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These are not photographs — Artist’s towering charcoal drawings are uncannily lifelike

3 min read

Inspiring People
These are not photographs — Artist’s towering charcoal drawings are uncannily lifelike
Source: clionewton.com

Clio Newton’s larger-than-life portraits of women created entirely with compressed charcoal can reach nearly 8 feet tall and capture near photographic detail of her subject’s faces, hair, and bodies.

Clio Newton’s Breathtakingly Beautiful Portraits of the “female gaze”

Switzerland-based artist Clio Newton’s approach to her compositions comes from the standpoint of the “female gaze” reflecting her interest in contemporary models of femininity and the representation of women in art and culture. Newton’s renderings in compressed charcoal feature larger-than-life, figurative subjects – often solo sitters – who fill the picture plane and beyond. Her works are remarkably realistic compositions informed by bold choices and her interest in the uncanny. Scroll down for a selection of her photorealistic works. See more on Clio Newton’s website, or find her on Facebook and Instagram.

The towering drawings can reach nearly 8 feet tall and capture near photographic detail of her subject’s faces, hair, and bodies. Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
with model standing in for scale
charcoal on paper, 5 ft x 7 ft — with model standing in for scale Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Source: Facebook/ClioNewton
She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at The Cooper Union in New York City and a Masters of Fine Arts at Zürcher Hochschule der Kunste in Zürich, Switzerland. She has additional studies at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. She was awarded the AKKU Artist in Residency grant in Zürich and was selected as one of the top young artists in Europe by Artagon in Paris.
Clio Newton was born in 1989 and grew up on the east coast of the United states. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at The Cooper Union in New York City and a Masters of Fine Arts at Zürcher Hochschule der Kunste in Zürich, Switzerland. She has additional studies at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. She was awarded the AKKU Artist in Residency grant in Zürich and was selected as one of the top young artists in Europe by Artagon in Paris. Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
She has exhibited her work in California, Miami, New England and New York as well as in Florence, Italy; Munich, Paris and Zürich. Most recently, Newton’s work has been added to the collections of The Flint Institute, Flint, MI, 21C Museum, Louisville, KY and the Baltimore Museum of Art, MD. Her studio is located in Zürich, Switzerland, where she resides.
Newton is a two-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant Award. She has exhibited her work in California, Miami, New England and New York as well as in Florence, Italy; Munich, Paris and Zürich. Most recently, Newton’s work has been added to the collections of The Flint Institute, Flint, MI, 21C Museum, Louisville, KY and the Baltimore Museum of Art, MD. Her studio is located in Zürich, Switzerland, where she resides. Source: Instagram/ClioNewton
Make an Impact

HOW TO MAKE ART: 6 STEPS (WITH PICTURES)

Art-making is one of the easiest and most lucrative of human activities. A finished work of art can be exchanged for many desirable things such as food, shelter, sex, fame and money (which in turn could be used to purchase food, shelter, sex and fame). So, it is understandable that you might want to know how to make art. Check out this wry Instructible at becoming a working artist.