Note Type
Antony Hayton, Exhibit DirectorNote
Samuel "Sam" Newton (1948 - )
Pink Candy Floss Clouds
Oil on Canvas circa late 1980s
Image size 16" X 20"
Sam Newton is a studious gentleman who takes great pride in his work. His innate ability to create paintings that are remarkably similar to his brother, Harold, is almost uncanny. While most artists have distinct styles that are easy to recognize, the works of the Newton brothers stand out for their similarities, particularly between Harold and Sam. Sam, 14 years younger than Harold, began painting relatively young and dedicated his life to landscape painting. The Florida Department of Arts and Culture identified 26 artists as The Highwaymen in 2004. This group was loosely associated, and not all members were well-known to each other. Ironically, Sam Newton distances himself from being recognized as a member and does not consider himself a Highwayman. In the decades to come, the body of work created by the Highwaymen will be valued for what these artists achieved during racially challenging times. Their story is about determination, inspiration, and beauty expressed through art and nature. An undeniably unique American Dream story.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Highwaymen artists, including Sam Newton, is their ability to paint from imagination or memory. The core of their works revolves around approximately 20 themes, such as beach scenes, poinciana trees, the Everglades, backwoods, rivers, moonlit nights, and stormy skies, all representative of the landscape where they lived. Their remarkable skill in vividly recreating scenes makes each experience feel fresh and engaging. Interestingly, these artists create their works in home studios, diverging from the plein-air tradition of the French Impressionists. A prime example is a majestic impressionistic river scene by Sam Newton, dominated by towering pink clouds that seem to burst into the heavens, with paint applied thickly using a palette knife. Below, birds feed in the tranquil waters as palm trees stand quietly. Newton cunningly captures the beauty of nature, skillfully creating mood and atmosphere in his paintings.