Happy 200th anniversary, Walton County!

Walton County was organized by European Americans in 1824. It was named for Colonel George Walton Jr., secretary of the Florida Territory from 1821 to 1826.

The Cultural Arts Alliance asked Andy to lead a community art project as part of Walton County’s bicentennial celebration at North Beach Social. He prepped two wood panels, each 8x4-ft, which made an 8x8-ft diptych. Those who attended the celebration on April 21st were invited to paint something on the panels that they felt represented the county. After the event, Andy added the final touches, as seen below.

If you would like to see this piece in person, please contact the CAA.

Introducing Andy’s first piece of Taylor Swift art! I had too much fun writing the caption when we shared it on social media, so I’ll just copy/paste it here…

“It’s me. Hi! I’m the ARTIST, it’s me,” and “it feels like a perfect night” to share this Taylor Swift commission! “Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned” and I was contacted about making a life-size cutout for a young lady in Nashville. It’s her SWEET SIXTEEN ERA! As you know, I usually have a more abstract style when I paint people, but I really wanted to fulfill this special request. “What if I told you none of it was accidental?” My wife got me to watch The Eras Tour with her on Disney+ for inspiration. I decided on my favorite outfit from the concert (“Are you ready for it?” Do you recognize it?), sketched it out, and cut the wood. I guess you could say that “I laid the groundwork, and then just like clockwork, the dominoes cascaded in a line.” I made a few adjustments along the line, but you know “everything you lose is a step you take.” I absolutely had to use some metallic and glittery paint so she could “make the whole place shimmer.” I tried my very best to capture Taylor’s likeness and of course included “that red lip classic thing that you like.” I’m very happy with the final product and “you know I wouldn’t change anything, anything, anything.” Now… is this caption ridiculous? Yes. But did I write it? No, my wife did. As they say, “the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it off.” Happy sweet 16, Carter! We hope you love your new piece of art! And for everyone else who likes this piece, “my last request is, say you’ll remember HER, standing in a nice dress.” (Was it too much? Or “is it cool that I said all that?” If you want a commission of your favorite celebrity, let me know! “I’ve got a blank space, baby, and I’ll write your name.”)

Andy sketched Taylor on March 25th and then cut out the shape on March 26th.

He used glittery paint to match her dress from The Eras Tour.

If you zoom in on her dress, you can see some of her lyrics.

Painting hyper realistic people is not in Andy’s wheelhouse. He made several adjustments until he felt he had captured her face to the best of his ability.

March 31: The completed piece, which is life-size at 5’11 tall.

On November 18th, Andy completed his 20x8-ft underpass mural! He was one of ten artists selected by the Cultural Arts Alliance to paint the space, which I believe will be on display for the next five years. Andy’s mural took about 43 hours to complete. He was thrilled to have this opportunity because he loves painting large scale.

You might recall some of Andy’s other large scale works of art, such as:

• the whale at North Beach Social (see it)

• the octopus at Nanbu Noodle Bar (see it)

• the billboard in downtown Minneapolis (see it)

• the mural at Northwest Florida State College (see it)

• the mural in Mirror Maze at Pier Park (see it)

The underpass is located in Inlet Beach, where 30A meets Highway 98. The tunnel measures 136 feet. Five artists are featured per side. When entering the tunnel from the north end (by Donut Hole and 30Avenue), you’ll see murals by Olga Guy, Wes Hinds, Katherine Boggs, Andy, and Lindsay Tobias on your right. To your left, you’ll see murals by Andi Scurto, Bradley Copeland, Sarah Page, Heather Clements, and Francisco Adaro.

We hope you will have a chance to see these murals in person!

Andy’s 20x8-ft mural took about 43 hours to complete.

Click the images below to zoom in.

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You may have heard that on June 11th a black bear was seen swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in Destin. This is a very unusual thing to witness! Our friend Arix Zalace explains why the bear may have been out of its normal habitat in this video.

