I’m honored to share this wonderful review of The Art Studio Companion by Alexandra York, Art & Culture Columnist for Newsmax and Founding President of the American Renaissance for the Twenty-first Century (ART).
“A Master Class for Artists,” this technically detailed tutorial is sensibly illustrated with drawings and lavishly augmented with fine art images to be examined to become an indispensable go-to guide for both beginner and professional artists.
Dividing his ultra practical treatise into three parts—”Fundamentals: The Big Three,” “Essential Must Have Basics,” and “Embracing the Challenge”—Newberry explores, explains, and illustrates the art of making art from the six key elements of light in drawing a simple egg to the employment of the Greek Polyclitus’s erudite theory of proportion. Chapter titles give more than a peek into the author’s patient but demanding and precise tutoring on exacting techniques warmed by his poetic and sometimes humorous empathy regarding the twists, turns, and tumult inherent in every artist’s journey to achieving creations of beautiful and meaningful art full of life-affirming values that will last forever: “One Point Perspective: Eye-Level and the Vanishing Point,” “Perfecting Ellipses: Giving Your Still Life Wings,” “Eyes: Forming the Soul’s Gateway,” “Voices in Your Head: You’re Not Crazy, They’re Tools!” “Rhythm: A Beautiful Way to Organize Chaos,” and “Tips to Keep That Spark Alive” are good examples. Analyses of pictured art from Van Gogh, to Monet, to Michelangelo, to Rembrandt, to Vermeer and more on to contemporary artists’ work including his own give concrete examples of techniques tried and true. In addition, looking to the future he also introduces new and innovative ideas being explored and utilized today including an introduction to his own original color theory.
It’s hard not to be hyperbolic when praising this all-encompassing “workshop” on how to technically and expressively create universally relevant, soul-stirring art that results from commitment to precision, practice, and passion and at the same time imbue the art with humanity and generosity of spirit, but Michael Newberry masters his task and succeeds in offering us a vast but thorough prismatic window into the artful art of art. In addition, his own generosity of spirt shines through his entire tutorial and ends with these words: “Paint what you love. Be super kind to yourself. Creativity is fragile. Be the kindest, most loving person in the universe to your creative self.” –Alexandra York
Michael Newberry 