Andy's Repurposed exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama, opened last night and will remain on display until the end of February. His art fills the Whiting Gallery, as well as part of the foyer.

Andy and I drove to Fairhope for last night's opening at the monthly Art Walk, which was held at the ESAC from 6:00-8:00 PM. The next Art Walk is February 6th. I'm not sure if we will be able to attend, but I encourage you to if you're in Fairhope that evening. Otherwise, his exhibit can be seen during the Eastern Shore Art Center's regular business hours and is located at 401 Oak Street, Fairhope. All of Andy's artwork is available to purchase. Call the ESAC at (251) 928-2228 for inquiries.

Before the Art Walk, Andy and I had a couple hours of free time to explore Fairhope. It's a charming town with historical buildings and cool shops. We both really liked the mural by America Jones located at the corner of Church Street and Fairhope Avenue. She originally painted it in 2003, then repainted it in 2014. As you know, Andy painted a billboard in Minneapolis last summer. He would love an opportunity to paint another large-scale project.

We were treated to dinner at R Bistro & Pastry by Fred and Ashley, our sweet friends and patrons of the arts. It was an amazing meal! We shared the Shrimp and Slaw appetizer, then both ordered the Pan Fried Grouper with Sauce Choron and Crawfish Andouille Orzo. Oh my word... it was excellent! I would highly recommend this restaurant, which is located at 334 Fairhope Avenue.

Lucky for us, the Christmas lights were still on display, which made this charming town even more so. What a great time of year to visit!

F

If you're in the Fairhope area this month or next, please visit Andy's exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center. Let them know we sent you.

If you drive south on 283, then take a right on Logan Lane, you'll be directly between Mystic Porte and Shops of Grayton. And that's where we were in March 2012, on a quest to find a commercial property to open Andy's art gallery. All eight units at Shops of Grayton were occupied by other businesses, but we noticed a "For Lease" sign at Mystic Porte. We called the leasing agent and, long story short, we were moving into that space about a week later.

our son Josiah checking out our first gallery space

The empty space was intimidating but also thrilling, and our dreams of owning a gallery were finally coming true. A year later, we celebrated the gallery's first anniversary. We stayed busy and time passed quickly. We finally got around to painting the place in October 2013. The gallery was looking better, but it still wasn't quite what we envisioned.

March 2012 vs March 2014

Last month, we found out that a unit in Shops of Grayton would soon be available. This was what we wanted all along, but it hadn't been an option until now. We jumped at the opportunity.

Our Mystic Porte location closed yesterday. Throughout January and February, all of Andy's current work will be on display at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama. During this time, he will work from home, creating new pieces to fill his new space. His gallery will reopen in Shops of Grayton on March 1st.

Andy

It's a little sad to say goodbye to our first gallery. We've spent almost three years there, watching both our children and Andy's work grow and change. But at the same time, we are excited about the next chapter and look forward to being part of Shops of Grayton!

While in middle school, Andy found a sailfish photo that he really liked. The photo inspired several pieces of sailfish art over the years. He wanted to create a mixed media assemblage piece, but it took awhile to conceptualize it and collect the parts needed.

About a year ago, Andy began collecting random elements. Gradually, the sailfish started to take form. If you look closely, you might be surprised by what you find. The most obvious element came from the inside of a piano, which my mom found for us. (Don't worry, it was given to us with the intention of being disassembled for art.) You might also notice a crutch, which Andy had used as a child after hurting himself on a skateboard. Also, Andy used an actual swordfish bill that he got from a fisherman friend. Lock parts and an old paintbrush added the final touches.

This sailfish art was one of Andy's most popular pieces. He completed it the day before the Best of the Emerald Coast and showcased it at the event. Although he received several offers, a couple in Fort Lauderdale had already claimed it for their newly renovated home.

The cool thing about assemblage art is that it's always original... and can never be duplicated. I learned my lesson the hard way a few years ago. Andy had made an assemblage sunflower and I fell in love with it. I had claimed it as my own, which is a benefit of being an artist's wife. But when a customer inquired about purchasing it, I crumbled. I thought, "Oh, he can make me another one. No big deal." Wrong. He has made many assemblage flowers since I let that one go, but there hasn't been one that I've loved the same way. My point is this... If you see original artwork that you really love, get it. You may not have another chance.

