Painter Steven Assael offers insights for artists
By Cheryl Anderson Brown
 |
|
Steven Assael's painting demonstration had students "riveted." |
Figurative painter Steven Assael captures a moment with extraordinary attention to detail but his paintings offer a sense of life that a photograph can't.
"Film catches a split second and provides a way of looking at things that is not actually the way we experience it, but it can enhance our understanding of the world," he told more then 60 Kennesaw State University art students at his artist talk on Sept. 24.
On the other hand, "The power of the painting is that it can carry an iconic image of an entire narrative—the beginning, the middle and the end. Movement in photography is frozen, but in a painting it is not."
Assael's artist talk was part of a multi-day residency scheduled to coincide with a solo exhibition of his works in the Art Gallery of the Sturgis Library. The exhibition continues through Oct. 9. During his visit, Assael also attended a reception in the gallery, did a painting demonstration and offered one-on-one critiques to students and alumni.
 |
"His demonstration was amazing," said Associate Professor of Art Robert Sherer. "The students were riveted. They were completely blown away by his technique."
Painting I student Melissa Ray said Steven Assael was "scary good" during the painting demonstration. "At first I was confused because he started with all these lines to box in the model's face. Then he was really aggressive; he was beating the canvas and scooping up the paint."
In the end, Ray was impressed with the work he had created. "The way he could accomplish so much so quickly was really amazing," she said.
During his visit, Assael offered his views on organization, composition, narrative and light, among other topics, using his own vast portfolio of work to illustrate his points. (See a synopsis of his insights.)
View press release about Steven Assael's exhibition at Kennesaw State.