David Kassan’s one-man show at the Gallery Henoch starts today, if you are in the New York area, these paintings are a must see. He paints the figure with a controlled sensitivity and a subtle painterly texture and layered paint surface. All his paintings are beyond amazing but my preference is the older, less overtly sensual models – like “My Aunt Dale”. Maybe I am getting too old but I lose myself more easily in the emotional tone and marvel of the painting’s construction without getting sidetracked by any erotic allure of attractive young women juxtaposed with abstract gritty textures and Franz Kline inspired backdrop.
I am lucky to have hung out with David a couple of times at a Goya show at the Frick Gallery and at a show of Alexi Worth at the DC Moore Gallery. I found him very outgoing, witty and personable sort who goes out of his way to help other painters. His web-savvy takes advantage of all the Web 2.0 tools to help
get his work and teaching. He keeps his blog updated with lots of posts, including video. I understand he has plans to make a DVD soon.
Painting Perceptions was started in 2009 by Larry Groff to promote the ideas, practice and experience of painters working from observation in a modernist vein from around the world through interviews, essays, videos and community. It later evolved to include imagination-based and abstract painting as well.
A superb painting!
Sorry I wasn’t able to see this show. David is a remarkable painter.
i wish i could paint like that
Hi Taynewyatt, He is having a workshop in Belgium this summer in a castle I think. If you go to his website there will be details I’m sure. He’ll be glad to help you get a good start in that direction! Also, his DVD will soon be out, if not already. You can see a trailer on his website. I talked with him about doing an interview here in the future, perhaps in the next month or so.