Works
Paint it, Black is a detailed biography of original Florida Highwaymen artist and salesman Al (Albert "Blood") Black. The book traces Al's colorful life, decade by decade, from his early childhood on a cotton plantation in Barlow, Mississippi to his adulthood as he created and sold his vibrant oil paintings both in Fort Pierce, Florida and on the road. It even follows Al to the Florida prison system, where he painted his famous Highwaymen Murals. Al overcame many difficult struggles throughout his life, including plantation life run by white landowners during segregation and Jim Crow laws. After leaving the plantation alone at age 14, he persevered by working in citrus fields, driving trucks filled with fruit and pickers, and then becoming a typewriter cleaner and salesman. Later, he faced an addiction to crack cocaine and a lengthy prison sentence. After earning respect and trust from the warden and other officials, he was allowed to paint in prison, and he crafted beautiful, inspiring murals, many of which can still be seen in the prison system today. Al turned his life around to become an incredibly successful artist and businessman, as well as a friend and mentor to many people from across Florida and far beyond.
The book also includes interesting information about the 26 original Florida Highwaymen artists, their long journey to success, and Al's dual role within that loosely structured group of 26 African American landscape painters. The work of the Highwaymen documents and preserves the history of Florida. Readers will also see Al's connection to Second Generation and Legacy Highwaymen artists.
For the first time, readers can delve into the world of the Florida Highwaymen landscape artists from the unique perspective of popular artist Ray McLendon, a son of original Highwayman painter R.A. "Roy" McLendon, Sr. In particular, Ray's autobiography, starting with his childhood, is a rare look into the life of the very private McLendon artist family. Here, you'll discover the close connections that Ray's family had/have to several of the other first-generation African American artists who started painting the idyllic Florida landscapes in the 1950s. You'll peek into the lives of the family's closest artist friends, such as: Harold Newton, Alfred Hair, Willie and Johnny Daniels, James Gibson, Curtis Arnett, and Al Black. You'll come to understand the place in both Florida and national history that the Highwaymen have finally secured, after decades of painting and traveling.
Ray's is a first-hand account of struggle and survival, of growing up rough in a migrant family in the segregated south, and of triumphing over adversity. The compelling narrative traces Ray's personal journey as the McLendon family makes its way from picking citrus and vegetables in hot fields to entering the world of landscape art and, along with the other Highwaymen, to getting their work in the Smithsonian Museum.
During segregation, the African American artists who were later called Highwaymen went to great lengths to create and sell their paintings. Unable to show their art in galleries or museums, they defied all odds, took to the roads, and sold an estimated 200,000 paintings from the mid 1950s-1970's. In preserving the history of Florida, the landscape as it once existed, they were part of the Indian River School art movement and, decades after they started, they became an important, celebrated part of African American art history. In late 2023, the prices of their paintings continue to rise. At this publication, six of the original 26 Florida Highwaymen survive. They leave their landscape art tradition in the capable hands of their second-generation artist children, including Ray and his brother Roy.
This feel-good holiday book introduces happy Rissa, a right whale calf who is excited about Christmas. Rissa loses some of her holiday cheer when she gets a scrape on her large tail. Her mom comes to the rescue, bandages the tail, and covers the bandage with a beautiful bow. Rissa quickly cheers up and can keep her holiday plans, including going to her first Christmas party. Rissa's holiday is saved! Through the rhyme, we get to know the sweet North Atlantic right whale Rissa in a light-hearted way, though adults may choose to use the book to discuss our world's real-life, endangered right whales with some children. Today, many kind people work hard to save whales from boat strikes, entanglement, and other issues affecting their survival. It is important that children learn to appreciate the ocean's magnificent animals, such as right whales, so that they can develop a desire to protect them.
This enchanting book is based on the beautiful carousel at Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Craftsman Charles Loof built the wooden carousel by hand in 1908. Children and adults continue to enjoy this brightly painted ride today.
The text is based on Margie McMahon's longer children's poem about this special, wooden carousel. The poem and original artwork were on display at Heritage Museum's gallery during summer and fall of 2019. The author wrote both the poem and board book, published later in summer 2019, in honor of Heritage's 50th anniversary.
"Sleep Tight, Piggy: A Happy Birthday Book" celebrates a little one's birthday from morning to night. Piggy is an adorable pig, who wears his blue birthday hat and is delighted when family and friends dress in special outfits for his fun party. Come along and celebrate with Piggy. You might even dream along with him as he falls asleep in his cozy bed. He leaves his own special message for you at the end of this charming book. With beautiful watercolor art, this book is a hit for those who love birthdays.
This fun activity book blocks boredom and is perfect for sea-loving children! It is packed with whale, turtle, seal, shark and dolphin activities to draw, read, color, and design.
Far more than coloring and activities, the book also features fun, educational facts about amazing ocean animals. Kids will discover what baby whales and dolphins are called, how some sea animals are similar to humans, which sea turtles live in the Northern Atlantic, and much more.