You all might be interested in how I came about my creative process in making Venus.

www.michaelnewberry.com

This is a glorious tribute to the female form.

www.michaelnewberry.com

Jennifer: "...still driving oneself to achieve even a modicum of that sparkling
moment. I can only imagine the pride you must feel, and it is well
deserved."

 Thanks Jennifer, 

For such a lovely blog presentation. 

Gosh, I have to be careful about expressing the pride I feel, it only seems to land me in hot water with others!!! 

But...it feels like: wave after wave of shivering pleasure starting with the vibrations of thoughts in my head, through to my outward visual senses, then coming in back in again, then on to rock the rest of my body.  

That/those feelings are what motivates me to get the image right.  

www.michaelnewberry.com

 Liz: "So wholly beautiful."

Thanks for the "whole" comment. Pulling all the paintings elements together was really difficult.

www.michaelnewberry.com

Really lovely.

In its use of saturated orange, it kinda reminds me of one of my favorite Lord Leighton paintings, "Flaming June."

...this beauty would grace my wall this afternoon.

Michael, I do so personally know the excruciating process of creating a thing of beauty -- knowing that perfection is elusive, but still driving oneself to achieve even a modicum of that sparkling moment. I can only imagine the pride you must feel, and it is well deserved.

EDIT: Blogged about this for posterity.

Jennifer

-- Food Philosophy. Sensuality. Sass.

So wholly beautiful.
Thank You.

 To all,

I am deeply gratified by your responses to Venus.

A key idea behind this painting, and the legend of Venus, is that she arrived fully formed with no past baggage. I wonder if this work is prophetic for my career. Though many people know of me, there has been no recognition in the "art world". And not for a lack of trying.

In a way I feel like the painting, in that, I feel my art world "arrival" is imminent. It would be appropriate if Venus is the painting that does that. 

One thing I am doing right away is offering her to collectors and dealers. I have a realistic belief that she can sell for six figures. hahahahah, it today's art world that is a substitute for aesthetic value. Wish me luck.

 Cheers,

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "Incendiary work..."

))))) 

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "I echo La Prima Donna Regina Dildo. You
took us through the birth pangs. They were protracted. It was more than
worth it. The baby is excruciatingly bonny. Sometimes the overworked
vernacular of the young folk is apposite:

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "The most beautiful lower abdomen I have ever seen."

Sandi,

Glad you mentioned that! :) 

Right at the moment it is a little difficult to comment on Venus, in my mind there were thousands of feelings and thoughts to organise/translate into a visual heirarchy. One small one was to create hint of distance, like a distant yet bright shinning star, and a very small hint of aloofness, not arrogant, but coming from a flicker of something like self-esteem in the air--her head is slightly tilted out of the light, and her crotch was as discreet as I could make it--also a little out of the light. 

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "She is breathtaking...for once I'm at a loss for words.

Thank you for that."

 Thanks Jennifer,

It seems so long ago, but when I was living on the island of Rhodes I conciously made up my mind about using the most handsome/beautiful models I could find; people who also had really good character.  Venus is a result from that. But, I am sure you can relate to how incredible difficult it is to create a thing of beauty, no? 

 Michael

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "Revolutionary!"

 Michael,

 That is a delightful comment. 

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

... more an ignition...

Incendiary work there, Michael - daring use of shadow and saturation.

I echo La Prima Donna Regina Dildo. You took us through the birth pangs. They were protracted. It was more than worth it. The baby is excruciatingly bonny. Sometimes the overworked vernacular of the young folk is apposite:

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a part of Venus that is not on offer.

Her lower abdomen, the most stunningly beautiful part of her body. The most beautiful lower abdomen I have ever seen. So enticing yet ....... is it such sweet surrender?

Having watched the evolution of this painting, I am simply blown away by its beauty, here at the end of the journey.

She is breathtaking...for once I'm at a loss for words.

Thank you for that.

Jennifer

-- Food Philosophy. Sensuality. Sass.

As is the rest of your (especially the Greek-themed) work! Revolutionary!

