This painting was my way of spending more time with her. This 3 hour video documents a day in david jon kassan s brooklyn studio as he develops a charcoal study of henry williams oelkers. The production and filming process also brings us into who jaece is as well as who david is, all while showing us how he approaches a painting which is an invaluable lesson. Jaece by david jon kassan painting a life documentary dvd. So taken has nava been with kassan s work that he showed holo someof the completed portraits of survivors. In painting a life, we get to know the subject, jaece lutece. Raw, poignant and profoundly honest, david jon kassans work aesthetically. Painting, for me, is my way of understanding the world around me. David kassan is creating a painting of eleven survivors of.
Because david is a talented,great artist and a good person. The artist realtor, laurie humble bhgre gary greene. We can also sense movement and life beneath the undulating creases and folds of clothing. I have just watched the most amazing trailer for artist david kassan s latest dvd painting a life. An interview with david kassan page 5 of 6 painting. Facing survival article living history david kassans. Early on in my painting life, i struggled very hard to make work i thought would be salable, just so i could make a living to paint another painting. This newest painting will be a life sized representation of all eleven survivors of auschwitz and will be approximately 18 feet long and 8. David jon kassan 1977, little rock, arkansas is an internationally recognized contemporary american painter and philanthropist best known for his life size representational figurative paintings. An interview with david kassan painting perceptions.
Featured artist david kassan and his painting a life. Some of david s work does seem closer to photo realism when viewed online but. David jon kassan paints from life on an ipad lines and. It was as if i had this fog lifted from my head and this was the biggest surprise ever in my life. Acclaimed artist david kassan to speak at shalom austin. Instead, he focuses on planar relationship and color temperature. But david jon kassan doesnt think beauty is what either the artist or viewers are truly after.
David jon kassan born 1977 in little rock, arkansas is an internationally recognized contemporary american painter, filmmaker, and philanthropist best known for his life size representational paintings, which combine figurative subjects with abstract backgrounds or tromp loeil texture studies, of this dual representation strategy kassan notes, my effort to constantly learn to. With a critical eye for anatomy, he expertly captures the subtle nuances of his subjects physiognomies through the use of oil on panel, charcoal, and graphite in his life size paintings and drawings. Artist, david kassan, painting life size portrait of 11 holocaust survivors. David jon kassan, a brooklyn based artist i wrote about in 2008, recently posted a short 7 minute video to youtube in which he is shown in timelapse finger painting on the apple ipad from the live model the ipad, for those who have been living in a cave in tierra del fuego until this morning, is apples new touchscreen device, so kassan is painting with his finger, a pretty blunt. David jon kassan and his oil painting techniques artists network. David kassan, with the composite sketch superimposed. David jon kassan born in 1977 in little rock, arkansas is an is an internationally recognized contemporary american painter best known for his life size representational paintings, which combine figurative subjects with abstract backgrounds or tromp loeil texture studies, of this dual representation strategy kassan notes, my effort to constantly learn to document reality with a. David jon kassan born 1977 in little rock, arkansas is a contemporary american painter best known for his life size realist portraits. Oct 22, 20 painting a life documenting an approach to painting david kassan.
The painting that i submitted was a small life sized painting of my mom. The essence of this dvd is developing an understanding. In this 2 disk 7hour instructional documentary, i really wanted to weave together my philosophies on painting as well as how i paint technically. This article on david jon kassan and his portrait painting tips originally appeared in the april 11, 2011 issue of the artists magazine under the title urban studies, by jill bossert. Realist works like david s may look similar as they are also highly rendered with extreme detail and even incorporate the use of photos as david does but i think there is a difference in the treatment, the surface, and the overall tone of the painting. This 3 hour dvd documents a day in david jon kassan s brooklyn studio as he develops a charcoal study. My parents live in florida and dont travel much up to nyc, so i see them maybe once a year. I highly recommend adding this to anyones collection.
Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by david kassan. David kassan visual artist i first started using vasari classic artists oil paint as a starving art student while studying at the art students league of new york 16 years ago. Painting a life documenting an approach to painting. David kassan paints family and friends in dauntingly trueto life representations. Gallery henoch artist david kassan paints family and friends in dauntingly trueto life representations. Artist or not, this is a great dvd showing how david jon kassan passionately creates a painting from start to finish. Here are some tools artists can use to eliminate distractions and stay focused on painting. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
While he includes many facial details from blemishes to odd hairs, much of the tension derives from. A few weeks ago i bought the book portraits from life in 29 steps by john howard sanden. Kassan facilitates an interface between subject and viewer with which he is conscious not to interfere. Absolutely stunning how he can paint a portrait so realistic, capturing every nuance, i mean so completely it looks as if his models will walk off of the canvas. Painting a life documenting an approach to painting david kassan 158,185 views 6 years ago now available for download at s. We share in this presentmoment appreciation, this slowing down of time, and see life for what it is. David kassans drawing the portrait from life 1 and 2 day workshops june 11th and june 12th, 8. In 2014, david kassan turned his attention to painting and documenting survivors of the holocaust, with the development of the edut project edut being hebrew for living witnesses as a way of connecting with his grandfathers traumatic history of escaping ethnic cleansing on the border of romania and ukraine to come to america in.
An artists attempt to revolutionize portrait painting a. Absolutely stunning how he can paint a portrait so realistic, capturing every nuance, i mean so completely it looks as. John david kassan s parallel palette places the color mixing into the same light as the painting. About eight years ago i started to find that the work, though salable, wasnt nourishing. His subjects are distilled in an exact moment in time, patiently contemplating their present. David kassan, self portrait in motion oilpanel, 40 x 28 inches david jon kassan born is a contemporary realist painter best known for his life size realist portraits. An artists attempt to revolutionize portrait painting a personal story by david kassan. David kassan tells his story how he was inspired to reinvent the palette. David kassans drawing the portrait from life at off the.
It is the artists intent to control the medium of oil paint so that it is not part of the viewer to subject equation. Price ranges of mediumsized paintings by david kassan. The conventional portrait shows a seated figure ostensibly in comfort as he or she looks toward the viewer. Painting from life instructional documentary is now available for download at davidkassan. David kassan, painting, alla prima, drawing, portrait, oil painting, tutorials. I really wanted to weave together my philosophies on painting as well as how i paint technically. Follow along as david vocalizes his complete thought process and approach as he develops this drawing. Roberta joy kassan oil on panel painting by david jon kassan hyper realistic mural art by david jon kassan david jon kassan american, b. Kassan is a drawing and painting instructor because of his steadfast commitment to the age old discipline of working.
One particular idea i had was to make a palette that i could use in my life painting classes that would sit on the school stools better, in a more balanced way than the traditional kidneyshaped palette that i was currently using. Painting a life documenting an approach to painting david kassan 158,054 views 6 years ago now available for download at s. Here is a list of some of the materials that i use with links on where to find them. Despite having previously written about him in 2008 and again in 2010, i still struggled a bit in trying to describe david kassan s approach to his portrait and figurative work he certainly doesnt flatter his subject, but neither does his deliberately seek out the grotesque as, say, lucian freud. Materials for painting a life documenting an approach to painting dvd. John kept telling me there was this colleague that he greatlyadmired, says holo, that the young kassan was a phenomenon. The paintings combine figurative subjects with abstract backgrounds or tromp loeil texture studies. This 3 hour dvd documents a day in david jon kassan s brooklyn studio as he develops a charcoal study of henry williams oelkers. Some of david s work does seem closer to photo realism when viewed online but when.
We can also sense movement and life beneath the undulating creases and. Painting a life documenting an approach to painting david kassan. Now available for download at trailer for my upcoming dvd on painting. I decided early on that to make the best work that i could at the time, i had to use the best materials and vasari is the best. He says that the route to discovery is to paint and draw your life every day. Artist david jon kassan will discuss art as testimony at the shalom austin jewish community center oct.
While he includes many facial details from blemishes to odd hairs, much of th. Ultimately, there is a truth and timelessness to kassan s work because it is so deeply human. An artists attempt to revolutionize portrait painting a personal. David jon kassan born 1977 in little rock, arkansas is internationally recognized contemporary american painter, filmmaker, and philanthropist best known for his life size representational paintings. Learn all about portrait artist david jon kassan and his oil painting techniques. Kassan is a much sought after drawing and painting instructor because of his steadfast commitment to the age old discipline of working from life and creating. Painting a life documenting an approach to painting david kassan stay safe and healthy.
Raw, poignant and profoundly honest, kassan s work aesthetically captures humanity in its true form. In this 7 hour instructional documentary, i really wanted to weave together my philosophies on painting as well as how i paint technically. Note on david kassans pai nting a life dvd this is probably the best dvd tutorial that i have watched. In an age of postabstract representational painting, brooklynbased artist david jon kassan s stark realism separates him from the pack.
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