Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery February 2019 Feature Artist, Sydney McKenna’s Atmospheric Oil Paintings

An Artist Talk, First Friday February 1st, at 6pm is an opportunity to hear Sydney explain her motivation behind the magnificent cloud paintings she is recognized for.

To stand in front of one of Sydney’s paintings, the viewer is connected back to every moment he/she has been awed by the sky above. Her inspiration becomes ours, to contemplate and appreciate anew. Sydney McKenna’s Florida landscape paintings express the state’s atmosphere in a unique and poignant way. Especially sensitive to the subtle color shifts that occur in the vaporous skies of the South, these original oil paintings are created in the classic technique of the Old World; using thin layers of oil paint to build up a subtle luminosity, unifying classical style with contemporary themes.

Sydney explains her fascination this way, “Over the years of painting clouds I have grown to see quite a bit of symbolism in the water cycle. The fact that it can transform itself, rise into the heavens and move around the world through the skies, is somewhat miraculous; as if the clouds are the ‘spirit form’ of water. They have come to remind me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual…. I was recently intrigued by an article describing life systems in cloud formations. This thought makes me aware that the world we experience is really a collision of a multitude of worlds.”

Sydney began her painting career in the Sarasota area in the mid- eighties as a mostly self-taught watercolor artist and gained quick success, winning awards and exhibiting in Sarasota Art Galleries. After obtaining a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and making the switch to oil painting in 1996, she attended a semester of graduate studies in fine art at Cortona, Italy through the University of Georgia. Sydney then returned to the United States, where she relocated to St. Augustine and operated the Sydney McKenna Gallery from 1997 to 2013, and is one of the original founding members of Butterfield Gallery. She sees St. Augustine as the perfect combination of her two favorite locales: European architecture combined with the lush Florida environment.

Sydney McKenna’s paintings are widely held in both corporate and private collections, have been featured on many magazine covers, and have awards and recognitions to numerous to mention. She has grown to become one of St. Augustine’s premier artists.

Butterfield Gallery January 2019 Feature Artists, CarlyleGibbs Wearable Art

An Artist Talk, First Friday January 4th at 6pm is an opportunity to meet the artists, and hear the behind-the-scenes view of their inspiration and processes.
Kathryn Carlyle and Cheryl Gibbs unique collaboration began during silversmithing classes at the Boca Raton Art Museum School two decades ago. They formed a unique bond, and began to jointly create one-of-a-kind wearable art. Exhibiting at galleries, art shows and many other venues together, their designs have hit the runways as well as film recognition. CarlyleGibbs has received numerous awards throughout the years.

Kathryn’s primary focus is her jewelry designs and metal work. Her unique art jewelry incorporate rich textured surfaces, colorful vibrant gem stones, and tailored precious metals. Kathryn accents many of her work with unusual materials in order to create a new look. In the artist’s own view she believes “the pieces of jewelry I create are meant to be savored and handled. Each piece I design has a rich heritage; it is my desire to enhance and embellish the materials by adding my own unique creativity to my limited edition collectibles.”

Since college, Cheryl has been involved in the arts, as a designer, product development, and Gallery Manager. But she is most proud of her jewelry designs. Winning first prize at Disney Worlds Festival of the Arts was a career highlight. Cheryl’s works use a variety of essential skills in production. The metal is hand fabricated either with a saw and solder or created with metal clay and fired in a kiln. More advanced techniques include chasing, piercing, enamel, granulation and casting. She has learned to mix materials and processes to create original works and the result is stylish, elegant, unusual jewelry.

Small Treasures

Butterfield Garage Is hosting A Small Treasures Show during the month of December. An opening Reception will be during First Friday Art Walk, December 7.
The 30 plus artists in the gallery will have smaller works of original art on display, many created specifically for this event. These unique pieces make art collecting and giving affordable, and supports our local artists.
Butterfield artists produce an eclectic mix of baskets, pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, printmaking and more. The works will be on display the entire month of December, the gallery is open everyday from 11-5pm

Small Treasures

Butterfield Garage Is hosting A Small Treasures Show during the month of December. An opening Reception will be during First Friday Art Walk, December 7.
The 30 plus artists in the gallery will have smaller works of original art on display, many created specifically for this event. These unique pieces make art collecting and giving affordable, and supports our local artists.
Butterfield artists produce an eclectic mix of baskets, pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, printmaking and more. The works will be on display the entire month of December, the gallery is open everyday from 11-5pm