Nora Butler Nora Butler Designs


As a lifelong resident, what changes to the area do you think affect one’s ability to see the “real” Florida? Changes for the better would include the reduction in litter and bottles tossed from cars on the highways. I remember when the roadsides were absolutely littered with trash. People just thought it was fine to throw stuff out the windows as they drove, and no one picked it up, so it piled up! Finally, fines were imposed and the trashy people stopped their slovenly ways. Changes for the worse could simply be described in one word: overpopulation! Another hindrance to one’s ability to fully appreciate the area is the overabundance of unnecessary rules and regulations! (No Parking + No Fishing + No Pets = No FUN!!!)


Let’s talk about your art style. Your art is described as “pictures within a picture,” can you summarize your style for readers? Typically, I begin with a simple, anatomically accurate outline of the subject, and then incorporate and position elements from the subject’s environment within that shape. For instance, my loggerhead turtle design is the simple shape of a turtle. The intricate details within that shape include the moon (navigational aid), the turtle’s tears (shed while laying eggs), turtle eggs, hatchlings, and many other aspects relating to the life of a loggerhead. Most of my drawings have no background, which I think distracts the viewer from the subject. Colored pencil lends itself perfectly to tiny details, and by applying many layers of different colors I can achieve unusual hues. I am a perfectionist when it comes to chiaroscuro (shading).


By combining these different images, what are you hoping to create and how long does it take? I feel a passion to illustrate the extremes of simplicity and complexity in one image. The simplicity of good design balanced with the complexity of the world we live in. My work is most appreciated when studied “up close and personal.” From a distance we’re only able to achieve minimal understanding of anything in life. Each original is a labor of love, and takes weeks from conception to completion.


How did you get started as an artist? My mother was an artist and painted every day. I think the smell of oil paint and turpentine permanently affected my brain, and made me want to be as creative as she was! I chose a different medium – colored pencil – because I was entranced with capturing detail, and paint was just too messy for that!


As a Florida native, your love for Florida’s wildlife is evident in your drawings. How do you best appreciate nature? I spent my childhood years living on Sanibel Island, before there was even a bridge connecting the island to the mainland. My fondest memories include shelling, snorkeling, fishing, orchid hunting and bug collecting. Now, my favorite pastime is fishing – it’s a great way to really connect with the natural beauty of Florida.


What is the rarest or most unusual animal that you’ve seen in your travels? I have a passionate appreciation for all God’s creatures. From a honey bee to a coquina shell – each species has miraculous qualities. Take a closer look at the next feather you find on the ground… really study it and think about it, and what it enables a bird to do… then think about the mystery of migration, and the language of birdsong. There’s no need to travel farther than your own backyard to find a miracle.


Do you have a favorite animal or subject that captures your imagination? I naturally gravitate toward illustrating the creatures from the sub-tropics that I see on a regular basis, such as shells, lizards, fish, turtles, birds, etc. And, illustrating a theme or event is another one of my favorite subjects. By the time this is printed, I will have finished illustrating a very “different” pink ribbon for breast cancer – one that contains an inspirational message as well as a beautiful, tropical sunset scene!


What is “giclee” and how do you say it? It’s pronounced “gee-clay” and is a fancy French word which loosely translated means the most technically advanced and highest quality reproduction available in the world today.


Giclees are digital archival


reproductions of an artist’s original work, using expensive pigmented inks. They resist fading and color shifts over time, and closely match the original. The excellence in quality of the giclee print has made it possible for many artists (like myself) to make a living as an artist.


How is this different from a normal art print? There is a major difference in quality between “offset reproduction process” and “giclee printing process.” The giclee process produces brilliant color and detail, has the ability to enlarge the artwork without loss of resolution, along with the capacity to reproduce the art on various surfaces such as archival paper, canvas, aluminum, clothing, etc.


Tell us about your new gallery/studio and gift boutique. My gallery is almost two years old now – and it’s my dream come true! The space is large enough to accommodate my drawing studio, and visitors can watch a colored pencil drawing in process – or try it out themselves. Customers can choose from original art, reproductions, posters and wearable art. The majority of artwork displayed is my own; however, I also include the work of a few local artists. In addition, I’m licensed with several major gift manufacturers and my designs are offered on specialty items such as mugs, clocks, handmade pillows, stationery, and much more. Nora Butler Designs is located in Crayton Cove in Olde Naples by the City Dock – a wonderful, historical and eclectic part of town.


Nora Butler Designs -- 800 12th Avenue South, Naples, FL 239-403-8287 -- www.NoraButler.com


Pulse Magazine SWFL | 21


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