David Butler

David Butler was first and foremost an environmentalist who fashioned fanciful and fantastic creatures and elaborate "windmills" (whirligigs) from weathered roofing tin. His brightly painted constructions, which are often embellished with found objects, once filled his yard and covered the windows of his house, but advancing age forced him to move in with relatives in a nearby town. Butler's creative fervor remained undiminished, however, and he continued to astonish neighborhood children with his remarkable sculptures, the inspirations for which came from dreams.

Mixed Media (19-works)

David Butler Man Driving a Train_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Man Driving a Train
16.5 x 27 in
SOLD
David Butler Two Wisemen on Camel_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Two Wisemen on Camel
20.5 x 26.5 in
SOLD
David Butler Alligator_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin
Alligator
11.5 x 30 in
David Butler Double Dragon Wagon
Double Dragon Wagon
78 x 16 x 34 in
David Butler Garfish_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin
Garfish
9 x 31 in
David Butler Mermaid_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Mermaid
11.5 x 28 in
David Butler Seahorse (unpainted)_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Seahorse (unpainted)
21.5 x 8.5 in
David Butler Turtle_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Turtle
11.25 x 24.25 in
David Butler Fantasy Creature_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art_ folk art__ outsider art
Fantasy Creature
11.5 x 16 in
SOLD
David Butler Soapdish
Heart
3.5 x 8.5 in
SOLD
David Butler Knife Through the Heart
Knife Through the Heart
28 x 12.5 in
SOLD
David Butler Little Creature
Little Creature
9 x 15.25 in
SOLD
David Butler Man in the Moon_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Man in the Moon
12.5 x 13.25 in
SOLD
David Butler Nativity
Nativity
28 x 39 in
SOLD
David Butler The Lord_s Supper_ David Butler_ Sculpture_ tin
The Lord's Supper
27.5 x 34.5 in
SOLD
David Butler Man Driving Train_ David Butler_ sculpture_ tin_ outsider art
Train
16.5 x 26.5 in
SOLD

David Butler

David Butler

David Butler Biography

David Butler was first and foremost an environmentalist who fashioned fanciful and fantastic creatures and elaborate "windmills" (whirligigs) from weathered roofing tin. His brightly painted constructions, which are often embellished with found objects, once filled his yard and covered the windows of his house, but advancing age forced him to move in with relatives in a nearby town. Butler's creative fervor remained undiminished, however, and he continued to astonish neighborhood children with his remarkable sculptures, the inspirations for which came from dreams.

 

After his forced retirement from a sawmill as a result of a physical disablement, Butler began his artistic endeavors. Disappointed that the colorful flowers he planted in his gardens disappeared during the winter months, Butler began to fashion his brightly painted tin constructions which he attached to stakes in his yard, larger wood assemblages or to fences so "I could always look out my window and see pretty things." Butler later discovered that he could cut designs in flattened sheets of tin and place these over his windows. He was intrigued by the patterns of sunlight cast on the walls and floors of his house by these window screens, and the added privacy was in keeping with his shy and retiring nature.

 

Butler first sketched his designs on the tin with a crayon and then cut the piece with a modified ax head and hammer, holding the tin between his legs while sitting on the ground. His designs are distinctive and imaginative-mermaids, cock-birds, sea monsters, flying elephants, cowboys, and alligators co-exist in harmony, beauty, and humor. He died in 1997.

 

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