The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 11 No. 3 - October 20, 2010

FEATURE

Artists create turtle art for auction

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

SUN PHOTOS/PAT COPELAND AND ALSO PROVIDED
Clockwise above left, Justin K. Noyes, of the Hive,
with his turtle illustration in progress.
Robert Harper with his painting of a loggerhead turtle.
Betsy Smith made this needle art turtle
and Jan Hoffmann paints scenes on used sailboat canvas.

Local artists have created more than 50 original pieces of art inspired by loggerhead turtles for the annual artsHOP silent auction on Nov. 12 and 13 at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria.

Several of these artists and their works will be featured each week in The Sun until the event weekend. Featured this week are Pat Hoffmann, Justin Kingsley Noyes, Betsy Smith and Robert Harper.

Noyes and his wife, Rachael, own The Hive in Bradenton Beach. Originally located in Anna Maria, the store, which features more than 200 artists, moved to Bridge Street in January.

Noyes has a BFA in illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, and the couple moved to Anna Maria eight years ago. In addition to selling his art in his store, Noyes commissions Island house portraits in pen and ink and watercolor. Most recently, he designed the logo and menu art for Martiniville in Holmes Beach, and his art also is hanging in the restaurant.

Robert Harper began coming to the Island with his family at the age of 8. He has enjoyed a successful career in the building industry in Lakeland and is owner and president of Harper Realty and Development Company

He and his wife, Amy, began coming back to Anna Maria 15 years ago and in 2001, they bought a home in Holmes Beach. They now divide their time between Lakeland and the Island.

About 10 years ago, Harper began painting in acrylics, and then switched to oils four years later. He paints nature scenes and last year donated a calendar featuring his work to benefit the Community Center.

Smith, a long time Anna Maria resident, is well known for weaving palm fronds and creating pine needle baskets at Island Historical Society events. She also paints flip flops, coconuts, ceiling fan blades and the like.

“I am an altered function artist,” she explained. “I take things and turn them into something else."

Hoffmann is a fourth generation Floridian, She spent many years creating Tiffany-style stained glass lamp shades in Jacksonville, Miami and Atlantic Beach before moving to the Keys.

Nine years ago, she and her husband Carl, moved to Anna Maria, where she paints scenes in acrylics on used sailboat canvas and makes lampshades with the painted canvas.

“All the money I make with my art is donated to Guardian Angels of Southwest Florida, which helps abused, neglected and abandoned children in Manatee, Sarasota and Hardee counties, “ she said.

Bids for the turtle art will begin at 50 percent of what the artist wants for the piece and increase in $10 increments. Bidding will be closed at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, and winning bidders will be contacted..


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