DzynStudio2011 Art & Design Blog

Hello, Artist Douglas Newton!! Firrst of all, thanks for allowing me to interview you.

Can you please tell about yourselves, for ex. Your education, your profession, where are you from & about the place of work / profession.

Ans. : After college, I worked for an insurance company. Then I went to Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, majoring advertising design After 3 semesters, I had a portfolio and worked at a Los Angeles ad agency. I worked at several agencies there and then got a job with a New York agency in 1980, and moved the family east. My last job was with a large restaurant company doing ads and graphic design.

How did you turn towards art? Was it a kind of born-artist in you? Or did you by intention turn towards art?

Ans. : I always drew and painted, when I was a child and even when I was working. In college I worked on the humor magazine and drew lots of cartoons. I started painting in oils in Los Angeles doing street scenes in the 1970s.

Do you have hobbies? Which ones?

Ans. : I used to enjoy sailing and playing tennis. Now, painting is my only hobby.

Did you have any art-related background in family? Can you please share about your family’s support in your art-journey?

Ans. : No artists except an aunt who did watercolors. My family thought being an art director in advertising was a good idea.

Can you please share some insights about the way you decided to undertake the art journey?

Ans. : I was inspired by the artists of the past. Since I mostly do still life now, Chardin, Emil Carlsen, Janet Fish, Mary Joan Waid and the Spanish and Dutch painters of the 1700s.

Do you have your own art studio / office / home-office ? If you don’t have a art studio, how do you manage to have your own space while creating art? Or do you work from home? (since Covid pandemic or even before that)?

Ans. : I have a studio in our home in Brooklyn since 2006. It’s my own room and is perfect for what I do.

If you have worked from home during the Covid pandemic & lockdown which was throughout the world, how did you manage to continue with your art journey? Was it difficult to get art materials?

Ans. : I did work at home through Covid. Couldn’t go to galleries or museums, but I worked. I have art supplies delivered, mostly from Blick.

Coming to the topic of art materials, which type of art materials do you use? Do you use them individually or in combination? Can you please share some insights about your techniques?

Ans. : I paint in oil paint on canvas. Mostly I use Gamlin paints. I paint on pre-stretched canvases. I used to stretch my own, but it’s not worth the effort.

How do you find your inspiration for art? Is it an inward journey or from external sources? How do you find your voice in your artworks?

Ans. : Mostly from external sources. I’m inspired by what I see and try to capture it in paint. Candy wrappers, glassware, toys, vegetables and fruit, even feathers and ribbons. I paint what I see, not using photographs. Light, reflections, color and texture are what my paintings are about.

Do you face peer pressure? How do you deal with it?

Ans. : No. My wife is an artist also, and we get along fine. I have artist friends but there’s no rivalry.

How do you deal with the artist’s block phases?

Ans. : Look through old sketchbooks, do lots sketches and just keep at it.

Most of your artworks are kind of realistic still life paintings so far. Did you have any other kind of approach towards painting previously? Can you please tell more about the comparison between previous style & techniques & the current one?

Ans. : Before the still life, I was painting imaginary landscapes with little simplified houses. They are on my website. I got bored with that and seemed to be repeating myself. In Los Angeles, I painted the city.

You have been exhibiting your works frequently at various places. Can you please tell us more about it?

Ans. : I show in group shows in many galleries, and have had four one person shows. I don’t have an exclusive contract with a gallery. I also sell through online galleries.

Any new dream-aim plans to be undertaken in near future or in long terms in your art journey?

Ans. : Just to be doing what I’m doing, as long as I can.

Any tips or suggestions for amateurs?

Ans. : Learn to draw. Go to life drawing classes. Carry a sketchbook everywhere. If you can draw, you can paint.

Do you mentor amateurs? If yes, how’s your experience about mentoring?

Ans. : Never have. Don’t really have the time now.

As it can be seen, Artist Douglas Newton has a skill to draw & paint amazing realistic still life artworks, especially of candies, chocolates, toffees!! (So sweet literally!)… Some of them –

Coming back to the discussion, do you sell your artworks? How? Through exhibitions? Through your online store / offline art studio? Do you do commissioned artworks?

Ans. : I’ve sold pretty well. My website shows lots of sold work. I sell through galleries, online galleries and by myself. I’ve done one commission, but don’t look for them.

How does social media play a role in your art journey? Does it affect the originality of your artworks?

Ans. : I see lots of really talented artists on Instagram. I post my new work there and on Facebook.

Can you please share the link of your profiles / fan pages on social media like Facebook, Instagram to view more of your artworks?

Ans. : Instagram I’m dnewton456. Facebook I’m Doug Newton. My website is douglasnewtonpaintings.com

Thanks Artist Douglas Newton for sharing so much information about your art journey in depth & also, for giving your valuable time. Wishing you all the best for your future plans ! May you always keep creating beautiful artworks !
Have a great day ahead !