CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – Niki’s new exhibit, on display at the Clearwater Main Library from June 15 – April 29, 2023 will be featuring over 60 images created over five decades. Daydreaming: Niki Butcher’s Hand-Painted Photography invites you to see the historical, beautiful, and sometimes quirky aspects of our world through the eyes of a thoughtful optimist. Niki has focused her camera on the fading facades of old Florida, capturing funky ‘mom & pop’ wayside businesses, lonesome sandy beaches, and the beauty of the Everglades. Remembering the gentle feeling of old Florida postcards, Niki hand paints her black and white photographs in vibrant tones and pastel hues.

There are 26 one-of-a-kind original photographs hand-painted with oils made by Niki in the 80s’ that have not surfaced in over 25 years. This collection can only be seen in this exhibit. These were recently discovered in a storage shed by Barbara Luck, who owned the Florida Gallery in Matlacha from 1994 -2001. The remainder of her exhibit are reproductions of her originals, and her current work that is done digitally.

Starting from the tonally blank canvas of a black and white photograph, artist Niki Butcher adds color to present the world from a “Daydreaming…” perspective. Through her photography, Niki captures places and people that stand out as beautiful, unique, endangered, and authentic. Yet what sets her work apart is her use of color. She breathes life and imagination into these photographed scenes, creating a picture of life far beyond what a camera could capture. Visit Daydreaming and experience a view of the world that adds a bit more color, a good dose of humor, and an infusion of positivity.