Two Lakeland men share a unique friendship based on their love of Florida's natural beauty and painting.
- Levy Harrison mentored by famous Florida artist Robert Butler
- Butler's son, Daniel, follows in father's footsteps
- Harrison teaches art classes at shop
Levy Harrison owns Levy's Imperial Tire on South Florida Avenue.
Harrison took up painting years ago and he was mentored by famous Florida artist Robert Butler. Butler was known as one of the "Highway Men." They were African-Americans who sold their paintings out of their cars.
Butler specialized in Florida wildlife landscape paintings. He died in 2014.
Harrison also paints rustic Florida nature scenes in the lobby of his business. He has his paintings displayed on the walls and sells them to customers. He even teaches art classes there.
Robert Butler's son, Daniel, followed in his father's footsteps as a painter. A few years ago Harrison invited Butler to paint in the lobby of Imperial Tire.
Daniel Butler is admittedly hard headed about taking painting advice from anyone but Harrison.
"The advice that he gives me, if I put it to use, I'm not going to have a problem," he said.
Butler and Harrison sometimes work on the same painting. Each adds their own touches.
Butler said Harrison has pushed him to add more vivid colors to his paintings. He said that has helped him sell more paintings.
This painting is by Daniel Butler. (Rick Elmhorst, Bay News 9)