In March 2022, our friend Alex Lewis took a photo of Andy surfing. Then last June, the photo was printed on canvas so Andy could paint it. (You might remember when Andy did a similar painted photography collaboration with Ryan Manthey several years ago.)

Alex’s original photo

after Andy added paint

This painted photography piece hung in our gallery for about a year. Andy had been seriously considering turning himself into a surfing bear. First, because it would be fun and amusing. Also, does anyone really want a large painting of Andy in their home?

When we saw the videos of the bear swimming in the Gulf on June 11th, it was the inspiration Andy needed to finally re-imagine the painting. The name of the piece, Daddy Bear, came from a nickname some of our kids jokingly gave Andy.

“Daddy Bear” // 52x40 inches

We are excited to announce that Andy was selected to participate in the YETI Artist Series! The program launched in December 2020, with a portion of the proceeds donated to various charities selected by YETI. This quarter there are 13 artists, one featured in each of their 13 retail stores. Andy hand-painted sixty 20 oz tumblers, which are only available to purchase while they last at their retail store in south Florida:

YETI
1019 E Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Sales of Andy’s hand-painted tumblers will support Heroes and Horses. According to their web site:

Our mission at Heroes and Horses is to un-program the programmed. To offer combat veterans an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars—a solution that does not include prescription medications, or traditional psychotherapy, but rather the opportunity to use tools to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner strength, and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service.

We are thrilled to partner with YETI to support this wonderful organization, especially since Andy’s dad served in Vietnam with the US Air Force.

If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of the 60 tumblers, we’d love to know! Tag Andy on Instagram or Facebook so we can see which one is yours.

In early 2021, Andy had a conversation with Dan Tinghitella, the Chief Operating Officer of Jim Shirley Enterprises (Great Southern Cafe, The Bay, North Beach Social, etc), about his bucket list desire to create a life-size whale art installation. Dan mentioned it to Jim Shirley, who was excited to make the idea a reality.

Shortly after Dan and Andy’s discussion, Andy came across an article about a whale he had never heard of — Rice’s Whale. This whale was named after Dale W. Rice, who first published evidence that Bryde’s whales are present in the Gulf of Mexico in 1965. According to NOAA Fisheries:

Rice's whales are members of the baleen whale family Balaenopteridae. With likely fewer than 100 individuals remaining, Rice's whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world. Recovery of the species depends upon the protection of each remaining whale.

The Rice's whale has been consistently located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, along the continental shelf break between 100 and about 400 meters depth. They are the only resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico and are most closely related to Bryde’s (pronounced “broodus”) whales. In 2021 scientists determined that the Rice’s whale was a unique species, genetically and morphologically distinct from Bryde’s whales.

Andy knew his whale art installation should honor Rice’s whales, given that they call our local Gulf waters home and are endangered. His project would be a loose interpretation of them, with characteristics of other whales that inhabit the Gulf. Jim agreed and the project officially went into the planning phase.

Jim and Andy are both fans of public art displays. They first considered installing the whale at one of Jim’s restaurants in Seaside. But after further discussion, they agreed that North Beach Social would be the perfect canvas for a project of this scale.

January 27, 2022 // Jim Shirley and Andy

February 9-10, 2022 // time-lapse taken during installation process

Rice’s Whale Facts, according to NOAA Fisheries:

• Rice’s whales can weigh up to 60,000 pounds (that is 30 tons), which is about five times as heavy as an elephant!

• They can grow up to 42 feet long.

• Not much is known about their life expectancy, but closely related species reach sexual maturity at 9-years-old and can live about 60 years.

• The biggest threats to the species include vessel strikes, ocean noise, energy exploration, development and production, oil spills and responses, entanglement in fishing gear, and ocean debris.

• They are found in the Gulf of Mexico in the Southeast United States.

