Mark Ryden, until June 5, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York

Mark Ryden's exhibition titled THE GAY 90'S: OLD TYME ART SHOW opens tonight (April 29th) at New York's Paul Kasmin Gallery.


Dress in your best "Olde Tyme" outfit and come to the
Opening Reception: Thursday Evening, April 29, 2010, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Paul Kasmin Gallery, 293 Tenth Ave. New York, NY 10001


The Gay 90's: Old Tyme Art Show, an exhibition of 23 new paintings and works on paper will be Ryden's first significant solo show in New York since 2003, as well as his first with this gallery.

"The central theme of The Gay 90s: Old Tyme Art Show references the idealism of the 1890s while addressing the role of kitsch and nostalgia in our current culture. "In the modern era, sentimentality and beauty have been disdained in the art world," he explains. "This new work is explores the line between attraction and repulsion to kitsch, and between beauty and banality." Through their visual richness and symbolic complexity, Ryden's infinitely suggestive dreamscapes invite us to enter their world and to indulge our sense of wonder."

Quote courtesy of Paul Kasmin Gallery.


To visit Mark Ryden's website Click Here



Incarnation, 2009, oil on panel 72 x 48 inches




The piano player, 2010, oil on canvas, 20 x 30 inches




The Grinder, 2010, oil on canvas, 37 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches




Virgin and Child, 2010, oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches




Pink Lincoln, 2010, oil on canvas, 22 x 16 inches

David Kassan 2 hour live streaming Question and Answer Event from his Brooklyn studio

David Kassan's much awaited DVD launch is happening today CLICK HERE and David always being generous with his time has agreed to to do a 2 hour live streaming Question and Answer Event from his Brooklyn studio for the modest fee of only 10 bucks.

8:00 p.m. Wednesday April 21, 2010 US/Eastern Time
(12:00:00 Midnight Wednesday April 21, 2010 GMT)





David Kassan will be doing a little materials demonstration of how he applies and layers in charcoal, show clips from the new drawing DVD, and answer any questions about gallery representation, different approaches to drawing/painting, and anything else that is thrown at him during the 2 hours.


This event is sponsored by Lisa Gloria and Cindy Procious of http://artstudiosecrets.com/ who will be moderating the event.

To sign up to the David Kassan Live Webcast 4-21-2010 please Click Here







David Kassan at work

Francesca Sundsten, until April 30, Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco

Francesca Sundsten's exhibition Portraiture at Jenkins Johnson Gallery is worth taking the time out to visit.



Tweet, 2010, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches


Portraiture

The traditional compositional standard of the centralized figure in portraiture provides a foundation for this body of work. The stability of the image allowed me to experiment with and explore elements that paint allows: atmosphere, shifts in palette, and minor abstractions.

It seems a mode of the times that we're each experiencing some form of identity crisis and re-evaluation of the status quo. In a way, these paintings go back to the self as reference for examination, each, whether human or animal, are a concocted version of a possible 'me'. It was interesting to allow myself greater breadth in the final collection of works, allowing each painting to become what it wanted to be rather than trying to tie them together in a more imposed fashion. It seemed a good time to push my boundaries. I hope to continue.

I also looked for a sense of lightness and air in the work, though in the end the ones lighter in value became darker in mood, while the darker in palette became more humorous. This is something I've only realized in retrospect as it was unintentional. If there is one thing that ties my work together through the years, it's the constant factor of dichotomy: realism/abstraction, graphic/atmospheric, humor/horror, beautiful/ disturbing, traditional/pop, observed/imagined, and so on. The combining of these opposites that appear to be mutually exclusive is my key to painting.

Artist statement courtesy of Francesca Sundsten and Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco




Tenebrium, 2010, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches




Deer, 2010, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches




Ether, 2010, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches




Owl, 2010, oil on canvas, 24 x 24 inches

American Painting Video Magazine

American Painting Video Magazine has just launched it's premier issue. The idea behind APVM comes from artist Michael Klein and it is to provide a current source of information and entertainment to the realist artists. Their mission is straight forward, sharing with like-minded artists insight into the classical art world. Spreading a wealth of information and making it available to everyone in all parts of the world at an affordable price.

This is a briliant idea, a wonderful service and is executed with exacting professionalism. I wish them well and look forward to many more American Painting Video Magazine issues being produced.



Jacob Collins, founder of the Grand Central Academy of Art and the Hudson River Fellowship.



The first issue (APVM Spring issue, vol.I), features Paul G. Oxborough, Carlo Russo, Jacob Collins, Peter Trippi, Kerry Dunn, Travis Schlaht, Robert Armetta, Long Island Academy of Fine Art, Matthew Innis and Robert Liberace.

Over 2 hours of content for the modest download fee of $10



Owner of Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, Frann Bradford discussing Paul G. Oxborough's paintings.


To view the trailer of the first issue of American Painting Video Magazine Click Here

To visit American Painting Video Magazine's website Click here



Carlo Russo working on a painting in his studio in Philadelphia.