Color Palettes: David Jon Kassan (1977- )

Arkansas native, David Jon Kassan, is a talented, young, contemporary realist whose hard work and many hours of diligent study have earned him much acclaim.  Kassan began his own training at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and from there, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, studying under such notable artists as Gerome Witkin.  After Syracuse, he moved to New York City to continue his studies at The National Academy of Design and at the Art Students League, both in Manhattan. Upon winning a Newington-Cropsey Foundation travel award, he was also able to add to his education by studying art history in Italy.

Never letting moss grow under him, Kassan has been using the knowledge he amassed to begin training a new generation of artists.  Beginning in Italy, where he published Lentamente Italia; a limited-edition book of his thoughts and sketches; David has gone on to hold yearly workshops in the States and abroad, weekly  drawing classes near his home, write numerous articles for Drawing Magazine, and to produce several instructional guides available through his website, including his ambitious and beautiful Portrait Anatomicae.  Kassan feels it is "an honor to participate in... (the) open discourse on the technical and conceptual methods of picture making," and obviously enjoys the challenges and rewards of teaching.

This March, Gallery Henoch in Manhattan will be holding a solo show of Kassan's award-winning work.  The exhibition will contain over a dozen paintings, and 20 of his his fabulous drawings.  I look forward to attending the show.

Here is David's palette from his own notes, available on his website:

• Titanium-zinc white
• King's Blue Extra Pale (Vasari)
• Brilliant Yellow Light (Vasari or Old Holland "Yellow Light")
• Unbleached Titanium (Williamsburg)
• Ivory Black
• Prussian Blue (Vasari or Old Holland)
• Bice (Vasari)
• Terre Verte Cool (Vasari or Williamsburg)
• Raw Sienna (Vasari, Williamsburg, or Old Holland)
• Yellow Ochre (Vasari, Williamsburg, or Old Holland)
• Vermillion Hue (Holbein)
• Ruby Red (Vasari)
• Alizarin Crimson (Vasari)
• Red Umber (Vasari)
• Scarlet Sienna (Vasari)
• Burnt Umber
• Raw Umber (Vasari)

As you can see, David uses a lot of Vasari paints.  If you have never tried them, they are wonderful, heavily pigmented paints, and very enjoyable with which to work.