Andy participated in the 36th Annual Peter Anderson Art Festival in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, November 1st-2nd. The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival began as a small celebration by a group of Ocean Springs artists and art enthusiasts. Now it has grown to one of the Southeast's premiere arts and crafts festivals. The Peter Anderson Art Festival was named after master potter Peter Anderson, who died of ALS in 1984 (coincidentally, Andy's dad has the same disease). Peter's brother Walter Anderson was also an accomplished artist before his death in the mid-1960s. The Anderson family has left quite an artistic mark on the Ocean Springs community, including the Walter Anderson Museum of Art and the Peter Anderson Art Festival. In fact, Walter's son John Anderson attended this year's festival and admired the wealth of talent on display.

Of the 425 booths showcased at the event, the judges selected Andy as winner of the Award for the Creative Arts, one of only five awards given out. What an honor! We were also delighted to find out that two of our friends were award recipients this year. South Alabama artist Melanie Blackerby won the Award of Excellence and Emerald Coast jewelry designer Mary Kay Samouce won the Booth Award (we do not personally know the other two winners).

Melanie Blackerby

Mary Kay Samouce

It's estimated that between 150,000-180,000 people attended the 36th Annual Peter Anderson Art Festival last weekend. Despite the crowd, we visited with five familiar faces. Our friends, Pastors Bob and Sharon Parkes, just happened to be in town celebrating Bob's birthday. We also met our friend Nate's parents, Jerry and Pam. Lastly, we bumped into a former classmate, Lillian, who we haven't seen since 1995. Small world!

with Bob and Sharon

Jerry + Pam 

with our high school friend Lillian

We made a new "friend" at the festival - a possum, courtesy of Doug from Wild at Heart Rescue. Our youngest two children traveled with us and were pretty impressed when they got to pet Flower. Isn't she cute?

The boys and I also met a really cool dog. Cooler than me, probably.

Also, for those who travel and participate in art festivals, check out our parking spot. We were about three feet from the back of our tent. How awesome is that?! It sure did make breakdown a million times easier. I'd pay extra for convenience like that!

It's the Best of the Emerald Coast 2014! One of the most well respected publications in the Florida panhandle, EC Magazine reaches from Inlet Beach to Pensacola. Each June since 2000, over 20,000 readers are asked to vote in 140+ categories in their Best of the Emerald Coast Readers Choice Poll. The winners are announced in their October issue, followed by a huge celebration party. Best Local Artist was added as a category in 2012, and locals have voted Andy as the winner for three consecutive years! He’s honored to have our community recognize him in this way. (For a complete list of the Best of the Emerald Coast 2014 winners, click here.)

The 14th Annual Best of the Emerald Coast event was hosted by EC Magazine to benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. Held at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin on the evening of October 25th, this popular and well attended celebration party showcased this year’s winners, including Andy. It was an evening of food, fun, fashion, and entertainment. Guests sampled from the best restaurants, shopping, and businesses on the Emerald Coast.

Andy used his booth to showcase a few of his favorite pieces of art.

me + Heather

Chris and Heather Thomas own Destin Vacation Boat Rentals. Heather and I have been friends since 8th grade, so it's both fun and sentimental doing these events with her.

Dan + Cayce 

We were excited that Dan won Best Radio Personality. I've been friends with his wife Cayce even longer than I've been friends with Heather. Living in a small community has its perks.

In this piece of Christian art inspired by the Bible, Andy painted his interpretation of Jonah and the whale. Specifically, he focused on Jonah's prayer in chapter 2. If you've forgotten the story of Jonah and the whale, here's a summary of what happened...

In Jonah Chapter 1, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there. But instead, Jonah went to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. So, God sent a huge storm at sea. The sailors were terrified and, after talking with Jonah, realized the storm was his fault because he hadn't obeyed God. Jonah told the sailors that if they threw him overboard, the storm would stop. At first they didn't listen and the storm continued. So, they prayed to God and then threw Jonah overboard. The storm immediately stopped, and they thanked God. Then God assigned a whale to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the whale’s belly three days and nights.

