Model as History

Mallory As Birgit Prestoe. 2018. Pastel. 12" x 6.5". Casey Klahn.

It's no secret how I admire Edvard Munch, of The Scream fame. His body of work is extensive, and he had a knack for the portrait in the Expressionist style. 

One of his great models was Birgit Prestoe, and in my latest portrait of model Mallory McIntosh, I am paying homage to that historic collaboration. 

I will make a side note that the antique Roche pastels used in the lay-in of this painting date from the time when Edvard Munch was in his prime. Spooky, I know. If only the tools could talk.

Edvard Munch. (1863-1944) Norwegian. 

Model in the Studio

Model in the Studio, Orange Burst. 2018. Pastel & Vine Charcoal. 8.25" x 9.25". Casey Klahn.

Mallory is posing in front of her own framed likeness, titled Orange Burst. 

Seated Nude

Seated Pose. Foot. 2018. Counter Proof Highlighted with Pastel and Charcoal on Revere 300# Paper. 22" x 18." Casey Klahn.

Drawing Degas

Here is the trailer for my video featuring a large scale easel drawing. That longer video is available to my Patreon subscribers. It is a full start-to-finish of a 3 foot by 2 foot vine charcoal drawing where I respond to one of Degas' bather figurines.

As a result of seeing the Edgar Degas, A Passion for Perfection exhibit in Denver, I am on fire to adopt some of his techniques and moves. One thing I took away from his pastels was that I have been working too hard! What I mean is his shorthand for skin tones with pastels was earthshaking for me. 

Details of Edgar Degas pastels showing technique.

Your hand knows how to draw. Get out of the way and watch the magic.

The Mods

From the top left:
Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, 
Francis Bacon, Maurice de Vlaminck, Pablo Picasso,
Helen Frankenthaler, Marcel Duchamp, Mark Rothko,
Edvard Munch, Amedeo Modigliani, Sonia Delaunay.

Framing Your Own Pastels Video

Flowers Video

Enjoy this demo of my recent floral work, Flowers for February.

Glamour Portrait

Glamour & Light. After Degas. 2018. Pastel on Paper. 19.75" x 16." Casey Klahn.


A painting of a model in my studio.

Mallory in a Red Coat

Mallory in a Red Coat. 2018. Pastel & Oil. 24.5" x 18.5." Casey Klahn.


Full sheet studio work, with model Mallory McIntosh.

Studio Session, The Cocktail Dress

Cocktail Dress. 2018. Pastel. 14" x 13.75." Casey Klahn.


I retooled my studio to allow me to have models come to pose. This is the first work, with Mallory, in her black cocktail dress. Her talent is extraordinary, and she's very pretty, as well. 

Please return for the next few paintings I do of her. 

Please Have a Merry Christmas

Enjoy this season. The song O Holy Night, written by the French Maestro, Adolphe Adam, celebrates with proper glory the birth of Christ, The Savior. I wasn't moved to post a video with 2 old guys in tuxedos, but the children's choir was just the right touch. Well, I really do enjoy Pavarotti's pipes - he's a singer's singer, to my layman's mind. 

Best Wishes this holiday season, and Merry Christmas. 

Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo - O Holy Night / Cantique De Noel (Christmas-Vienna 1999).

Studio Tour

This video was made for Instagram, so I'm running to get it all in! I like Blogger much better, but when in Rome...

Is There Room in Your Heart?

I don't know it there's any room in your heart for awe. This video is a litmus test for you.   

Le Rêve

Le Rêve. 2017. Pastel, Dry Ground & Vine Charcoal. 12.1" x 19." Casey Klahn.

Selling the Savior of the World

The Salvator Mundi.

"Discovering a new da Vinci is...like discovering a new planet," says Alistair Cooke.

Indeed it is. I have personally viewed two and a half of Leonardo's paintings, and The Gates Codex. They are, Ginevra de' Benci, in Washington DC, The Benois Madonna, and The Litta Madonna, in Russia. The latter is thought to be by a talented artist and student of da Vinci's. My own opinion is it lacks the requisite grace of a Leonardo. On the positive side, what I have seen of da Vinci's work convinces me that he was more than the Renaissance master of canonical proportions and style. He was truly an artist's artist. 

Going into what is a little bit of a soft market for art, the auction house Christie's expects a hundred million dollar sale of the painting of the world's most revered individual, by the world's most noted artist.

My previous posts on Leonardo da Vinci, which are a great reference source for art students: Spotlight on Leonardo.

Pierre's Adventures

It was a delight to visit with Pierre - Yann Gaidetti in Albuquerque last June. He's the president of Savoir-Faire, the importers of Sennelier art materials.

Certainly it was also a thrill and an honor to be featured in his popular video series of artist's interviews: Pierre's Adventures. But, did I go too far in my praise of the fine pastel surface, La Carte? You decide.

For Käthe

For Käthe. 2017. Charcoal & Pastel. 18.5" x 14." Casey Klahn.


This image was a response to the tonal sketch challenge that is sponsored on the Facebook page, How To Pastel. The idea is to take a leaf from the master German artist, Käthe Kollwitz. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to work in the style of one of my favorite artists.

For the set-up of this, I placed a harsh flood light clamped to my easel and pointed directly in my face. I feel that line and tone are tremendous tools, if you allow them their voice.

Pastellist Interviews

The tireless Canadian artist, Gail Sibley, who blogs at How To Pastel, has collected 19 short interviews of pastel instructors who attended the pastel convention in New Mexico earlier in June of this year. It is a treasure trove. Pour a tall cup of something to enjoy, and do go through these at your leisure. By the way, I am down the dais at video number 14, but I will also post it from You Tube below.

IAPS Interviews, 2017

Colors Have a Beauty of Their Own Which Must Be Preserved

Interior. 2016. Pastel, Graphite, Dry Ground & Oil. 18" x 14." Casey Klahn.


Colors have a beauty of their own, which must be preserved.
Henri Matisse.

Profile SP

Profile Self Portrait. 2017. Pastel. @12" x 9." Casey Klahn.