy that gorgeous water! And if you REALLY like sharks...
Shark Art
Sharks have been the subject of some of Andy's art. For example:
In the spring of 2014, Andy was asked to paint a Walton Sun newspaper box. This was part of a community wide project involving several local artists. Walton County is an artsy community and this was a creative way to bring more artistic influence to the area. Andy was happy to accept the Walton Sun's request.
South Walton has 16 beach communities. Since Andy's gallery is in Grayton Beach, it made sense that his Walton Sun newspaper box would find a permanent home in the same beach community. Grayton Beach has a fun, funky vibe, which Andy wanted the box to reflect. Grayton Beach also has an old Florida feel, so Andy wanted to highlight the fact that it was established in 1890.
So, what was the concept for the box? FUN and FUNKY. First, Andy painted many of the same signature swirls, waves, and patterns he's used since the early 1990s. Next, he included a bright, bold sun (a hat tip to the Walton Sun) with some of his popular blue birds. Then he included a "read all about it" parrot. The finishing touch was a boom box because... well, why not? Andy has a sense of humor! His box is colorful, just like the community itself.
As of now, Andy's Walton Sun newspaper box has found a home in front of Another Broken Egg Cafe. At this time, we aren't sure if that will be a temporary or permanent location.
Just a little side note... Back in the mid-2000s Andy painted a newspaper box for The News Herald in Panama City. We have no idea where that box is now. Ha! Let us know if you see it!
You know what's almost as cool as a VW bus? VW bus art! Andy loves VW buses. I mean, who doesn't?! Seeing a VW bus produces warm, fuzzy emotions and a sense of adventure. For the past few months, Andy had been wanting to make a new series of VW bus art. What better way to honor the Volkswagen classic, right? But first, he needed the perfect model. He had done many Google searches looking for a photo taken at just the right angle, but hadn't yet found the one. Then it happened. Was it luck? Destiny? Coincidence? I don't know, but here's what happened... It was none other than April Fool's Day. Andy was working in his upstairs studio. A woman wandered into the gallery, so Andy made small talk with her. She discussed possibly getting one of his Western Lake paintings. Then she left for the Shops of Grayton, saying she'd return later.
Andy went back upstairs and casually looked out the window. And there it was: the one. The very VW bus that he'd been waiting for all his life (or maybe just a few months).
Andy went outside, iPhone in hand, ready to take photos. A man was standing next to the VW bus. Andy asked if he could take some photos of it, since it was the very bus he wanted to paint. The man agreed.
A little time passed, and the man and woman came into the gallery. Andy hadn't realized they were together. Long story short, they were very excited that their bus was going to be the subject of Andy's art. They requested a custom piece that included their bus, Western Lake, flowers, and a sunset. This was the result:
Get On the Bus | 34x22 inches
Of course, it didn't stop there! Using their bus as the model, Andy made several more pieces of VW bus art.
3 Star Bus | 26x24 inches
Flower Power | 34x26 inches
Lone Starry Night | 32x24 inches
Andy has been surfing almost as long as he's been drawing and painting, so it's no surprise that his collection includes surf art. Chicks dig the surfer guys, and I was no exception. I started stalking dating Andy halfway through our junior year of high school. I wish I could share some of his "sexy surfer boy" photos with you, but that would probably cause significant marital damage. Moving right along...
Surf Art Paintings
It all started with some paintings. After getting inspired while looking through various surfing magazines, Andy painted some "swell" art, including the piece below. (Also, I apologize for that ridiculous pun.)
Pacific Swell | 56x33 inches
Assemblage Surf Art
Next, Andy made several pieces of assemblage surf art. Many of these pieces were also inspired by Bob Marley's music. For example:
Get Up Stand Up 2 | 45x35 inches
Get Up Stand Up | 32x32 inches
Don't Rock My Boat | 29x35 inches
Technically, Don't Rock My Boat features a small boat, not a surfboard. But it's created in the same style and it's my favorite of the bunch, so I wanted to include it.
Board Design
Andy has also painted many surfboards, both for himself and others. He painted this vintage Rick James surfboard, which is currently on display at his gallery. You won't see a price tag on it, but he'd probably be willing to part with it for the right offer. Also, Andy would be happy to paint a custom image on your surfboard.
vintage Rick James surfboard
More
Coastal Lifestyle magazine recently noticed the connection between surfing and Andy's art. Their April/May 2014 issue featured an article about Andy.
The 39th Annual Harding Art Show was held at the Harding Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, May 1-3, 2014. This was Andy's first time to participate in the Harding Art Show, the main fundraiser for the school's Parents Auxiliary, which allocates the money to programs and services that directly benefit the students of Harding Academy. Thirty percent of each purchase goes directly to this fund. Andy was one of 69 artists selected by the Harding Academy for this year's show.
Andy and I were both impressed by how nicely the school accommodated the artists. This is by far the best art show we've ever been a part of, and we look forward to returning in 2015. Below are a few of my favorite artists from the show, many of whom I would now call our friends.
Obviously, this is Andy's booth. Obviously, he's my favorite artist.
This is Steve Penley's amazing art. I adore his Ronald Reagan pieces.
Oh, look! Two of my favorite artists hanging out by Andy's booth. Steve Penley's art is rad. It's no wonder he was the featured artist at this year's show.
I love Valentina Harper's work! I bought two small prints, which says a lot, because I rarely buy art by other artists - there isn't room in our home!
Kent Youngstrom is our new friend from Charlotte, North Carolina. He did a pretty sweet painting at Elevation Church. Ask him to see the video.
We met Bebo at the Slotin Folk Fest last year. Great guy! (Fun fact: Bebo isn't his real name, but I'm not telling you what it is. You'll have to ask him!)
Amber Wallace uses recycled and repurposed materials. Her web site doesn't seem to be working at the moment, but she can be reached at (615) 753-0910.
This is CRAZY! We ran into Wes at the show. He and Andy worked together at the Destin J. Crew store in the mid-1990s. We haven't seen Wes in about 20 years. Small world!
Grant Garmezy does some pretty insane things with glass. This photo doesn't even do it justice. Check out his web site.
Barrett Hedges is a real deal photographer. You may have seen his work in National Geographic. He's traveled the world capturing award-winning shots of wildlife while avoiding being mauled.
Sarah Kaufman's paintings are so dreamy and magical! I want to have her illustrate a children's book and get a copy for my kids.
Evy McPherson had a beautiful booth, complete with fresh flowers. Check out her jewelry.
Charla Steele uses recycled magazines to make her artwork. It seems like the process would be incredibly time-consuming, but the result is really cool.
Amanda Bennett's pieces are so cool! I like her style.
Melanie Blackerby is a total sweetheart from Mobile, Alabama. She's coming to South Walton this week and I'm looking forward to hanging out with her.
Bailey Jack is a camera-shy firecracker. I love her pigs! Her web site appears to be down at the moment, but you can reach her at paintingsbybailey@gmail.com.
It was really cool meeting S. A. Habib, because his sister is South Walton artist Beeb Benson. Small world, once again!
Vicki Sawyer's foxes remind me of The Fox and the Hound. Adorable!
Daniel Lai manipulates book pages to make these interesting pieces of art.
Those were some of our highlights from the 2014 Harding Art Show!
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!
