| Self-taught Artists. . . some background |
Mr. Black’s background in art is as a self-taught artist who learned to paint by watching other self-taught African American artists. The Highwaymen are African American painters who started painting Florida landscape over 40 years ago. Artworks were sold throughout the state. At first, their work was priced to sell quickly ($10 – $ 40 and sometime more) Later the paintings sold for the hundreds. Today, those same paintings are sold as vintage Highwaymen Paintings, folk-art, antique art and are a valued commodity to collectors. However, some of the same artists are painting even better today. |
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| St. Lucie Inlet, Oil on Cinder Block, 48" x 633/4" |
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| Royal Poinciana, Oil on cinder block, 48" x 561/2". Mural is framed by the door facings outside offices. |
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| Backwoods Scene. Oil on plaster, 271/4" x 693/8", Mural located above mailboxes. |
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A white landscape artist, A. E. Backus cultivated friendships with artists Harold Newton and R. A. McLendon in the early 50s. In the mid and late 50s other African Americans artists had started painting with Mr. Backus and/ or making frames in the Backus Studio. Harold Newton and R. A. McLendon had been selling their paintings for a while when a young artist Alfred Hair visualized a fast moving market in which Black artists could derive a livelihood from art. The studio became a place to discuss landscapes, study techniques and sales, and to show their latest painting.
People drifted in and out of the Backus Studio; some painted and some just watched. Mr. Backus encouraged the Black artists to stick together, to paint together. Out of this small gathering of artists developed what is now being called the Indian River School movement and the Backus School.
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