07/02/03

Skippy

   The Florida Highwaymen began painting back in the 1950’s. A student from Lincoln Park was sent to Bean Backus for art lessons by Zennobia Jefferson. His name was Alfred Hair. Alfred encouraged some of his friends to learn to paint too. They procured upson board and door molding, mixed their paints and painted their hearts out. Almost all of their work was Florida Landscapes, back country scenes, marshes, swamps and river and ocean scenes. The also often painted a poinciana tree with brilliant red flowers and hibiscus flowers

After a week of painting they would load up there pieces and travel around Florida selling their work to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who loved their work. Sometimes the paint was not even dry.

In 1995 a museum curator in Sebring, Jim Fitch, was interviewed by the Tribune and at that time he coined them “The Florida Highwaymen.”

It was not uncommon to buy a piece from an artist for as little as $10. We began purchasing these at auctions to put up on our walls in the printing shop. Then the artists found us through a friend and would come in with their newer work.

Since a hardcover book came out last October, and a article about them in the New York Times in November, the prices have skyrocketed and people all over the U.S. are purchasing them.