James Gibson is one of the few highwaymen who continues to make
his livelihood as an artist. With over 40 years of experience painting
Florida's landscapes, today with the same exuberance as in his youth,
James Gibson is an accomplished painter. Although the landscape has
changed considerably since he was a child living in Ft. Pierce, Mr.
Gibson continues to capture the cloud formations, brilliant hues from
sunlight, and the imagination that once fueled Florida's mystique.
http://www.highwaymen.bigstep.com/
Florida Highwaymen link
http://www.floridahighwaymen.com/viewgallery.php3?gallery_id=1
The Florida "Highwaymen" were a group of black artists who traveled up
and down the east coast of Florida. They were named The Florida
"Highwaymen" due to the fact that as they travelled, they painted what
they saw, and then sold their paintings out of the trunk of their car. They
would carry the paintings into local Florida Businesses, or just setup
along side of the highway. They sold their paintings for an average of
$10.00, beginning at or around 1955. Many of the original Highwaymen
continue to paint today.
Depending on who you ask, there were as many as 20 Highwaymen
Artist, or as few as 10. Mary Ann Carroll has the distinction of being the
only female "Highwaymen" Artist.
http://florida-highwaymen.virtualave.net/
The Highwaymen by Jim Fitch As seen in Antiques & Art Around Florida,
Winter/Spring 1995 "The Highwaymen" is a name I've given to a group of
black artists working on the East coast of Florida from approximately
1955 to the present. So called because their marketing and sales
strategy consisted of traveling the highways and byways of central
Florida peddling their paintings out of the back of their cars. Although I've
identified nearly twenty of these artists still living, they are, for the most
part, unknown and have not received credit for their contribution to
Florida's art tradition. In fact, it was these artists who were the bare
bones beginning for Florida's resident/regional art tradition.
Further, their paintings met a growing demand for regional Florida art
and served to encourage what has become the Indian River school of
painting, perhaps the only school or movement within the state that is
recognizable as such.
http://www.aarf.com/fews9501.htm
Examine the online gallery of the highwaymen on this site.
The Highwaymen were the beginning of Florida's contemporary art
tradition. Their individual styles depict Florida's natural beauty.
http://www.floridahighwaymen.com/
Original Highwaymen Teaches Art to Inmates.
Highwaymen artist, Al ' Blood' Black has been painting Florida
landscapes for 37 years. Mr. Black believes that landscape paintings
can be spiritual. He renders Florida landscapes with a tranquil and
engaging beauty that reflects the awe and wonder that he feels. Al Black
believes that God gives him the ability to share the magnificent colors
and moods of Florida. Mr. Black now uses painting to recover a sense of
identity. He instructs painting classes and shares the healing qualities
of painting landscapes with others. He enjoys teaching his art form to
other artists and would-be artists who are incarcerated.
Al Black takes his teaching responsibilities extremely serious. He also
relates the skillful knowing of the mixing and blending of color. It is this
intuitive knowledge of color that even made Bean Backus take notice. Al
Black teaches landscape painting with generosities and humor.
http://www.alblack.net/
Highwaymen art for sale with prices.
http://www.the-office.com/antiques/artist-Highwaymen.htm
The Highwaymen Artists were the beginning of Florida's contemporary
art tradition. Their individual styles depict Florida's natural beauty.
The following is a list of bonafide Highwaymen Artists (click names for
featured paintings, biographies or related sites):
* Curtis Arnett
* Hezekiah Baker
* Al Black
* Ellis Buckner***
* George Buckner***
* Robert Butler
* Mary Ann Carroll
* Johnny Daniels
* Willie Daniels
* Rodney Demps
* James Gibson
* Alfred Hair***
* Issac Knight
* Robert L. Lewis
* John Maynor
* Roy McLendon
* Alfonso Moran***
* Harold Newton***
* Lemuel Newton
* Sam Newton
* Livingston Roberts
* Willie Reagan
* Cornell Smith
* Charles Walker
* Sylvester M. Wells
* Charles Wheeler
*** deceased
http://www.ls-arts.com/highwaymen.html
Highwaymen Art & Artists
Images of Florida Highwaymen Art and Artists: Mary Ann Caroll, James
Gibson, Issac Knight, Al Black, and R. A. McLendon, Jr. Their art and
lives make up an inmportant part of Florida's landscape.
http://www.folkzones.com/generic0.html
Jeff Klinkenberg article on the Highwaymen
http://www.sptimes.com/News/091700/Floridian/The_Highwaymen.shtml
http://www.artlinkinternational.com/HTML/HMInfo5.html
http://www.artlinkinternational.com/HTML/HMInfo6.html
The Highwaymen, Updated
by Jim Fitch
As seen in Antiques & Art Around Florida, Winter/Spring 2000
http://www.artlinkinternational.com/HTML/HMInfo4.html
Local Artist Profiled in National Magazine
by Jason Geary, staff writer
The Tribune, August 8th, 2003, used by permission
http://www.artlinkinternational.com/HTML/HMInfo7.html