In Jonah Chapter 2, Jonah prayed to God from inside the belly of the whale. The entire prayer is handwritten on this piece of art.

Verses 2 and 9 stand out to me the most: “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! ... For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” These are great verses to meditate on and speak over your situation when you find yourself feeling despair and hopelessness.

Jonah

On a lighter note, I have a story to share. In May 2009, I was eight months pregnant with our fourth child. We were out and bumped into our friend Hunter. He asked us what we were going to name the baby, and we told him Jonah. He started laughing and I asked what was so funny. He said, "Jonah... in the belly of the whale!" Oh, good one, Hunter. You are hilarious. Really. Just what every pregnant chick wants, to be compared to a whale!

If you're interested in purchasing this piece of Christian art or a similar one, contact Andy.

In this piece of Christian art inspired by the Bible, Andy painted his interpretation of Revelation 4:8. Revelation 4 is full of color and vivid descriptions.

To highlight a few things that stand out to us:

• a door standing open in heaven
• a voice like a trumpet blast
• a throne in heaven
• the one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper (red) and carnelian (bright orange)
• the glow of an emerald circling the throne like a rainbow
• twenty-four thrones surrounding the main throne, with twenty-four elders sitting on them
• the elders clothed in white with gold crowns on their heads
• flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder coming from the main throne
• seven torches with burning flames in front of the throne
• a shiny sea of glass (sparkling like crystal) in front of the throne

Okay, so this sets the stage. It's beautiful, colorful, bright, and sparkling. As you continue reading through Chapter 4, you are introduced to the four living beings that are in the center and around the throne. Each of the four beings is covered with eyes, front and back:

1. the first like a lion
2. the second like an ox
3. the third has a human face
4. the fourth like an eagle in flight

Each of these living beings has six wings, and their wings are covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Although these beings have always interested Andy, he chose not to include them on these particular pieces. Instead, he shifted his focus to all the angels singing the same words. These pieces are also inspired by the Revelation Song lyrics:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

If you're curious about the fire hydrant with wings, I'm not surprised. This was a commission piece. The fire hydrant represented a son and a brother lost too soon at the age of 28. His family understands the significance, and that's what matters.

If you're interested in getting a custom piece of Christian art similar to these, contact Andy.

In preparation for Art City Austin last April, Andy made a few Texas-inspired pieces, which included both cow skull and longhorn art. Although this was our first trip to Austin, Andy has been lucky enough to travel to Texas with me on more than one occasion to visit my extended family.

Like me, Andy isn't a fan of long road trips. To convince him to join me on the 10-hour drive to Carthage, I had to promise him my Granddaddy's gumbo and my Grandmother's pecan pie, both of which are world famous (to me, anyway).

Our first trip to Texas together was in 1994, before the murder. What's that, you say? A murder? Yes, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

First, let me show you Andy's bull head, cow skull, and longhorn art, all inspired by The Great State of Texas.

Fisheyed Bull Head | 25x27 inches

Cow Skull | 30x35 inches 

Cow Skull Too | 23x38 inches 

Longhorn | 58x31 inches 

Longhorn 2 | 67x26 inches

As mentioned, Andy and I took our first trip to Texas together in 1994. We were juniors in high school and he was my super hot boyfriend.

Andy + my brother Ben 

My great-grandparents lived right across the street from Hawthorn Funeral Home. In fact, bless their souls, their services were held there in March 1994 and August 2000. What does this have to do with the murder? Well, I'll tell you.

For most of my life, I thought only my family and a handful of other people knew of Carthage, a tiny town in northeast Texas. That all changed in November 1996, when Bernie Tiede murdered Marjorie Nugent. The story made national news, putting Carthage on the map. Bernie had been the assistant funeral director at Hawthorn Funeral Home from 1985-1993. I can't recall ever meeting him, but my family knew him and he worked across the street from my great-grandparents for eight years. Bernie, a movie starring Jack Black, was filmed in Carthage September through October 2010, just a couple months after we last visited. Crazy, right?

