Page 21 - CFANnov13

FIRST LIGHT

Now he sells

canvas

prints his
of
artwork
,

and donates

to
his work
charitable

causes.

OVERSTREET
RANCH

oil,” he says. “I can blend the colors better.”
LAST He works from photographs. “I was
CAST
a hunter. In my last 10 to 15 years, I’d
Thomas Fagen, really rather take pictures. I hunt to take

pictures,” he says.
curator at The With paintings such as Peaceful

Studio Hideaway, First Light, Mystic Sunset,
at Gulf and
Wetland Sanctuary, Low Country, Last
Cast, Overstreet Ranch and Band of
Pine at Anna Maria,
Harper’s Brothers, he captures natural Florida.
describes Perhaps his favorite is Abigail’s Sky, a

work primitive rural landscape with a vibrant blue sky
as filled with clouds. He painted it with his
realistic,
and in the granddaughter in his arms. She was six
months old at the time and “not a happy

tone of Robert Butler, trooper,” he recalls. “She calmed down
when I was painting.”
one of the Florida
After getting out of the citrus and beef
Highwaymen
who business, Harper stays close to the land
with his peach orchard. He and his son TO VIEW MORE

sold their work from their Sean are growing 25 acres of peaches. “The of Robert’s artwork,
1950s maintenance is intense,” he explains. “It’s please visit his
cars from the
a learning process.” The peach cultivars website at www.
through 1980s.
were developed at the University of Florida
rfharper.com.
to enable state growers to produce a crop
in March and April, when fresh peaches

are scarce. “The biggest thing you have to

put up with is the shelf life of the peach.
It just does not last like an orange when

you pick it,” he says, adding it needs to be
chilled after picking to preserve it longer.
Harper’s style has also been described him he has someone else do the art, Harper Conference Room,” says Hardin,

Although it’s been a challenge, he’s as natural. He uses vivid oils, depicting then takes the credit. “Robert is one of who has been Harper’s attorney for more
no stranger to them. “I think I enjoy dramaticskies,tranquilFloridalandscapes the best natural painters that I’ve ever than 20 years. “I like the outdoors part

peaches,” he continues. “I’m not sure yet. and seascapes. “He can do impressionistic seen,” Overstreet says. “He knows how of it, the creativity that he sees. It’s really
It’s the most difficult thing I’ve probably stuff and he can do a sea turtle,” says Nicole to put things in perspective.” Overstreet neat.”

ever done.”
Dezayas of Lakeland, a friend of Amy. “If appreciates the time Harper puts into each Although Harper’s early work was with
you have an eye for art, you would not painting. “He takes his time and does it acrylics, he now prefers oils, which he
But he has no plans to retire. “I don’t
know what retire means,” he says. “I enjoy think it’s primitive and would not believe right,” he adds.
considers “more artist-friendly.” Because

working, I enjoy life. We don’t come he just picked this up.”
Lakeland attorney Ben Hardin, Jr. has it takes two to three days to start drying,
through but one time. I don’t feel like Mark Overstreet, a Lakeland rancher five of Harper’s paintings in one conference he is able to come back later and make

sitting down and watching TV.” ag
and businessman, likes to tease by telling
room at his office. “We call it the Robert
changes more easily. “I love to paint with

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