Mexico Workshop

Mary Woodul, our host and painting partner for the San Luis Potosi Workshop in Mexico, sent me on some photos of her new ranch. It's where we are staying! Six people are confirmed for the workshop, there are still 4 spots open, August 5-12. Ideal temperatures, 80 degrees high, 55 low.

After finishing Venus, I have been researching my art career path. And I have been thinking about what artistic success means to me. It might not surprise anyone, but two important factors, among several, are auction house and secondary sales. Recently a Lucian Freud nude sold at auction for about 38 million. The painting dates from 1992, and undoubtedly it was a secondary sale--someone owned the painting and then auction it off.

I ask myself if it was a good idea to encourage my collectors to sell their Newberrys. I thought about for about 3 seconds, then realized how honored I am that my collectors love my work and that they would miss it terribly if it were no longer on their walls.  One of my collectors saw that the painting he bought is something he could pass on to his family after he dies. So, no, I don't think that pursuing that angle has any value for me.

I continue to write art reviews for The New Individualist. The third one, on Jacob Collins, has been out for some weeks. I wrote it sometime in April. Recently, Roger Kimball, editor and art critic for The New Republic, wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal about classical realism, in which Jacob Collins figured prominent. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121201421777227483.html?mod=at_leisure_main_reviews_days_only

To compare the articles you need to subscribe to The New Individualist.

On other fronts, I have sold my third Venus Giclee and the charcoal drawing The Guardians. To see more of available charcoals go here.

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Mentor Program

I am proud to have two new artists join my mentor program, Chanan Mazal from Israel, Elaine Ring from the Hudson Valley.

And congratulations go to Anita Murphy on another sale, go here to see more of her available works.  And Mary Woodul is making stellar progress on her 3x4' oil.

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I am also drawing lots of pastels, painting some plein air, and editing some works.

Georgie, 2008, pastel on black paper.

Georgie 2

Female Nude, charcoal and pastel

Female Nude 2, pastel

Friends

Alex

Alex 2

Kathy, part of my pastel shadow series, work in progress.

Untitled, work in progress, part of the shadow series.


Studio Window, 2008, pastel on black paper

Studio Art, 2008, pastel on red paper

Lit Studio Ceiling, 2008, pastel on blue paper

Creek Tree, 2008, oil on panel, 9x12"

Hudson Home, 2008, oil on panel, 9x12"

Hudson Home 2, work in progress, oil on panel, 9x12"

La Jolla View, work in progress, oil on panel, 9x12"

L. A. Mountains, work in progress, oil on panel, 9x12"

Untitled, work in progress, oil on panel, 12x16"

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Finally, the other day I was on an internet forum discussing if all artists hold an audience, or an ideal audience, in the back of their minds when they create. One example given was that a painter doesn't paint for the color blind. And I wasn't so sure.  I love the way my work photographs in b/w. Here is Venus in b/w to show you what I mean.

And, no, all artists don't hold the audience in the back of their mind when they create. I like to think of them as the happy painters.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this studio update as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

BTW, if you enjoyed something in particular, please let me know I would love to hear from you.

Michael Newberry
New York, June, 2008

newberryworkshop@earthlink.net