The finished dvd

I picked up the dvds this afternoon from the manufacturer. Thanks so much for all of the orders! I'm overwhelmed by the demand. We are going to get them in the mail first thing on Monday. Here are some shots of the finished product. I included a full panel with the "finish" demonstration, and a full materials checklist. You can purchase them now on http://dvd.davidkassan.com

Drawing Closer to Life - NOW AVAILABLE

http://dvd.davidkassan.com



Its finally available! I go to pick my dvds today from the manufacturer in South Jersey. I have them available now for purchase on my site at http://dvd.davidkassan.com they are 99.95 and the shipping is included in the price for those in the continental United States, I had to go with a flat shipping rate of 15 bucks for anywhere else in the world, sorry about that Carmen Santiago. :( Anyway, I have the trailer available online for anyone interested in checking it out at http://dvd.davidkassan.com as well. thanks again for the all of the support on this project over the last year!!

Doing a live Streaming Q&A

As an add on to my upcoming DVD launch on Wednesday, I thought that it would be cool to do a 2 hour live streaming Question and Answer Event from my Brooklyn studio for only 10 bucks. I'll be doing a little materials demonstration of how I layer in charcoal, show clips from the new drawing DVD, and answering any questions about gallery representation, different approaches to drawing/painting, and anything else that is thrown at me during the 2 hours. Should be a fun experience. This event is sponsored by my friends at http://artstudiosecrets.com and they will be moderating for me. To sign up please check out http://artstudiosecrets.com/premium/david-kassan-live-webcast-4-21-2010/

Southern Atelier

I've been very Bloglazy over the last few months, facebook has been taking its place unfortunately. I thought I would post some photos from a recent 3 day drawing workshop that I gave down at the Southern Atelier in Sarasota Florida. I had an amazing time and the students, faculty and staff made me feel right at home. I was able to do a quick night time demo when I first arrived and also a more intensive demo for the class each morning with an amazing model Erin Hood.

Poets and Artists - O & S

I have my work featured in and on the latest issue of Poets and Artists Magazine http://www.poetsandartists.com/ Huge honor to be in some great company including Tony Pro, Adam Reeder, Karen Kaapcke, and especially Max Ginsburg. Poets has really become a great showcase for contemporary painting, a real testament to Didi Menendez's vision and hard work. I know that I've been challenging to work with over the last year due to my frenetic pace and schedule, and she was very patient with me. Thanks Didi!

Artistas Sociedade de Faro (OS Artistas) Faro Portugal.

Here are the two videos from the 1 hour and a half quicky demonstration that Nuno Lorena set up at the Artistas Sociedade de Faro (OS Artistas) in Faro Portugal. Nuno's friend Nuno Fontainhas (a not so common name, yet I now know three Nunos in the Algarve) filmed with his two video cameras and as well as with my little hand held. We had Laura Anna Genné graciously sit for the sketch in payment for the sketch. I think the demo started around 12 am and went till 1:30 or so, I don't remember much past the first hour or so, but it was a great last night in Faro before I shot up to Lisbon on the last leg of my trip in July. Nuno Fontainhas took all of the raw footage and created this great mashup of the event. There is a slight disparity between the camera formats so I posted the time lapse of the drawing from the unstretched video from over my shoulder.

First 2 hours of the drawing DVD.

So I got to see the first cut of the first two hours of the drawing DVD that I'm producing. We shot it in High Def and I'm really happy with the quality of the image on the screen, you can really see every charcoal stroke, its so clear. I thought I would post some shots. The DVD should be available this November.


In the studio, I didn't realize that I had all of my unfinished Self Portraits behind me.

Really wanted to get a model with a lot of experience on his face.



I really wanted to visually show the touch of charcoal on the surface that I use. The clarity of the DVD really helps to illustrate this.

drawing of Laura Anna Genné.

Drawing study for a painting idea that I'm working on. General's Charcoal(all grades), Stabilo CarbOthello 1400/700 pencil, and General's white chalk pencil, on a warm German Hahnemuhle Ingress paper. Very thin and rough textured paper but it has a life to it when you breakdown the fibers, not sure if I'll use it again, but I'm going to head over to NY Central's paper department later this week to research some different types of paper to play around with. This is just under life sized.

Lucas at 3 months. Graphite on Bristol

Here is an old drawing that I finally got a decent photo of. Its of my son Lucas sleeping at 3 months old. I wanted to draw him at actually life-sized so it was a document of how little he was, even measured his head with a ruler.
It's graphite on plate bristol.

Madrid - Lopez

So before I went to Portugal, I was able to fly into Madrid for a quick visit with some friends there as well as some museum study time at the Prado. I've been wanting to study some paintings there for the last 10 years, but never could get there. I was able to spend a few days there this time, but still need way more time. It really is an amazing city and my friends there made me feel like a local instantly, thanks so much Borja, Jorge, Maria, Nacho, and Reuben! Anyway, here are some pics from the trip below, including some shots from when I was introduced to and spent some time with my painting idol Antonio Lopez, Borja, surprised me with this meeting and I was literally in Antonio's living room without knowing where I was, until Borja and Jorge surprised me with where I was and who we were talking with (Antonio's wife and daughter). Then we spent 2 hours or so at his studio talking about Art in general and his work and philosophies. I wish that I had paid more attention in my HS Spanish classes so I could follow along more, Borja helped to translate for me as well ask my question. I don't think I asked anything too intelligent though seeing how I was pretty shocked and more dumbfounded than I usually am. Pretty much the biggest surprise of my life. Antonio was exceptionally warm, welcoming, honest and humble for such an amazing artist. Thanks so much Borja for making this happen!! I owe you one! Oh, Madrid has some amazing bar/clubs. Lets see I sampled a few of them... Tupperware, Louie Louie, Groovy, Milky Way, the Nasty, The Wurlitzer Ballroom, Freeway, the Chill out, In Dreams and perhaps some others I don't recall.

