Harold Newton (1934-1994) Firesky on the St. Lucie River circa 1968 Oil On Upson Board Image size 24" X 36"
Name/Title
Firesky on the St. Lucie River
Entry/Object ID
HM.2025.6
Description
Harold Newton (1934-1994) Firesky on the St. Lucie River circa 1968 Oil On Upson Board Image size 24" X 36"
Made/Created
Artist
Harold Newton
Exhibition
A Disappearing Landscape: Art of the Highwaymen
General Notes
Note Type
Antony Hayton, Exhibit Director
Note
Harold Newton (1934-1994)
Firesky on the St. Lucie River
Oil On Upson Board circa 1968
Image size 24" X 36"
Being the original member of the group meant that Harold Newton had to experiment with untried methods. That meant learning what sold easily, those paintings were repainted over and over again. The beauty of this, because they were original art and painted at the moment, meant that no two paintings were quite the same. The "Firesky" paintings became very popular with customers and so the Highwaymen naturally kept on painting them. And the blazing Florida sunsets provided them with the perfect product to emulate.
The Highwaymen have been called the "Florida Impressionists" on more than one occasion. As the Smithsonian explains "their fast painting method’s quick strokes contributed to the impressionistic nature of the images." The Highwaymen's impressionism was created by necessity, they needed to paint quickly to keep the cost of artwork affordable. Their impressionism was a byproduct of the marketplace. Not of design but more of pragmatism.
A stunning "Firesky" Painting on "orange peel" Upson Board. Rich palette knife work adds to the drama of this classic work by the Highwaymen's master artist Harold Newton. The blazing sun burns through a slit in the evening cloud cover, while egrets feed alone in nature's glorious splendor.
