Rodney Demps (Florida, 1953-2020), "Rain Sky Over Indian River", original oil painting on upson board, signed lower right "R. Demps", white painted wood frame 39"W x 27"H; painting 36"W x 24"H; small scratch with loss to paint in upper center of sky near frame---Rodney Demps was one of the 26 original Florida Highwaymen painters, young 1950s and 1960s era African American landscape artists mentored by A. E. Backus (American, 1906-1990) who was regarded as the Dean of Florida Painters. Demps was known as "the surrealist Highwayman". He never sold his work on the road as the other Highwaymen did but is included in the group due to his direct connection to both A. E. Backus and Alfred Hair, another artist who influenced the Highwaymen painters. Demps was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004.