Autoritratto (self portrait)
 

This is the first painting I did this winter after studying on a painting grant in Italy this summer. Oil on wood panel. Just found out that it is a contender in this year's PSOA show in Boston. Wish me luck.
This is a new image of the painting.

Dave,

Welcome to this forum, and congratulations! It is an absolutely stunning self-portrait. How did you approach it? How did you pose yourself, and paint? I love the way you understand the use of a light mass. What are the range of colors on your palette? Tell us more about your studies.

Thanks for sharing it, I think its an important work and should get you a lot of deserved praise and attention.

Best of luck!

David, this is a beautiful and sensitive portrait. What I love equally to your technique, is the amount of negative space in the background. Your work and site were recommended recently, and am looking foward to your participation.

Jimmie I agree, this composition is masterful! Dave this is a moving image, and I had to come back for another study of it. To me it is among the most brilliant images posted here thus far.

Very "living"! The overall format, the lettering and coloration suggests a style that is hundreds of years old -- but the pose is so unusual that the image comes to life. It looks like you are ready to step out of the picture and go get something you forgot down there on the floor....

Congratulations. Very beautiful. Good luck in the competition.

thanks
 

Thanks!

I guess I think of a painting in two parts, first the concept (the why) and than technique (the how). I guess everyone does that. Anyway,
for the concept.:

Having been able to study Baroque and Rennaissance works for 2 months I was blown away by composition. I try to work that out first, I wanted to split the work in 2 with a strong diagonal- having one full and the other empty. Also searching for a downward gaze and head tilt that suggested another diagonal that is unseen and split the main diagonal in half. So basically an X. I know a lot of thinking for a small painting. :) After being very inspired by self portrait paintings by Velasquez(uffizi), Ghirlandaio (s.maria novella, Florence), and Rembrandt. I noticed that they were mostly filled with self confidence staring at the viewer. Having the exactly opposite experience lately with painting. I feel that the more I learn the less self confidence I have. This time is also a crossroad for me. Which is very frustrating and confusing. Mainly get a real job and make money or be a painter (being poor) where only a very small amount of artists succeed. So I really wanted to get that into it. I guess it's painting as shrink.

As for technique: from life (I try to only work from life) 2 mirrors for doing the eyes: one I'm looking down into, in which I can see the other in the mirror which is right next to the canvas on the easel. I don't use mediums, only paint. I love Vasari oil colors(they are like buttah) and only use them except for few impulse buys at New York Central's wall of Williamsburg colors. My colors are a pretty basic flesh palette. zinc-titanium white, Prussian blue, sometimes manganese blue, raw sienna, yellow ochre, brilliant yellow, vermilion, ruby red, aliz crimson, scarlet sienna, burnt sienna, raw umber, burnt umber, and sometimes viridian.

My studies in Italy were amazing experience. I posted a good amount of my sketches and my journal (an entry for day of the trip) on my my site http://davidkassan.com/italy and http://dubscience.com/italy Please have a look.

Thanks again,
David

Good luck at the show - that is a magnificent portrait - you should be very proud.

...

Dave,

Congratulations! Since you will be at the show, there is a dinner reservation Thursday evening April 29 for Stroke of Genius members and Forum members if you would like to join us. It's at McCormick & Schmick's, which is in the hotel at 8:15pm. Let me know so I can change the number of reservations if necessary.

Tim, I think I remember you. Were you with some other people??? How is it going?

The Cropsey grant was through the National Academy of Design, where I paint each day.

Great news David! Somehow I am not at all surprised. ;)

Wow.

What a moving portrait.

The execution is exquisite, but the composition and expression is so engaging! I just can't stop looking at it! Best of luck with the competition!

Linda

You don't need luck, you have talent. Just to be a finalist is an honor in that competition.

Beautiful, sensitive original portrayal, and I DO wish you the best of luck!

Sincerely,

Just found that the links I posted earlier, weren't working so I fixed them.http://davidkassan.com/italy and http://dubscience.com/italy

Sorry 'bout that

David

Dave, this is a beautiful and moving portrait, really extraordinary.

Do you like using a wood ground in general? Is this gesso over wood?

This was on a wood panel I bought at soho art materials on grand street. They are great. I gessoed it 3 times, so its pretty smooth. However this painting is over four other paintings that were each sanded smooth. I think I sanded more on this panel than painted. So I guess in a way it might be considered an oil ground. :)

Here is a close up, while in progress.
 

I posted awhile back, but it must not have taken. As you know I like this one very much, and I like all of your work I have seen. This painting has a mood and feeling about it.

A quick question, was your notebook done with charcoal and fixative?

The sketchbook from Italy? I used a mech. pencil. so I could alway refill it and it was always sharp. haven't fixed them. I'm going to have to soon cause they keep on getting lighter.

Bravo!
 

Congratulations on a masterful painting. Loving the modern slant on Renaissance techniques. I hope you find the encouragement you deserve to follow your art.

David,

Why don't you mention the prize you were awarded at the PSOA Conference. I thought your self portrait was among the very strongest works in the competition. I am honored to have been given a preview look at your painting in Boston. Congratulations!

Garth