SKUNK APE HEADQUARTERS 2 | Niki Butcher

Ochopee © 2018

Photographic Story Depending on what part of the country you are from, you may have heard of Big Foot or Sasquatch. Here in Florida, we have the Skunk Ape. According to Dave Shealy, Florida’s self-appointed Skunk Ape expert and co-owner of the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, people have reported seeing and smelling the creature in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Dave is aware that the Skunk Ape is considered by many to be a figment of his imagination. However, some events that have taken place on our Big Cypress property make me wonder if it isn’t just the gators you need to watch out for in the Everglades! The Art of Hand Painting Black and White Photographs Photographed with a Sony digital camera and instead of oil painting with Q-tips and cotton balls, Niki was able to 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.