Note Type
Antony Hayton, Exhibit DirectorNote
Harold Newton (1934-1994)
Tomoka River
Oil on Masonite circa the Late 1980s
Image size 24" X 48"
According to the Art in the Embassies Program of the State Department, "Harold Newton, much like the French Impressionists decades before him, sometimes depicted the same scene at different times of the day. He created distinct moods by varying the light, color, and brushstrokes in his work." Remarkably, he created his paintings in his backyard, often working from memory or imagination. With his photographic memory, Newton could replicate a painting by A.E. Backus after viewing it for just a few minutes. Backus taught Newton how to use a palette knife, which allowed him to apply paint quickly to the canvas. Other Highwaymen later emulated this technique and the practice of traveling the highways to sell paintings. Harold not only mentored his brothers Samuel and Lemuel Newton but also inspired future Highwaymen, including Alfred Hair, Roy McLendon, Livingston Roberts, and Mary Ann Carroll.
Newton set a high standard for other artists while paving the way for their success. His template included selling his work on the road, using inexpensive Upson Board as a canvas, and painting quickly and from memory. The other artists looked up to him as a mentor, admiring his incredible skill. Highwaymen artist Livingston Roberts once remarked, "He could paint big pieces off the top of his head every day." Newton uniquely captured mood and atmosphere; his river paintings came alive with color, emotion, and depth, conveying grace, awe, and beauty with a few sure sweeps of his brush and palette knife. This scene was most likely painted from his imagination, creating a representation that feels even more beautiful than reality.