My new website(!)

More paintings. More stories. Yes, it's my new website.

You'll find about 80 of my latest paintings in five categories ... and nearly all of them are available for your art collection.

Enough hard sell. Take a look for yourself: www.larrykassell.com

Faded Glory

Today is Veterans Day and I am proud to be a veteran.

Faded Glory / oil on canvas / 24 x 36 inches

This oil painting is titled "Faded Glory" for the U.S. flag that was painted onto the side of this weathered barn prior to 1959 when two more stars were added. Time and elements have faded the colors, but it still reminds us that we're the land of the free and home of the brave.

    While traveling the freeway recently I saw a waving flag painted onto a barn. The colors were still vibrant and there were 50 bright white stars. Good for many years to come.

    I'm pleased and proud that someone still does that. God bless 'em ... and our country.

Grandpa left 'er for another

My father had a nineteen-fifty-something Studebaker. That was a really great-looking car ... way ahead of its time.

When I chanced upon this 1952 Champion I wondered what stories it might tell: Somebody took it home brand-spanking new, and probably scrubbed it every Saturday until the shiny wore off. That was before seat belts so kids were free to punch each other and wrestle in the back. Maybe some French fries found their way under the seats and soda spilled onto the hump down the middle. And maybe it transported two high schoolers to  the prom. The suppositions go on.

Grandpa left 'er for another / oil on canvas / 20 x 30 inches

It was then no doubt traded, repaired, re-tired, crashed, trashed and left to rust. Then I discovered it and painted the portrait of a once proud motorcar. Rust and all

Sylvia's shy approval

Granddaughter Sylvia is special and I wanted to capture that in an oil painting. When she first saw the result she was delighted. Her expression says it all.

When I present a portrait, many time I'll get "That doesn't look like me," and I'll consider never again trying to capture someone's likeness.

    But Sylvia's shy endorsement encourages me to keep at it.

Know your artist during American Artist Appreciation Month (August)

A curious eMail arrived recently from the folks at Patience Brewster, known worldwide for their Holiday cards, Christmas ornaments and figures. I was encouraged (as well as some other artists) to answer five get-to-know-you-better questions during American Artists Appreciation Month. I thought I’d pretty well covered that in previous posts to my blog, but it’s sometimes good to re-account one’s peculiar characteristics. Here are the five:

Larry Kassell / Selfie with Frame
oil on canvas / 24 x 20 inches

1. As a child, do you recall a significant moment when you felt truly affected or inspired by any particular artwork or artist?

2. As an artist, what do you hope to convey with your work?

3. What memorable responses have you had to your work?

4. What is your dream project?

5. What artists, of any medium, do you admire? (Famous or not!)

My response:

1.   Waaaay back in the early 1950s my limited exposure to fine arts was the Sunday comics. Smokey Stover was a favorite along with Pogo and Peanuts. I particularly admired the brush-and-ink work of Walt Kelly’s Pogo. Colorful comics stood apart from the droll black-and-white of newsprint, and the humorous exaggerations were more enjoyable than news of the day (even then).

    My parents were realists who thought hard work was the way to success, and daydreaming about art was a waste of time. Doodling in the margins of my wide-lined grade school tablet did not earn me extra points as I thought it should. I persisted, however, and in the mid-1970s  I developed a comic strip about a photographer and his family, but was unsuccessful in having it published. 

2.    I believe that God is the best artist ever. I choose to paint realistically to best demonstrate the vision and skills the Creator has given me. I think every painting should be our best, and then the next one will be better. I hope that my paintings will show those who choose to visit them something they may not have seen or known about the subject. And hopefully there is a story somewhere in there that draws out a positive response. Oh ... and I add some humor when it’s appropriate.

3.    The ultimate praise for a painting is when someone actually buys it. That’s happened a few times. Other high praise is being invited to show paintings in an esteemed venue. Notable responses from gallery receptions and guest books range from: “That brings back memories ... ” to tears of joy for a portrait of a loved one. It’s always a blessing when someone else agrees with my perspective. Plus, that approving grin from my wife, Julia, is ever important.

