Artist becomes Island Cafe on the Bay’s ‘Napkin Lady’
Everyone knows that Pine Island and Matlacha feature a number of artists: painters, sculptors, craft jewelers, sketchers and Native American artisans.
Now they can add “napkin artist” to the list.
Last month, Dianne Wickes, aka “The Green Woman Napkin Lady,” began drawing on cocktail napkins at Island Cafe on the Bay restaurant.
“I am the ‘Artist in Residence’ and I draw local and tropical scenes on napkins and note cards,” Wickes said.
“I’ve been familiar with the area because I lived in Cape Coral in the 1960s,” Wickes said. “I’ve lived all over the country and moved from Champagne, Illinois, back to Southwest Florida 10 years ago. That’s when I started doing this type of art.
“A friend recommended that I check out Matlacha and Pine Island,” she continued, “so whenever I came to a restaurant on the island, there were always cocktail napkins on the table and I would draw a scene and give them away to the waitstaff.”
Wickes sketches local and tropical scenes in record time. Drawings are done in pen and ink. Scenes range from local birds to landscapes, sunsets and area attractions like the bridge and the “Island Time Begins Here” sign. “I also paint notecards in color,” Wickes said.
“A few weeks ago, I came in to eat here at Island Cafe on the Bay and did what I always do, I picked up a napkin and started drawing,” Wickes said. “When it was finished I handed it to the waitress and she brought it back to show the owner, Bruce.”
Bruce Pitts owns Island Cafe on the Bay restaurant.
“I was really impressed with Dianne’s work,” Pitts said. “When I saw the drawing, I knew it would be a perfect addition to the art found here on the island.”
“If someone wants a painting or a drawing with a tiki hut, or the bridge or a pirate’s chest or even the ‘Island Time Begins Here’ sign, I can do that,” Wickes said. “I enjoy drawing tropical scenes and Island Cafe on the Bay offers an opportunity to draw from one of the most picturesque places in southwest Florida.”
“This is what Matlacha and Pine island are all about,” Pitts said. “We have such a wonderful array of talent, artists, musicians and all kinds of crafts I thought Dianne would be a perfect addition to the Matlacha/Pine Island art community.”
The Island Cafe on the Bay is at 4200 Pine Island Road in Matlacha. For additional information, call 239-540-3463.