Why So Serious?

David Kassan's work is rather incredible. He is a realist painter, and boy are his paintings realistic and lifelike!

Kassan is an American artist from Brooklyn (www.artistshouse.com). He has studied at prestigious schools, such as The National Academy of Design and Harvey Dinnerstein at the Art students League (www.artistshouse.com). There he was taught by the skilled artist, Sharon Sprung (www.artistshouse.com). 


Kassan pays close attentions to his subject matter. This enables him to "infuse his painting with life and realism"(www.artistshouse.com). 

 Needless to say, I love the details in his work! As mentioned in the quote, it is easy to see his combination of understanding of the subject matter with reality. In these examples of his paintings we can see his understanding and familiarity with the texture of hair and the tendency of different fabrics to fold and wrinkle certain ways, and how he combines that understanding with the realistic portrayal of the people modeling for him.



I guess the question I have is "Why?" Why these people? Why like this? The artistshouse.com  mentions that his art pieces have to do with "introspective glances of reality." But what do they show about himself?  This picture below êseems to portray himself in a pretty bleak manner. It lacks much color, and he, himself, doesn't look to cheerful or lively either. It looks like he's just found out something very serious sobering. And the color scheme works for that concept.

Self Portrait 

http://www.artistshouse.com/artist/?id=158
^This is where I got his information! You should check it out!


-Maria