OCAD U mourns passing of former faculty member John Beatty Newman

Image credit: Louie Palu.

The OCAD University community is deeply saddened by the passing of John Beatty Newman on July 13, 2024, at the age of 91.

Newman graduated from the Ontario College of Art (OCA) in 1956, before it became OCAD U. In 1964, he joined the faculty, and taught figurative drawing and painting for over 30 years. Newman’s numerous contributions to the University continue to drive positive impact today.

“John Sr. was a man with such great integrity, and he was like that throughout his life,” says Newman’s son, John Newman Jr. who is an OCAD U alum. “Dad was still working in his late 80s, and he started drawing seriously when he was 15. He was constantly refreshing his knowledge from the model itself. I can’t think of another Canadian figurative artist who did that for so long.”

“He was so open, he was warm, he was honest, and so enthusiastic about life and the people he loved,” remembers Newman’s daughter-in-law and Newman Jr.’s wife, Sylvia Newman, also an OCAD U alum.

REMEMBERING JOHN BEATTY NEWMAN

John Beatty Newman was a prolific artist and educator with a legacy in figurative drawing and painting.

He studied at OCA from 1952 to 1956, receiving his AOCA (Associate’s diploma) and earned a scholarship for postgraduate studies at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he won the Art Academy Prize for Drawing, and the Art Academy Graduate Division Scholarship.

In 1964, Newman joined the faculty at OCA and taught figurative drawing and painting, shaping the careers of countless students, for more than 30 years.

His influence extended beyond the classroom: Newman played a crucial role in many facets of the institution, including serving multiple terms as Chair of Fine Arts. There, his efforts brought OCAD U into the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA).

Further, Newman helped develop the original pension plan for faculty members, featuring OCAD U-matched contributions, which remains in operation today.

His legacy at OCAD U includes his involvement in the Off-Campus Florence Program, where he served as coordinator for three different groups over the years, 1976-77, 1984-85, and 1992-93, providing students with international exposure and experience.

His family also pursued their creative passions at OCAD U. During the 1976-77 cohort of the Off-Campus Florence Program, Newman’s son, John Newman Jr., met his wife, Sylvia Newman. The pair are OCA grads from 1979 and 1980, respectively, and their two sons—Newman’s grandsons—graduated from OCAD U in 2006 and 2010.

Newman Jr. remembers several stories about his father, such as when Newman took a sabbatical from 1970-71 and travelled with his family to live in artist Stanley Spencer’s home in England. There, Newman discovered drawings of Spencer’s, hidden in books in his home library.

“The fantastic thing was, dad was really about his art and about his family, so we were always included,” says Newman Jr.

Newman Jr. recounts how, during the Off-Campus Florence Program, his father was invited to dinner with the infamous artist Balthus and was seated beside actress Audrey Hepburn.

“He also met Ivan Albright,” continues Newman Jr. “Dad really admired him, and was the one who recommended he become an honorary fellow at OCA. Albright had many honorary degrees, but not from an actual art institute or academy. He loved his recognition from OCA because he knew the quality of work coming from there, as well.”

Beyond OCAD U, Newman’s poetic figurative drawings and paintings were exhibited for 70 years and found in many public and private collections on three continents, including across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Italy, South Korea and China.

In 2005, Newman faced a significant challenge when he suffered a stroke. Yet, he tenaciously relearned how to draw with his left hand. This allowed him to continue his practice for the last 15 years of his 70-year career.

Newman’s loved ones remember that he was a master storyteller with infectious humour, who navigated all of life’s mishaps and challenges with original and positive thoughtfulness. He was also an avid tennis player. His passion for art was matched only by his love for his family, particularly his beloved wife, Shirley née Macgregor.

He will be dearly missed.

Sources
John Newman Jr. 
Sylvia Newman
The Globe and Mail