GATORLAND ZOO | Niki Butcher

Orange Park, FL © 1989

I had so much fun going through my old negatives of Florida, so much FUNK! I remembered taking this photo back in 1989 but couldn’t find the negative, so I thought I would have to travel to Orange Park, Florida, and take the picture a second time. However, as I went through my old negatives there, it was! While I painted the photograph, all those memories of long ago came flooding back, and I had a constant smile on my face. The Art of Hand Painting Black and White Photographs Photographed with her film camera, Niki was able to scan the rediscovered negative and paint using Photoshop. Changing from the old-fashioned way of doing her art, to the new ‘fashion’ of using technology was challenging, but she’s enjoying getting back to her own personal expression. Archival Print Making Niki’s open edition gicleé artwork is printed on Sunset Bright Velvet Rag matte finish paper using eight archival inks. A state-of-the-art Epson Stylus Pro printer creates deep, rich dark values that hold subtle detail in the shadows as well as bright vivid colors that are truly tropical.