Ken Goshen - A Blend Of Traditional Techniques And A Contemporary Outlook Describes My Art Style (Artist)

I’ve always enjoyed making art, but it was my father’s faith in me that drove me towards choosing art as a career. Don’t be afraid of making bad artwork. My teacher David Nipo used to say every bad painting is another rung in the ladder we climb towards success. We learn far more from our bad paintings than we do from our good ones, so it’s necessary to make lots of bad work in order to grow.

1.Tell us about your background & journey.

I’m an Israeli-born NYC-based artist (1988). I started my art education in my teens, studying at various institutions in both Jerusalem and New York. After my military service (2007-2010) I enrolled at the Master Class program at Hatahana Studio for Figurative Painting and Drawing (2010-2013, Tel-Aviv), where I studied classical painting under the guidance of Aram Gershuni and David Nipo. 

I then moved to NYC and earned my BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design (2013 – 2017, NYC). Today I work and live in Queens, NY, and I teach painting and drawing online internationally.

2.What inspired you to become an artist?

I’ve always enjoyed making art, but it was my father’s faith in me that drove me towards choosing art as a career. If it weren’t for his encouragement I would have probably been a lawyer.

3.How would you describe your art style?

 A blend of traditional techniques and a contemporary outlook describes my style of art.

4.What mediums do you usually work with and why?

Oil paint, charcoal, graphite, pastel, and printmaking. I can’t explain why I gravitate towards these media, but I can tell you why I dislike acrylic and watercolor: acrylic dries way too fast, and watercolor makes it too difficult to correct mistakes.

5.Is being an artist a financially stable career?

No, it’s a very dangerous career path. I’m blessed that things are working out for me and I don’t take it for granted.

6.Which is your favorite piece of artwork?

“Mars Resting” by Diego Velazquez. 

7.Who is your favorite artist and what do you admire about them the most?

My favorite artist is Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. I love how he is able to paint breathtaking realism without a hint of bravura, yet still manage to make his paintings easily identifiable as his creations. His fingerprint doesn’t need to come through emotional mark-making, it comes through the design itself.

8.What piece of advice would you give to aspiring artists ?

Don’t be afraid of making bad artwork. My teacher David Nipo used to say every bad painting is another rung in the ladder we climb towards success. We learn far more from our bad paintings than we do from our good ones, so it’s necessary to make lots of bad work in order to grow.

9.Which is your favorite book and why?

The Hebrew bible. I love the window it provides into the mind of people who lived thousands of years ago. It’s a literary masterpiece; a powerful mix of history, mythology, philosophy, and poetry.

P.C : Jordan Dea

Ken Goshen

Artist

Instagram: kengoshen

Website: www.kengoshen.com

Interviewed by Aliza Hussain