Now this one I can answer.

of course you might like someone like Grisham, after reading Run Away Jury, I asked myself what the hero and heroine looked like and all I could come up with was 30 somethings in Gap clothes-

You'll be pleased to know I've only ever bothered to read one of the novels, and won't be reading any more, but, I've also seen several of the movies, and from those can answer your question: they all look like Tom Cruise in Gap clolthing. That is, short.

 "Far too beautiful to throw into a sty of petty swine."

Olivia, Olivia, oh Olivia. Now I ask myself, shall I take the compliment and throw back the rest?

 Thank you for the compliment on Venus' beauty. 

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

Leonid, Bosch, and Stephen.

 CHEERS!

www.michaelnewberry.com

My favourite art forms, and I would have
little desire to live without either of them, are literature and
movies: I seem to need narrative....I've never really 'connected' with much of the 'static'
visual arts, or music... Without a narrative, paintings don't seem to draw me into them to
the stage I need to spend a lot, or any, time with them...."

Mark,

You look like a young man--all the writers I like are incredibly skilled at describing visual stuff, many of them literally lift images from painters to help them isolate significant details--they don't bore the reader senseless by too much detail, but give enough to make you SEE it. If for nothing else, paintings will help enormousely with your art of writing--of course you might like someone like Grisham, after reading Run Away Jury, I asked myself what the hero and heroine looked like, and all I could come up with was 30 somethings in Gap clothes--I will never read him again.

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

That really is beautiful, Michael.

Lovely in every way.

Congratulations.

You made my day today. Thanks.

Far too beautiful to throw into a sty of petty swine.

Oh Mark. Still got those socks on?

Body sock :)  There's no accounting for my prudery.

But, more seriously ...

 Glad the coin dropped about individuality...guess it will be an uphill battle indentifying as the subject in a work?

Mountain, I suspect. My favourite art forms, and I would have little desire to live without either of them, are literature and movies: I seem to need narrative. Try and take my library away, or my home cinema room, and there will be trouble.

However, I've never really 'connected' with much of the 'static' visual arts, or music (although I listen to much more music than I used to). Without a narrative, paintings don't seem to draw me into them to the stage I need to spend a lot, or any, time with them. And the gravitas of galleries often annoys the hell out of me (why can't I walk around with a beer?)

Am I alone in this?

But I change, as stated, I listen to a lot more music than I once did, so, I'll drop into a few more gallaries, and keep an eye on your site.

 "She's alive! Alive, I tell you."

Life-size too!!! Thanks Peter.

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "
(And way easier on the eye than all those blokes.)"

 Oh Mark. Still got those socks on? Glad the coin dropped about individuality...guess it will be an uphill battle indentifying as the subject in a work? 

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

 Hey James,

 Thanks for the glowing comments and your interesting observations, when all those elements came together I knew she was ready to sign.

www.michaelnewberry.com

 "10"

Thanks Erik,

 I am delighted it communicates that way to you.

Michael 

www.michaelnewberry.com

 Landon,

 Always nice to get kudos from another artist.

 Michael

www.michaelnewberry.com

 Suma,

 Thank you for kind comments and good observations. Yes, I started here with brighter daylight, as I had done with Icarus Landing, but the lighting, as you noted, did not feel right--so step by step, day turned to the break of dawn. Which dovetailed nicely with Venus as the morning star.

 Michael

www.michaelnewberry.com

She's alive! Alive, I tell you.

Excellent Michael.

(And way easier on the eye than all those blokes.)

Michael N,

Bravo!!

The subtlety of the muscular detail is spectacular and highlighted perfectly by the light source. The tension in the leg muscles is fantastic and all of the angles of the pose are perfect. Dynamic movement is captured in a still painting.

I'm not art knowledgable, but I know the sublime when I see it.

Jim

Perfect beauty! An absolutely beautiful woman in portrait. Amazing work Newberry, thank you for sharing it.

Just wow. That one is truly amazing.

---Landon

Never mistake contempt for compassion, or power lust for ambition.

http://www.myspace.com/wickedlakes

The time-lapse video of how the painting got created is very nice too, especially towards the end where you tried out different types of lighting. I tend to like scenes set in brighter natural light; but in this case I preferred the final version, (I think) because the background is less distracting and the focus is drawn rightly to Venus.