A shot from the Gran Via, exactly where Lopez painted his masterpiece.

A quick elevator shot of Borja and myself.

In front of the Reina Sofia Museo.


Really crappy iphone photo of Antonio Lopez in his studio, and Jorge's blurry arm.

Portugal Demo

Once again I'm starting this post with the words, sorry that I haven't posted in a while, I'm just getting back into the swing of things here in Brooklyn, after being in Spain and Portugal for 3 weeks. I had an amazing time and was able to hang out with some great friends that I haven't seen in awhile as well making some new friends. I was able to finally check out the Prado and study there for a few days as well as the other museums in Madrid. I also did a quick 2 hour demo drawing at the OS Artistas in Faro Portugal while I was there that had a cool turn out. Below are some quick pics from the demo. A friend of mine there filmed it with 3 different cameras and is going to edit a little 10 minute clip which I'll post when it hits the youtube.

Thought I would post this little 6 minute interview that I did for a TV station here in Brooklyn.



Also here are some photos from my exhibition and opening, thanks to everyone that came out to see the work. I appreciate the support. click here for photos

I've also become addicted to twittering check me out at http://twitter.com/davidkassan

Introspections -

My show opens tomorrow night at Gallery Henoch. I think I'm going to set up a web cam in the main gallery, I'll post a link after it is set up so that everyone can say WOW there is no one there, or WOW thats a fire hazard.

A recent study of Grace in Charcoal is on the cover Drawing magazine this quarter, I have an article in the issue on Understanding Anatomy - the lips. the drawing is way in progress, I'm hoping to finish it in time for my show this March.

I'm having a solo exhibition at Gallery Henoch this March 12th to April 4th. The opening is on March 12th from 6 to 8 pm. there should be appox. 20 paintings and 20 drawings. The Gallery address is 555 West 25th Street(between 10th and 11th ave), NY, NY.

New painting

Here is a painting that I'm working on in the studio right now, haven't been updating this blog much cause I've been preparing for my solo show this March at Gallery Henoch. Its also really tough to get a decent photo of the work, a lot of the great attributes of oil painting don't translate to photos and computers. Anyway, should have around 15 or 16 paintings and 20 drawings in the show. This painting is life sized oil on panel.

Drawing Class at the Bodies Exhibit

I'm teaching a one night drawing class at the Bodies Exhibition at the South street seaport on November 5th starting at 7pm - 10pm. Should be an awesome time. I'm going to concentrate on individual attention for this class rather than doing a full demo, that way the students will have plenty of time to explore this great exhibit.
more info at this link http://www.bodiesny.com/special-events

The Upset, available in Europe

My work is in a new book on Contemporary Art called the Upset published by Die Gestalten. I haven't gotten my copy yet so I don't know how the repos are, but its an honor to be included with some very cool artists.
The Upset

Koi

A friend took this quick shot of me working on a new painting, The painting is 90 inches by 65 inch and really pushed my easel. The painting was delivered to gallery today and the director said that it was going up on the wall. Good news, since I always feel that I rush these things so I can make a living right now, I can't wait to relax someday and spend years on paintings.

Patrick

Here is a quick drawing study of Patrick, great model, I'm starting a 96 by 48 inch paiting of him, Hopefully it will be finished in time for my solo show this march.

This sketch is 14 by 15.5 inch. Charcoal with white chalk on tones paper.

Joe

Here is a drawing of Joe Scala, in Charcoal on toned paper.

back from Portugal

Just got back this weekend from a teaching gig in Faro, Portugal, I have lots to post from the trip and I'll try to do so in the next week as I plow through all of these loose ends from the last week. Here are some new sites that have posted some info on my work while I was gone.

A great article came up on a blog called lines and colors.



And I'm now on Gawker Media's Artist site with a partial artist's statement.

old news - Daily Serving

This one is old, but just found it again on google and was able to figure out the link.
http://www.dailyserving.com/2007/04/david_jon_kassan.php



Also came across this really kick ass article on my work from a site called Empty Easel, very flattering towards my work. The author really gets to the heart of what my goals are in my work, still have a long way to go to get there but its the journey that is the kick ass part of this painting gig.
Empty Easel Article

bye bye easel tribute pic

Just wanted to add a small tribute to my easel that will hopefully be replaced in the next month or so with a bigger heavier duty version. I can't wait to start working much larger.

This pic is from 2 years ago when I was working on a painting of Alley, I think it was 72 by 30 or 40. She is an awesome model and I should be doing more paintings of her.

Way too long,

Here is a quick video that one of my students(Alex Leal) filmed of a drawing demo that I did for my Salmagundi Club drawing class. The perspective is slightly skewed, but shows the build up of a drawing in 3 hours. I usually spend around 10 to 15 hours on prep drawings for paintings so this is a little cursory for me. Been drawing a ton lately and have been learning a ton from it. Should be "finishing" up some new soon to post here. Just never think that anything is quite there.

here is the you tube low res version and here is the high wmv file on my server.
http://davidkassan.com/demo/demo.wmv

haven't blogged in a while

Been a little busy lately, over the next week I'm going to try to get some work up here, I'm heading to London on Wednesday to check out the museums and galleries.

here is a charcoal sketch I've been playing around with trying to figure out the medium a little better. Another tired looking Self Portrait, cause I'm a cheap model. I'm also playing around with some monochromatic watercolor paintings that I'll try to post later in the week.

My site came up on Cool Hunting and Lost at E minor. Now I'm hooked on the great content that they deliver.