Myron Barnstone – Passion, Precision and Dedicated Practice as Keys to Success in Art Education

Humans have been creating art since prehistoric times: and throughout time, ideas about what constitutes exceptional visual art has varied. A key to engaging the visual senses is composition: and, the most accomplished artists devote considerable effort formulating their compositions. They know there are mathematical ratios and geometric relationships that help define balance between objects. In particular, there is a constant resonance of dynamic symmetry in nature that is repeated by trained artists in the enduring art across millennia, and especially in the works of the classical masters.

This dynamic symmetry is a geometrically designed grid system of harmonic ratios that promotes continuity, flow, pattern, and balance within an artistic design. It is a tool for organizing surface relationships (rhythm, movement, and hierarchy) within a static image, similar to how linear perspective organizes spatial relationships (depth) on a flat image. This system, known as the Golden Section (also referred to as the Golden Ratio and The Golden Mean) is a discipline practiced by ancient masters through more modern times, and can be found in the master artworks ranging from ancient Egypt to the present day, and in the works of recognized masters including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso, Albrecht Durer, John Singer Sargent, and Egon Schiele.

Many contemporary artists have tried to emulate the powerful impact of the masters, adding a touch of dynamic symmetry to their paintings: some few have succeeded. One artist who beautifully excelled in this artistic technique was Myron Barnstone, an American modernist artist, painter, and master art teacher – and an avid proponent of the Golden Section dynamic symmetry system.

Born on February 20, 1993, Barnstone became internationally renowned for his expressive work that distorted the figure with reconfigured anatomy and vibrant color. Raised in Portland, Maine (United State), he developed a strong passion for art at an early age. Following his fondness for art, Barnstone attended several art schools including, the New England School of Art in Boston and the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts at the University of Oxford in England. To further his art career, after his service in the military he traveled across Europe through Italy, France and Spain, studying the works of the masters, and spending time at many museums over the years. It was during his time spent with intense production in Spain when Myron discovered his unique artistic voice.

One aspect of his unique artistic expression during this period was an outgrowth of his experiences in the military and his resulting lifelong passion for peace. In particular, Barnstone was deeply affected by the fate of the Jewish community, including members of his own family, during WWII. Barnstone created a large body of work focusing on the plight of Holocaust survivors and nuclear devastation. In Paris, five galleries displayed and sold Barnstone creations, and his work gained particular critical fame because of its powerful anti-war and anti-nuclear themes. His work was exhibited at the Galerie Lahumiere Lamoure, Tournasol, Gallery University, and the American Church in Paris, and was featured in major Parisian and English newspapers and art magazines, as well as on ORTF TV, French national public television.

Barnstone soon recognized that the most valuable work he could do would be to unlock the creative capabilities of the next generation of fine artists.  To make room for this next chapter of his professional life dedicated to art instruction, Barnstone employed a moving ritual of performance art: he burned much of his work, symbolizing the ephemeral nature of war victims, and making creative space to launch the next phase of his career. Thereafter, he worked and taught extensively from 1967 to 1975, traveling to the United States, and also maintaining a teaching studio near his home in England.

In 1976, Barnstone returned to the United States with his family, settling in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Barnstone worked first at the Baum School, then Moravian College and Lehigh University. In 1977, he established himself on Hamilton Street and opened his own art school in a studio across the street from Hess’s Department Store. Expanding in 1982 to Coplay, Myron created a studio in a former cigar factory, where he was able to take full advantage of 10,000 square feet of space on two floors.

As an instructor, Myron Barnstone could be a demanding, somewhat aristocratic, and emphatically passionate educator. To Myron, a work of art had to be as meticulous and interconnected as a Bach fugue: a tall order for aspiring artists, but accessible to any who were able to learn the fundamental design concepts of the Golden Section. “Even an eight year old can get the scale right, if they have an artistic map,” said Barnstone.  The key was not innate talent: rather, it was dedication and practice. The Golden Section became a centerpiece of the Barnstone Method, rounding out the student’s training in classical drawing and design.

In fact, Barnstone developed an entire teaching method that allows students of all levels (from beginners and hobbyists to established artists) to learn the fundamental disciplines of classical design. The Barnstone Method conveys the skills, craft, techniques and insights taught in classical Renaissance ateliers that have largely been lost in modern art education. Thousands of students have achieved notable success, won millions of dollars in scholarships to the most prestigious art institutions, and gained personal fulfillment and confidence as a result of their Barnstone Method experience.

It was Myron Barnstone’s devotion and enthusiasm, as both artist and instructor, which enabled him to leave a mark on the history of art when he departed from the world on October 29, 2016. Barnstone’s use and resurrection of the Golden Section has greatly benefitted the creative world; his Barnstone Method art education continues to be pursued by many students in the visual arts, including design, photography, architecture and more – a fitting living legacy to Myron Barnstone.