Andy’s Art Installation Facts:

• 30 feet wide

• 12 feet tall

• materials weigh about 800 pounds

• 55 hours to complete

February 8, 2022 // Andy delivered all the wood pieces that he had previously cut and laid them out in the sand to determine the shape.

February 8, 2022 // It was kind of like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

February 9, 2022 // The first piece Andy hung was the tail, followed by the head. Then he started connecting them, building layers as he went along.

February 9, 2022 // We got messages from several people who could see the whale going up as they drove across the Clyde B. Wells bridge.

February 9, 2022 // Most of the big wood pieces had been cut out at our house, but he had to cut additional layers at the restaurant. The people eating lunch didn’t seem to mind, as many of them came out to watch the installation process.

February 9, 2022 // Andy estimates all the wood weighs about 800 pounds, all of which he had to carry up the scaffolding. He was incredibly tired and sore!

February 9, 2022 // Day 2 ended with the two sides almost connected.

February 10, 2022 // Andy finished connecting the tail and body, then started working on the layered wood details.

February 11, 2022 // On Day 4, he finished all the cutout details, which included some fish, swirls, flowers, and...

February 11, 2022 // …even guitars! After all, North Beach Social often has live music for everyone to enjoy.

February 11, 2022 // Andy positioned the Rice’s Whale so that it appears to be looking out at Choctawhatchee Bay.

February 12, 2022 // He spent all of Day 5 painting!

February 12, 2022 // More painting details.

February 13, 2022 // For a large scale project, this was the only waste. Andy tried his best to be purposeful and intentional with the materials he used.

February 14, 2022 // He touched up a few spots, sealed it, and it was finished!

The completed whale!

For additional photos, check out Andy’s Instagram. To watch the installation process and find out more about our “local” whale, check out this video put together by Ocean Reef:

To see the Rice’s Whale in person, visit North Beach Social: 24200 US-331, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

I’ve mentioned the YOLO paddleboards Andy has designed via blog a few times. But today I realized that although we talked about it on Andy’s social media and in his newsletter, we never shared his 2021 SUP on our web site.

There are now three YOLO boards featuring Andy’s art!

The first board, released in 2020, is a 10’6 epoxy board. Multiple shipments came in and they all sold out. What’s really cool about this board is that it was distributed internationally. We love getting tagged in Instagram posts of people using his board all over the world!

In 2021, YOLO released an inflatable version of the same design as the first board. The inflatable paddleboards are surprisingly stable, plus they are easy to transport and store, and have a much lower price tag than the epoxy boards.

Also in 2021, YOLO released a third original 10’6 epoxy SUP with Andy’s art (his second design). Last I checked, both of his epoxy boards were sold out. If you would like to get your hands on any of Andy’s three boards, we suggest contacting YOLO directly, as we are not privy to their inventory information.

Will Andy’s art appear on future paddleboards? We certainly hope so! And we will definitely make an announcement if and when it happens.

Design # 1, available on both 10’6 epoxy boards and inflatable boards. You can even get a matching paddle!

Design #2, only available on 10’6 epoxy boards (for now, anyway).

The 64” tall marlin by Destin Middle School’s entrance was in desperate need of a makeover. The art teacher reached out to Andy to see if he was interested in painting it. Four of our five kids have been students at DMS and our fifth child will start there this fall, so of course we said yes.

What a transformation! It hardly looks like the same marlin! I hope our boys feel a sense of pride every time they walk by it. I also think it’s cool that the fountain was originally installed in 2007, the year our son Noah was born. And now as Noah graduates from DMS in a couple weeks, this is sort of like his parting gift. We love this school and being part of this community.

principal Grant Meyer, our son Jonah, our son Noah, art teacher Tanya Kersey, and Andy

before the makeover

after the makeover

left side

right side

Andy has made several pieces of sea turtle art in the past eight years. Some are paintings while others are layered wood. He often sees sea turtles and dolphins while surfing or paddleboarding, so it’s not surprising that they find their way into his art. Below are a few of my favorite sea turtle pieces from the last several years.