Anyway, I'd hate to end on that note, so here's a happy photo of Andy with a horse:

Andy spent August 5th-8th in Minneapolis painting a 40x18-ft billboard. If you read the articles in the StarTribune or on the General Mills blog, you would have seen the word walldog mentioned.

Walldogs were artists who painted external signs and murals used as advertisements throughout the United States in the 1890s through the mid-1900s. These artists were known for working like "dogs" through the heat of the summer, sometimes in very dangerous conditions. Although the term walldog was originally considered derogatory, that's no longer the case. These days, the term has been openly adopted by wall sign and mural painters who are embracing this old tradition.

Some old hand painted advertisements still exist today. These "ghost signs" have been preserved on buildings for an extended period of time, some of them over 100 years. The signage may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.

Hand painted murals are making a big comeback, as advertisers look for something that draws more attention than the typical digitally-produced billboard. Going back to these roots is what inspired Immaculate Baking to commission Andy to paint a billboard in downtown Minneapolis, at 930 Hennepin Avenue. The idea of a "made from scratch" billboard went along perfectly with their "made from scratch" products. For four days, Andy was suspended 60 feet above the street. Pedestrians and commuters could watch the creative process as the billboard came alive.

Andy

Andy 

Back in the old days, walldogs would be chained to the exterior of a building or suspended from a rooftop to paint their signs by hand. The Immaculate Baking project felt considerably safer. A professional crew brought a lift and harnessed Andy to it, as to prevent him from falling to his death. I genuinely appreciated their concern and care.

Andy during his CBS interview

As mentioned, Andy was interviewed by CBS Minnesota. Watch the video below to hear more about this project.

Andy's completed billboard

Some photos used in this post are from Immaculate Baking and were used with permission.

Andy and I traveled to Norcross for the 21st Annual Slotin Folk Fest August 15th-17th. This was Andy's second year to have a booth. The Slotin Folk Fest is one of the biggest and most enjoyable events we have done. Here are some highlights from this year's show.

Our relationship with Immaculate Baking started at last year's Folk Fest. Andy got to hang out with Angela last week in Minneapolis, so it was fun catching up with her again. Here they are posing with Andy's rough sketch that led to the billboard.

Art festivals generate a significant portion of our annual income, which is nice. But my other favorite aspect of shows is that they're always a reunion with other artists. These familiar faces start to feel like a family. For example...

This is Melanie Blackerby and her husband Jeb. We were instantly great friends after meeting at the Harding Art Show earlier this year.

It was great seeing Bebo. His art is also on Immaculate Baking products.

We had a special treat Sunday morning. We arrived to hear Bebo, his dad, and a friend singing old hymns. What a joyful way to start the day!

I like the direction Chris Cumbie is going with the robots.

Hallie Edwards (Big Gully Folk Art) lights up a room!

This year our booth was right across from Athlone Clarke. It was a good opportunity to get to know him better. He's a fascinating artist with great insight.

I'm not quite sure what was going on with Athlone, his sons, and Michael Banks, but it was funny!

I really like Marian Baker of Blockhead Arts. One of these days I will get my act together and commission her to paint our two cats.

Steve and Amy Slotin put on a great event! Can you believe this is the Folk Fest's 21st year?

I don't personally know the following artists, but I wanted to bring attention to them because I like their work.

I am borderline obsessed with Larry Smith's birdhouses. His pieces are replicas of historical buildings. They are all beautiful, with no detail overlooked.

Check out these creative faces by S. D. Meadows. Aren't they great?

Cassandra Harrison makes beautiful dolls, some inspired by movies. I liked this one the most, probably because I've been pregnant five times.

I didn't get to meet Della Wells, but I adore her mixed media pieces. Her work reminded me of paper dolls (in a good way).

How precious are Sandy Erickson Wright's cows? Absolutely darling.

I still haven't met Dorethey Gorham, although Andy had a chance to. I like that her pieces tell a story.

If Kathleen Taylor illustrated a children's book, I'd buy it. I love her work!

