Talk and Painting Workshop by Doreen and Robert Butler about Florida Highwaymen

  The evening on October 16th opened with Doreen Butler answering questions and talking of her quite artistic family of painters, their styles of painting, and who, exactly, the Florida Highwaymen were... and are.

  www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com sums up the movement this way: "In the early 1950’s through the 1980’s a group of twenty-six African-American artists known as the "Florida Highwaymen" used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape. The Florida Highwaymen painted wind-bent palm trees, serene sunsets, churning oceans and bright red Poinciana trees. They painted from their garages and back yards on inexpensive Upson board and then on the weekends they would travel and sell their Highwaymen paintings to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who appreciated the artwork for around $25 a piece."

Then Doreen introduced her father, Robert Butler, who eloquently described how he became a Highwayman painter,his love of Florida's natural beauty, and what he does now.

Meanwhile, Doreen painted a breath-taking Florida landscape, which Robert Butler put the finishing touches on.

This was signed, auctioned off, and a portion of the proceeds generously donated to the Maitland Library. Those in the audience had the priviledge of talking to Doreen and Robert Butler one-on-one during refreshments afterward. 

Thank you to Doreen and Robert Butler for the stellar presentation and generous donation; to Mark Shumard for the wonderful photography of the event; and to everone who attended.

We look forward to having another Florida Highwaymen event again soon!

You can see more about these painters at the Orlando History Center:

Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen

A History Center Special 10th Anniversary Exhibit

September 25, 2010 thru January 2, 2011

www.theHistoryCenter.org/highwaymen