Sea Turtle Ohana // 74x26 inches // paint on wood // 2016

Turtle Swirl // 44x50 inches // paint on wood // 2020

Welcoming Turtle // 25x37 inches // paint on layered wood // 2019

Loving Turtle // 25x37 inches // paint on layered wood // 2019

Moondoggy // 43x53 inches // paint on layered, reclaimed wood // 2016

Turtle Rum // 36x36 inches // paint on wood // 2019

Wedding Day Turtles // 49x25 inches // paint on wood // 2015

Tropical Daydream // 28x48 inches // paint on wood // 2019

Swirling School 2 // 74x50 inches // paint on wood // 2018 (The sea turtle is a bit camouflaged in this one!)

Simple Sea Turtle // 35x43 inches // paint on layered wood with reclaimed wood frame // 2016

Turtle Family // 47x59 inches // paint on layered wood with reclaimed wood frame and found objects // 2013

Blue Sea Turtle // 39x43 inches // paint on layered wood with reclaimed wood frame // 2017

June Turtles // 26x37 inches // paint on layered wood // 2015

Color Wonder Sea Turtle // 29x27 inches // paint on cut out wood with found objects // 2014

And last but certainly not least…

original art for YOLO Board // 10’6” // 2019

Mother’s Day 2020 was pretty special! Destin beaches reopened May 1st after being closed for several weeks due to COVID-19. Our family was very thankful for that, since we all love the beach. Luckily the Gulf was flat, so we were able to bring the paddleboard Andy designed.

Andy designed this 10’6 paddleboard last fall and YOLO released it earlier this year. It’s available to purchase on their web site.

We took our board to the beach on Mother’s Day and had a special visitor: a huge sea turtle! Look how big he (she?) is compared to the board Andy is standing on! (Our friend and her daughter are on the inflatable YOLO board.)

It was such a beautiful day! Perfect temperature, low humidity, and clear water. Although there were a lot of people, everyone we saw was respectful of social distancing guidelines.

If you follow Andy on Instagram, you know that surfing is his favorite pastime. But when waves cannot be found, paddleboarding is a great way to enjoy the water and see wildlife up close.

All drone photography in this post by Nathan Saczynski.

We’re honored that Lovelace designer Cara McBroom selected four of Andy’s pieces for a beautiful home in WaterColor. Every detail of the house is absolutely stunning and I must say that it really shows off Andy’s work. Enjoy this photo tour by Nathan Saczynski:

Low Tide greets you as you enter the home.

Low Tide is 60x60 inches.

Notice the Francisco Adaro piece hanging right behind it?

We were happy to see two more of Francisco Adaro’s pieces in this room.

How incredible is the Ashley Longshore piece above the dining room table?

Moving upstairs, you’ll find Orange Circle Fish on the second floor landing.

Orange Circle Fish is 60x60 inches.

Moving up again, Fish Wave is on the third floor landing.

Fish Wave is 60x60 inches.

The third floor’s game room features Aftermath 1.

Aftermath 1 is 48x48 inches.

I could sit in this room all day. Gorgeous! Cara did an amazing job!

This bedroom - WOW!

And here is one more bedroom. Such an incredible home!

It might be April Fools’ Day, but this is no joke! Jeff Archer has been discussing a custom Yolo Board design with Andy since 2013. Last fall, the ball finally started rolling with Andy designing a limited edition board for 2020. Andy used paper the exact dimensions of the paddleboard to paint a sea turtle surrounded by swirling fish. Then Jake Meyer used his graphic design expertise to get Andy’s design onto the boards. The 10’6 board is available for purchase now! YOLO Original designs are produced in limited quantity, and designs cycle each year. If a design sells out, there's a good chance it's not coming back. So if you love this board, don’t wait to get it!

