Going coastal with art that’s Southern-made

LATER GATOR 

New Orleans painter Michael Guidry has been called a “Punk Rock Audubon.” It’s a label he likes.

The artist: Guidry grew up in Metairie, La., near New Orleans, and close to Lake Pontchartrain, where he loved spending time on the water and bird watching. He started to study sculpture and painting while at Louisiana State, where he earned a degree in journalism. After graduation, Guidry attended the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts to learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting from life. In 2006, he opened Michael Guidry studio in New Orleans.

The goods & materials: Oil paintings on combinations of wood, burlap, canvas and linen. Guidry also frames his paintings by hand in his wood shop.

What's popular: Alligators and pelicans in his Louisiana nature series. Prices range from $700 to $12,000.

Big break: Last year, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival installed a 50-foot version of one of his alligator paintings at the fairgrounds. It is still there.

Where to buy: Mguidrystudio.com. Also at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in Contemporary Crafts, May 3-6 (the second weekend of the festival).

GO FISH

In his colorful, cubist-style work, Florida artist Andy Saczynski uses humble materials, such as house paint, found objects and reclaimed wood.

The artist: Growing up near Destin, Saczynski knew in the third grade that he wanted to be an artist. He attended Northwest Florida State College on a fine arts scholarship and worked at a few 9-to-5 jobs before pursuing his painting in 2010 at age 32 with a fifth baby on the way. In 2012, Saczynski opened his own gallery in Grayton Beach.

What's popular: Sea life relief sculptures and colorful masks. Also faces, musical instruments and flowers Prices range from $1,000 to $2,800.

Other favorites: People who love South Walton and 30A like his Western Lake paintings ($1,000 to $2,200). He has painted more than 100 in the past five years.

Fun (or unusual) request: Last year, a customer commissioned a mask. The customer said, "Make it so bizarre that people who see it in my house will wonder if they should be there." The artist says, "It was fun to have the opportunity to really let loose."

Claim to fame: Named 2013 South Walton Artist of the Year and Best Local Artist on the Emerald Coast in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Where to buy: ArtByAndySki.com and the Andy Saczynski Studio Gallery 26 Logan Lane, just off 30A, in Grayton Beach.

PALATE TO PALETTE

When Florida’s Justin Gaffrey ran his restaurant, the coastal waters were a source of food. But today, those same coastal waters are his source for something much different. Art.

The artist: Born in Red Bank, N.J., Gaffrey moved to Santa Rosa beach with his family when he was 10 years old. Gaffrey was a chef and had a restaurant ("Cafe Sublime") before he started painting in 2001.

The goods & materials: The self-taught artist uses heavy-bodied acrylic paint with a palette knife technique and paints on wood panels that are made in his studio.

What's popular: Coastal landscapes and wildlife or sea life paintings ($600 to $23,000).

Claim to fame: A pioneer of the local art scene, Gaffrey and his gallery were voted "Best of The Emerald Coast" 2014-2016 by Emerald Coast Magazine.

What's next: A second solo exhibition at the Glen Allen cultural arts center in Richmond, Va., in September. Also a new series of paintings titled "Suspension of Disbelief."

Where to see & buy: JustinGaffrey.com. Also the Justin Gaffrey Gallery, 21 Blue Gulf Drive along Highway 30A, in Blue Mountain Beach. For a current inventory, contact Brian Wood at brian@justingaffrey.com.