| Robert Butler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Butler 1943 Baxley, Georgia |
| Residence | Lakeland, Florida |
| Nationality | African American |
| Education | High School |
| Known for | Paintings depicting Florida's Wildlife and Landscapes |
| Board member of | The Florida Highwaymen LLC (Pres.) |
| Religion | NA |
| Spouse | Dorothy Butler |
| Children | Robert Jr., Daniel, David (deceased) Samuel, Dorene, Timothy Michael (deceased), Aletha, Angela |
| Parents | Annie Talifer Butler |
| Website | |
| = http://highwaymenartist.com | |
Robert Butler (born 1943) is an American painter best known for his portrayals of the woods and backwaters around Florida's Everglades. He is a member of the well-known African-American artist's group, The Highwaymen
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Butler was born in the small timber and farming community of Baxley, Georgia, in 1943. Raised by his mother, Annie Talifer Butler, who always took time to instill the principles of faith and compassion in her family, Butler considers his upbringing as "classically American."
In 1947, Robert moved to Okeechobee, Florida, where he later became intimately familiar with the woods and waters of the Florida Everglades, and especially Lake Okeechobee, that feature prominently in his paintings.
His professional career began in 1968. In the early days, he often sold his paintings door-to-door or on the roadside. He honed his skills by creating upwards of one hundred paintings per year. Despite a lack of formal training, Robert developed his own style, which was exemplified by dramatically-lit and romanticized portrayals of landscapes..