We have exciting news! Moxy commissioned a piece of Andy's art for their new hotel in Nashville! Moxy Nashville Downtown is the first hotel on Lower Broadway with the heart of a boutique hotel and an appetite for adventure. According to their web site:

The new Moxy Nashville Downtown invites free spirits and creative thinkers to experience the city like never before, with modern style, seamless service and an unbeatable location on Broadway. As the only hotel on Honky Tonk Row, we're literally steps away from legendary attractions like the Johnny Cash/Patsy Cline Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as Bridgestone Arena and more. Urban-chic rooms boast exposed brick walls, beds with LED underlighting, free Wi-Fi and 55-inch HDTVs; some look out over Broadway Street.

This 50x50-inch commissioned painting features Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Johnny Cash. A few other fun elements include the AT&T Building, a catfish for the Nashville Predators, the Tennessee state bird, and the Tennessee state flower. Look closely and you’ll discover a few more items to honor both Tennessee and Nashville.

If you happen to visit the Moxy Nashville Downtown, please snap a photo for us! You can either email it (andy@andysaczynski.com), text it (850-502-0072), or tag Andy on Instagram (#moxymusiccity).

Music City Trio | 50x50 inches | paint on wood panel

Below are a few photos of the Moxy (taken by Daniel Rivera, used with permission from Moxy):

Of all the commissions Andy has ever done, I think this one means the most. It was a wedding gift! Shortly after getting engaged in August, Kristen and her new fiance Will were enjoying a meal at Cowgirl Kitchen in Rosemary Beach. Will noticed Andy’s guitar art hanging on the wall and kept commenting how much he liked it. Kristen discovered it was Andy who made the piece and found his gallery while Will wasn’t around. She told Andy that Will (who’s from Fiji) is a worship leader and she wanted a guitar commission to give him for their wedding.

Andy has done many commissions, each one special in its own way. He’s even done a piece as an anniversary gift. But as a wedding gift from a wife to her husband… that’s a big deal! And since it was going to be a surprise, he couldn’t get feedback from Will. Andy prayed about it and asked God to give him a vision. What he saw in his mind were hands in a variety of colors, representing the nations of the world. The hands were stretching out from the sea, lifted towards the heavens. Kristen requested various shades of blue and gave Andy some shells that she and Will had collected during their engagement trip.

hands representing the nations of the world

shells they collected during their engagement trip

waves representing Will’s home in Fiji

doves representing the Holy Spirit

“My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!” (Psalm 108:1) | A few years ago, this guitar was given to Andy with this verse already carved into it. After reading the verse in several different translations, the concept of the piece formed.

Will was blown away when he saw the piece! He shared with us that when he was 12, his mother asked him and his siblings to “draw their dream.” Will had drawn hands similar to these reaching towards the heavens. How amazing that when Andy prayed for God to give him a vision, He gave him Will’s dream at age 12! There’s no way Andy could’ve guessed that on his own!

“Steadfast Heart” | 35x57 inches

wedding photo by Amanda Suanne Photography, used with permission

Kristen, thank you so much for trusting Andy with such a meaningful gift for Will. It was truly an honor for him to make this for you. (And also, thank you for sharing it with the world!) We wish the two of you a lifetime of love and adventure. We can’t wait to see the story God writes for you!

Andy has been working on several abstract paintings lately. He says, “With abstract paintings, I kind of let the painting dictate the direction it’s going without thinking too much on the finished product.” I really like how these turned out! If you agree, we would appreciate you sharing with others.

(Click images for size and pricing info.)

Aftermath 1

Aftermath 2

City Evening 1

City Evening 2

City Evening 3

Wavelengths 1

UPDATE: Nanbu’s grand opening is January 17, 2019!

Everyone in town is eagerly awaiting the launch of Nanbu, a noodle bar opening soon next to Andy’s gallery. Chef/Owner Nikhil Abuvala describes the restaurant as a “Southerner in Japanese.” Nanbu is a cool environment that features a 15-ft wide octopus created by Andy. This hip hang-out spot will be open later than most local restaurants. Menu items include Ramen Noodles, Noodle Bowls, Poke Bowls, Dumplings, and Broths. Personally, we can’t wait! Here’s a sneak peek of the octopus…

Several fish (like this one) are tucked into the tentacles.

