Today we’d like to introduce you to Saundra Newman.
Saundra, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have always loved working in watercolors. Other than art classes in public school, I did not have the benefit of formal art training. I won awards for my artwork when I was in high school. I continued painting on a very part-time basis and began selling my paintings while raising my young children.
When my children reached school age, I went to law school and practiced as an attorney for over 20 years. My artwork was on the shelf except for my doodles in the margins of my legal pads.
My husband and I retired to South Florida. Six years ago, my husband gave me the gift of a watercolor class at the Boca Museum Art School. After seeing my paintings of people, an artist friend suggested that I take lessons from Susan Hanssen. I contacted Susan, but as she didn’t teach beginners, she suggested I, should take a drawing class. So I did. When Susan was the substitute instructor in the drawing class, I brought in some of my paintings for her to see. I was lucky enough that she took me into one of the small classes in her studio, and I have continued studying and painting with Susan ever since.
After a short period of time, Susan said to me: “Saundra, You are going to win awards and people are going to be asking, ‘Who is Saundra Newman?’” Well, with Susan as the wind beneath my wings, her prediction came true. In January 2016, I won second place in a Palm Beach Watercolor Show, and the awards kept coming. And as my name kept getting mentioned for winning awards at the juried shows, people did start coming up to me saying they wanted to know who I was! Just as Susan had predicted.
To try and make up for my lack of formal training, I have taken a number of workshops with notable artists, such as Mel Stabin, Jeannie McGuire, Skip Lawrence, Stan Kurtz, Susan Hanssen, and Diane Nance. I have taken additional classes with local artists, Sally Cooper, Diane Nance, Anita Lovitt, and Jane McIntyre.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I love painting, mostly in watercolor, although I have recently ventured into acrylics. My watercolors look more like acrylics, as I use more paint than water. People always look surprised when I tell them the medium is watercolor.
My passion is painting people. I like to paint people who are not aware they are being observed. I think of it as going on safari, as I am hunting for my perfect subject. My perfect subject has something unique about them, something that lets me see past their outer self. I am able to get a peek past their beautiful smiles and into their souls. I feel like my work should be called “For The Love Of People.”
When I am painting, and their face suddenly appears on my paper, with the expression I wanted to capture, I am amazed. I get so excited every time! I want my painting to engage the viewer: I want the viewer to see the facial expression, the body language, the hands —as altogether, they tell a story. Of course, the story then becomes the viewer’s story; it no longer belongs to me or the subject of the painting.
I recognize that my artwork is a combination of hard work and a gift for which I am extremely grateful!
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
For me, painting is solitary but not lonely. When I’m painting, I enter this zone where I am unaware of anything but my painting. I get totally lost in it. My studio is in my home, and I try to find a balance.
I do need social contact, not only for myself but also for my art. If I spent all my time alone painting, I would lose perspective, and I don’t think I could be so in touch with my subjects’ emotions. I do this by taking art classes and meeting many talented teachers and artists. Susan Hanssen and the women who are in our weekly class have become my inspiration, my critics, my supporters, and more importantly, my friends.
I go to meetings of Palm Beach Watercolor Society and exhibit my work in the many juried shows put on by the various Watercolor Societies. By doing so, I meet other artists and get to know them. When I take workshops offered by the Watercolor Societies, I again have the opportunity to meet some of the same artists and form friendships.
I limit my time painting to 4 days a week, so I can still participate in the activities with the friends I had before I became so involved with art. On the days I paint, I take an early exercise class and then come home and paint. On the other three days, I play golf and cards and can still slip into my studio for an hour or more. I also belong to a book club and a culture club.
My friends, husband, children, and siblings have become my cheerleaders and support group. They are so proud of my work and boast about it to other people to the point of embarrassment!
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can see my work in the many Watercolor Society juried shows where I exhibit: Palm Beach Watercolor Society, Gold Coast Watercolor Society, Florida Watercolor Society, Plantation Art Guild, and Southern Watercolor Society. In most all of these societies, I have been lucky enough to have won awards in the juried shows, including two Best in Show, three First Place, two Second Place, a Merchants Award, and several Emerging Artists awards. I have also exhibited with “Artists And Charities Hand In Hand,” a nonjury invitational show.
In addition to having sold a number of paintings, I have been commissioned to paint my clients’ chosen subjects.
If someone is interested in seeing my work, they can go to my website, saundranewman.com or on Instagram, saundranewmanartist. They may contact me directly, and I will arrange for them to see my work.
I have been urged to exhibit my work in a gallery.
Contact Info:
- Website: Saundranewman.com
- Phone: 561-906-8828
- Email: saundranew@gmail.com
- Instagram: saundranewmanart
- Facebook: Saundra Newman
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
