South Walton Artists Have Unique Vision

Art is personal. Each of us has our own tastes. We all are moved by different artists with different visions and styles. South Walton is a place that inspires and motivates. Our local artists draw great creativity from our environment. No matter what the inspiration, or specific subject, the beauty of South Walton energizes the artistic spirit.

SoWal insiders know we have many great local artists. In this article we highlight a few who have nearly universal appeal, garnering attention and success. Each is inspired in one way or another by the beauty of South Walton’s unique natural environment. Get out and explore artists and art galleries around South Walton. You'll be amazed at some of the creative techniques, textures, vivid colors and magical landscapes.
 

Andy Saczynski describes his style as turning “junk into funk”. It's his unique perception that make his art stand out from the ordinary. Saczynski has the uncommon ability to turn everyday scrap into extraordinary works of art that come alive with vibrant color. He draws inspiration from Florida’s architecture and landscapes, music and wildlife  - working primarily with acrylics, reclaimed wood, recycled musical instruments, metal and found objects. His funky folk art captures the imagination and takes it for a joy ride. With a growing list of prestigious awards and accolades, Andy's work is a must-see in South Walton. Andy Saczynski Studio-Gallery is located in Grayton Beach in Shops of Grayton just north of Scenic 30A.

Justin Gaffrey is a long-time resident of Walton County and voted 2005 South Walton Artist of the Year, Justin Gaffrey’s art is instantly recognizable with his deeply textured technique and vibrant colors. His viewing of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers first inspired him to employ the medium and multi-dimensional style he’s known for today. He works exclusively with acrylic paints, mostly using a palette knife. His art reflects the natural beauty of his surroundings along Scenic Highway 30A. Justin’s paintings grace the walls of various venues throughout the country, including our own Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. He sells them exclusively through his Gallery/Studio in Blue Mountain Beach - Justin Gaffrey Studio & Gallery.

Photography by Kurt Lischka is decorating many walls and has been published in a wide variety of publications including numerous books, The New York Times, National Geographic Travel, Southern Living, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Kurt is known for vibrant beach scenes, nature-based abstracts, and images of South Walton’s unique ecosystem of dunes, the Gulf, backwaters, coastal dune lakes, nature and wildlife. He’s been taking photos in South Walton since 1988 and founded SoWal.com in 2003 to share his photos with beach lovers everywhere. Repeatedly voted "Best Beach Photographer" in South Walton, including 2020.
1414 County Rd 283 South, Suite D - Grayton Plaza (map)
Grayton Beach, FL 32459
850-231-0102
MoonCreekGallery.com
facebook.com/MoonCreekStudios
Instagram.com/mooncreekphoto

Teresa Cline is a contemporary painter with subjects ranging from our rare coastal dune lakes and raw beauty of the Gulf to abstract, expressionistic and colorful people and animals. Her latest series of paintings she calls ‘Ocean Moods’, which she describes as “a reflection on an analogy of human emotions with the diverse range of mother nature's own displays, from the lightness of being to the rage of destruction”. She draws her inspiration from the light and dark shadings of a cloud, stormy oceans, the sounds of wilderness and “the pure spirit of animals”. Teresa’s work can currently be viewed at Oasis Rug and Home in Destin, A. Wickey Studio Gallery in Seacrest, and by appointment at Teresa Cline Studio Gallery.

Allison Wickey was named South Walton Artist of the Year in 2011 and Emerald Coast Magazine’s Best Gallery in 2012. Allison moved to Santa Rosa Beach from the Midwest in 2006, where she was a muralist and faux finish painter. She is best known for her landscape paintings in abstract impressionistic style using Venetian plaster, mixed with acrylic paint and glazes on wood. Her technique of layering and texture is a 13-step, intricate process that requires a lot of patience and four days before each piece is complete - A. Wickey Studio Gallery.

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Learn more about South Walton’s artists at Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA)  website. Sign up for the CAA newsletter to read about local art events, exhibitions, and year round classes offered at Bayou Arts Center. Make plans to attend some of the best art festivals on the coast including ArtsQuest Music & Art Festival in May and Art in the Park at WaterColor in March.