This tiny octopus is almost hidden. Look for him!

Andy included a little watermelon slice simply because it’s his favorite fruit.

Andy assembling the octopus back in July.

The octopus is 188 inches wide and 77 inches tall.

Steven T. Mangum took this great photo for VIE Magazine’s October issue. See page 68.

Mary B. Austin Elementary School's PTA hosts an annual fundraiser called Art from the Heart, which pays for art instruction and supplies for the following school year. This fundraiser allows every student in the school to participate in the art program. Their second grade art students recently completed an assignment inspired by Andy's alligator art. For this project, second grade art teachers Crystal Couch and Mary Green shared a little about Andy as an artist, then showed the children examples of his assemblage work that incorporates found objects. They explained that how he uses different kinds of lines, shapes, and patterns makes his art interesting. After they looked at a broad view of his work, Mary pulled up a few alligators that Andy did and showed them how to break something like an alligator down into simple shapes to draw it. The second graders used tempera cakes to paint the alligators and the backgrounds, then added details and outlines with oil pastels. Some students used black paper for their background with oil pastel details. Here are a few of Andy's favorite pieces from each class:

We are so impressed with their work! We think it's awesome that Mary B. Austin Elementary School let their second graders use Andy's art as their inspiration. If you are aware of other art classes that have done a project inspired by Andy's art, please let us know!

This is Andy's most recent anglerfish assemblage art. It's made of layered wood and a functional light bulb.

According to National Geographic, "the angry-looking deep sea anglerfish has a right to be cranky. It is quite possibly the ugliest animal on the planet, and it lives in what is easily Earth's most inhospitable habitat: the lonely, lightless bottom of the sea."

They might be ugly in real life, but since our kids grew up watching Finding Nemo, the anglerfish has been a family favorite. We like to think Andy's version is friendly and happy, even with the scary-ish teeth.

The carnivorous anglerfish vary in size, ranging from less than a foot to over three feet in length. Andy's anglerfish also vary in size. This particular piece is 55 inches wide and 45 inches tall.

Most adult female ceratioid anglerfish have a luminescent organ called the esca at the tip of a modified dorsal ray. The organ has been hypothesized to serve the obvious purpose of luring prey in dark, deep-sea environments, but also serves to call males' attention to the females to facilitate mating. (see Wikipedia for more info)

For the esca on the anglerfish assemblage art, Andy uses a functional light bulb. Talk about a fancy sconce!

Our interior designer friend James (Van Stavern Interiors) commissioned Andy to create a piece of custom art for his client Cathie in Texas. They wanted something wild, bold, and full of life. Cathie collected sentimental odds and ends, family keepsakes, and random fun objects, then shipped them to Florida. Andy couldn't stop laughing when he opened the box of treasures! He instantly knew this would be a fun assemblage piece where he could really let his imagination run free. Andy spent a couple months rearranging items on a large piece of wood, shifting them daily until a scene started to unfold. At first he was going to simply paint a lady, but then he decided to cut her body out and attach it to another piece of wood for additional depth. This made it easier to place jewelry and watches on her wrists and arms. He definitely wanted to include the Disney records, since those are nostalgic for us, too. Cathie's two pups also made an appearance.

This piece was SO FUN for Andy to make, and it'll be hard to say goodbye when we ship it to Texas. A lot of Andy's art fans apparently loved it, too - it generated a ton of "likes" on Instagram. If you'd like to commission a custom art piece that incorporates your sentimental items, call or text Andy at (850) 502-0072 to discuss.

Miss Thang | 48x72 inches

Saczynski Gallery has a new home! But we haven't moved far - just next door. Our new address is:

26 Logan Lane, Unit B, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

We hope you'll come by and see our new space!