Famed Florida Highwayman Artist Robert Butler's Autobiography Released - posted by FFAB

Famed Florida Highwayman Artist Robert Butler's Autobiography Released
From Amazon: 
Timeless Echoes: the Life and Art of Robert Butler, a full color autobiography of 400 pages, features over 200 photos of Robert Butler art, as well as another 65 of art by each of his nine children, who became talented artists in their own right. 

Over 100 photos of Butler’s life round out this most fascinating book of historic proportion. Through talent, a fierce work ethic, and a winning personality, Butler moved from a turpentine still in Baxley, Georgia, to international fame as an artist, being named as one of the 26 original Florida Highwaymen. 

Butler’s journey led him around the world and into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. 

This book reveals the “heart behind the art” of Robert Butler. The one thing that rings clear throughout this book is that the hand of destiny was upon this man from very early childhood. As an African American artist struggling to survive midst the Civil Rights era of our country and facing myriads of conflicts, and even though Robert attempted to escape those conflicts, it was those very conflicts which served him well by honing his natural ability to paint and outfitting him with an eye to see the rapidly diminishing landscapes of a wild Florida. It pushed him to put those landscapes to canvas before they completely disappeared. 

Destiny had in mind to see to it that this artist would be the only artist attributed to having painted every ecosystem in wild Florida, something which will never be repeated in history, as many of these ecosystems no longer exist, having succumbed to “progress.” 

Butler paintings are distinctive in their dramatically lit, romanticized portrayals of his beloved wild Florida. His paintings are known to be finely detailed, while exuding an ethereal light in them, giving them an almost sacred quality, the music of his heart. 

He managed in his autobiography, just as he did in his art, to strike a balance in celebrating wild Florida, while at the same time grieving at her passing. In reading this book, one cannot help but grow their love and admiration for the swamps, palmetto flats, hardwood forests, rivers, lakes, pine flats, and wildlife of wild Florida. The reader will come to understand not only the art of Robert Butler, but also the very heart of Robert Butler and his love for wild Florida. 

As one reviewer of the book said, “This book is one of the best, recently written books on personal development.” Another reviewer stated, “Butler’s story will indicate that he . . . found (his life’s) purpose and defined it. Along the way, he discovered universal laws that he used to give generously back to the world. And you thought this book was about art!” 

Just as he realized his dream of seeing his life story in print, Robert Butler laid down his paintbrush for the last time and departed this life on March 19, 2014. However, Florida, as well as the whole world, will forever know that "the Butler was here."

Timeless Echoes: The Life and Art of Robert Butler
by Robert Butler et al.
Link: http://amzn.com/1492304352

 

I just ordered one of the books for myself and am looking forward to learning more about the man I knew.  I am also interested in the family section and hearing the point of view from each of his children.  Robert Butler had many clients in Fort Lauderdale and I sold many of his paintings both for the first time and in the resell market.  I can think of no other Florida artist as competent at depicting the Florida hunting camps and all the wild animals and actives that surround the hunt.  Many a home in South Florida have the artists work hanging on the walls, some personal commissions, for which Robert was a master at . I had only met Mr. Butler on a few occasions but have gotten to know one of his children Robert Butler Jr fairly well.  Robert Jr is a very talented artist in his own right and a good man, I miss his visits to my gallery.   GL