This was the first time I've met Lurena Sheary-Williamson of Tattered Moon. Her dolls are precious.

I've been wanting to share details regarding the Immaculate Baking billboard project in Minneapolis since the company first contacted Andy about it in early May. The vision is finally a reality!

Real. Simple. Made from the heart. That's what folk art's all about. And that's what Immaculate Baking's all about, too! Our relationship with Immaculate Baking started in August of last year. We met one of their marketing people, Angela, at the Slotin Folk Fest in Atlanta. On behalf of the company, she purchased two pieces of Andy's art to appear on their packaging. It took several months to develop the new products that would feature Andy's art, and they finally hit stores in June. If you're familiar with Immaculate Baking, you've surely noticed that their packaging always includes original art from various artists, as well as each artist's bio. What a fun and exciting way to introduce Andy and his work to families across the country!

Of all the artists the company could have selected, we were honored that Andy was chosen to paint the Immaculate Baking billboard in Minneapolis, where their headquarters is located. The 40x18 billboard is above the former National Camera Exchange building, at the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and South 10th Street. So, how did Andy do it? Glad you asked.

In June, Andy painted a rough sketch of his concept, added a bit of color, and wrote out the wording the company wanted. He sent digital images to their graphic designer, who checked with the billboard company on how big the lettering and products needed to be in order for them to be visible from the street. Andy's color was removed and converted into a light sketch, and the logos and products were added so that they would be 100% accurate (branding and whatnot).

Andy flew to Minneapolis on Monday, August 4th. Angela picked him up from the airport, and their first stop was the billboard. They had a safety run-through and took a trip up onto the window washing platform.

Andy started painting bright and early on Tuesday. Spray paint was used for the background color. By the end of the day, most of the background was done on the left "day" side.

Wednesday started before the sun came up, when CBS Minnesota met Andy at the billboard for a video interview. By the end of the day, he had completed the detail work on the left side.

CBS Minnesota interview

On Thursday, Andy moved to the right "night" side of the billboard. Thanks to great weather and RedBull, Andy worked quickly. By the end of the day, the background on the right side was complete.

By early afternoon on Friday, August 8th, Andy completed the detail work on the right side. He then spent the rest of the afternoon adding the final touches. If you look closely, you'll notice a few unexpected additions. First, he included stick figures to represent me and the kids. Next, he hid artist tributes in the bridge (Justin Gaffrey, Woodie Long, Bebo, Moore Family Folk Art, Francisco Adaro, Chris Cumbie, and Justin Lyons). He also included a tiger and some guitars, because he couldn't resist! The very last step was including his signature and #EPICfolkart (the hashtag Immaculate Baking had been using all week).

This was such an amazing project for Andy, and he truly enjoyed being given the opportunity. If you followed his progress on social media, thank you so much for sharing this experience with us! We hope you enjoyed it, too.

The story doesn't end there! Immaculate Baking had a film crew capture the entire process, and Andy was wearing GoPro cameras while working. Watch the behind the scenes mini-documentary...

...and the time lapse video...

Also, you can check out more photos on Facebook.

Some photos used in this post are from Immaculate Baking and were used with permission.

This page has moved! Please go HERE.

This page has moved! Please go HERE.

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:

1. Provoked attacks, which are the most common.
2. Unprovoked hit-and-run attacks — when the shark grabs, releases, and leaves the scene.
3. Unprovoked sneak attacks, when a deep-sea shark moves upon a diver unaware.
4. 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:

1. Stay in groups of people.
2. Don't wander too far from shore.
3. Stay away from sandbars, steep drop-offs, and estuary inlets.
4. Avoid being in the water during early morning, late afternoon, and evening.
5. If you're bleeding, stay out of the water! That includes menstruation.
6. Don't wear shiny jewelry when in the water.
7. Avoid wearing brightly colored or high-contrast clothing in murky waters.
8. Refrain from excessive splashing.
9. If you see someone fishing, stay away from them.
10. Avoid large groups of fish, dolphins, and seabirds.
11. Stay away from dead animals in the water.
12. Avoid areas where animal, human, or fish waste enter the water.
13. 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!