Bill Kassel Fine Art: August 2016

Monday, August 22, 2016

Dauphin Island Sunset - Pass #3

On my easel - pass #3 working on sky and water
Dauphin Island Sunset
38 1/4 X 11 3/4
Water mixable oil
on masonite

Monday, August 15, 2016

On My Easel - Dauphin Island Sunset

On my easel - blocking in color and shapes - Pass #1
Dauphin Island Sunset
38 1/4 X 11 3/4
Water mixable oil on masonite

Pass #2 defining shapes and color

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Prepping hardboard panels (masonite) for oil or acrylic painting

Lightly sand the panel, whether using the smooth side or the textured weave side. I personally like the weave side of the panel.

After sanding, wipe down the board with denatured alcohol to remove any sanding debris. Then coat the surface with Kilz (latex stain blocking primer) to make sure nothing bleeds through the gesso.

Apply gesso in horizontal strokes across the panel using a 2” brush or use a small roller to give an even stippled effect.

Allow to dry and lightly sand if you want a smooth surface. Apply a second layer of gesso panel at a right angle to the first coat. This will make a slight weave pattern to the surface. Again you can use a roller. Allow to dry and sand.

Make sure you use at least 2 coats of gesso because masonite is highly absorbent and the paints will sink otherwise.

To prevent warping of larger panels you can gesso both sides. For larger panels I suggest that you glue a wooden support frame on the back.

I will be starting a new oil painting on a panel I just prepared.I will post progress shots along with some close up detailed pics.

Friday, August 5, 2016

How I layout my palette

Lay out your colors on your palette in this order. On the edge farthest from you, put your white on the left. As a right-handed painter you will have to reach the farthest to get to the white thus reducing the degree of contamination from neighboring colors.

These are the colors I typically use:
Titanium White

Ultramarine Blue

Raw Sienna

Yellow Ochre

Naples Yellow

Cadmium Yellow Medium

Cadmium Red Light

Alizarin Crimson

Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber

Raw Umber

Veridian Green

Pthalo Green

Then 4 neutral grays which I mix

About Me

I was born in Chester County in 1951 and consider myself a Contemporary Realist. I started painting around the age of 12. I developed my interest in painting through my high school art classes with the help of my teacher Myrna Foote. My passion for painting was fueled by other Chester County Artists, N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth, Peter Hurd and Howard Pyle to name a few. I was also inspired by the works of Norman Rockwell. My subject matter is primarily from Chester, Berks and Lebanon County areas. I also have a passion for Colonial Williamsburg and other historical sites. I mainly work with gouache and watercolors and sometimes acrylics & oil. My favorite medium is gouache because of its versatility. After High School I started my studies at Penn State as an Art Education Major. I later switched to the Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia, earning a Associate of Arts degree. Studies included Graphic Arts, Illustration & Fine Arts. While at Hussian I studied fine arts under Elaine Dubrow, Louise Clement, Ruth Petlock, Kim Soo, Max Fisher, Walter Condit and Oliver Grimley. My works are included in many collections throughout the east coast. My Vision As an artist, I am inspired by everything around me. I am fascinated by the hidden color and textures that can be found in light and shadow. A primary goal of my art is to bring awareness to the wonderful world that surrounds us. I try to capture this vision in my paintings so others can see the beauty as I see it.