    When it’s all over for me I hope some esteemed art critic will say: “He really got it!”

4.    My dream project is to write and illustrate a book for preteens to maybe fourteen years. I’d produce contemporary-realistic artwork that would teach and encourage young people to appreciate who they are and that they’re best off when they implement God’s instructions.

5. Best painter ... Norman Rockwell. My favorite expressionist-illustrator was Bernie Fuchs. A contemporary favorite painter is James C. Christensen. Wildlife: Robert Bateman. All realists.

Of course there’s Boyd’s Bears and Patience Brewster for collectibles. Tim Conway and Don Knotts for their entertainment brilliance. And Bill Watterson for his ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ genius.

    Happy final chance at American Artist Appreciation Day for 2015. Hug an artist.

What to name a painting?

In some ways titling a painting is like naming your child. Usually the moniker sticks with the artwork for its lifetime, and hopefully no one pokes fun at it on the playground.

    I like humorous paintings but find they don’t sell well. So, create a serious painting and give it a witty title. 

    For “A Pontiac, Buick and a Dodge Went in to a Bar ... ,” I considered “Three Rusty Buddies,” “Ah, the Stories They Could Tell” or “Rust in Pieces” but where’s the lesson in that?

"A Pontiac, Buick and a Dodge Went in to a Bar ... "
Oil painting on linen by Larry Kassell, 24 x 36 inches

A Never Before Art Show

Save this date: Friday, August 7, 2015. No, it's not another "Thrilla in Manila" boxing match, but it is a face-off of father and son, Larry and Micah Kassell in the first ever two-man show featuring son Micah, who is a senior designer at the big-name athletic shoe company, and the old guy Larry, a lifetime graphic designer, who oil paints in a more traditional manner.
    Thus, the contrasts.
    This event takes place at the Borland Gallery in Silverton, Oregon's City Park during the infamous political cartoonist and Silverton's native son, Homer Davenport's weekend celebration.
    The Kassell Contrasts face-off extends the entire month of August at Silverton Arts Association's Borland Gallery.
    Watch this space for more exciting information. You'll not want to miss this art show!

Larry and Micah Kassell face-off in a thriller of an art show  the entire month of August
in Silverton, Oregon, the other art capital of the world.

Billy the Kidder ... western fine art

Western art sells. I've read what big dollars some cowboy art brings at auction. Over a million for a singular painting in some instances.
    So I thought I'd try my hand at cowboy art. I picked a name familiar to us all – Billy the Kid. Let's see ... paintings should be original to have any appeal to the discerning buyer, so why not add some humorous touches to a rather ordinary head-and-shoulders portrait? A pistol that says: Bang. A squirting flower. Groucho glasses. Now he's Billy the Kidder.
   When I showed this 20 x 16 inch oil painting to a renowned western painter, I was told it wouldn't be welcomed into the wonderful world of cowboy art.
    To think I had imagined gracing the cover of one of the many magazines that features painters, galleries and auctions of art from left of the Missouri River.
    I still believe that Billy the Kidder has sales appeal in an apparently humorless market. Help prove me right. Buy Billy for your cowboy art collection. 
    Email: kassell.concepts@gmail.com

Billy the Kidder / 20" x 16" / oil on canvas

My last six paintings

I like food and love type (as a graphic designer for 40 plus years), hence, the poster-like depictions shown in this food series. Inspired by Vicky's Mud Pie I chose food favorites from dunots (donuts) to a burger with fries. 
    I thought for sure these paintings would be a cinch to sell in a gallery ... to be hung, maybe in a kitchen, as constant no-calorie reminders of pleasant moments past. But no.
    I've been told that these 20 x 16 inch original oil paintings look too much like posters, are too derivative of Andy Warhol (really?) and I should have left off the text. So, this blog is my gallery.
    Since I like food and love type I think the two go together like latte and scones.
    What do you think?
    Did I mention these six pieces are for sale? Or prints thereof? Please contact me by eMail with your interest:
kassell.concepts@gmail.com.

Six individual 20 x 16 calorie-free oil paintings on canvas ... for sale!