Regeneration: Aspen (this painting completes the series)

After doing a line drawing of my Aspen Tree, the background
was painted in gradations of blue. Shadow areas were painted in purple, and I experimented with color.

The lower right leaves were defined by color. I decided that
because the sapling was painted in spring greens, the cycle
would be more complete by making this a fall tree.

Leaves were developed further, and some definition added.

Another step.

The leaves are now filled in, but the composition looks too
chaotic, with very little massing of color. 

More orange and yellow-green is added to the upper left,
and the lower left is darkened.

I continued to add orange to warm up the bottom of the
painting, and to visually connect it to the top.

To complete this painting, I wanted a feeling of leaf canopy
above. I feel that this gives a secure and protective  quality
 to the tree. I needed to eliminate some bits of sky on the
upper left to accomplish this.

These four oil paintings, each 32" X 32", (please read my past three posts) will be permanently displayed outside the chapel at the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital in Castle Rock, Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to paint this Regeneration Cycle, and to have it presented in such a meaningful location.

Regeneration: Sapling, The Third Painting

My drawing for "Regeneration:Sapling", with a grid used
to enlarge my small sketch.

This canvas was first painted a light blue-purple. The overall
tone of the rocks was close to that color. Once the drawing
was traced onto this colored canvas, I  re-painted the foliage
with white. This clarified my composition, and made my
color choices for the greens easier.

I painted a line image of the rock details, and began to choose
 some variations of rock colors.

Dark areas were defined, establishing depth in the com-
position's shallow space.

Basic color of the foliage is established.

Rocks are modeled and defined, and detail is added to the
 leaves.

Minor tweaks in the rocks. Most importantly, the orange leaves,
which I had really liked for the color contrast they added, were
distracting, so I eliminated them. I did leave a bit of the orange
behind the green leaves as a compliment to the blue.

This new tree represents the regeneration after the fire, my symbol of hope.

This painting is an oil on canvas, 32" X 32", the third painting of "Regeneration", a four part painting commissioned by Noyes Art Designs for a new hospital.

"Regeneration: Scarred", The Second Painting

Beginning stage of my oil painting,"Regeneration: Scarred".
The composition and color established.

Further definition of areas of burn and texture in the landscape.

Areas in the distance are desaturated and softened. 

Texture is integrated, and color palette broadened.

Completed painting, "Regeneration: Scarred",  an oil painting,
32" X 32". This is the second in this series, painted for a hospital,
and commissioned by Noyes Art Designs

I enjoy looking at a subject from many different vantage points. In this painting, our point of view shifts from the close up involvement in the fire shown in the first piece of this series to a view of the larger landscape, with its implications of the inter-connectedness in nature.

Regeneration: Aspen, A Hospital Commission

The first stage of my painting, "Regeneration:Fire"
The background has been painted yellow, then the image painted in  black 

The flames have been developed, but the log is, as yet, undefined by color.

This is the completed oil painting, 32" X 32".
Glowing embers  of the log are now defined, and the flames have been
 softened and colors more differentiated.

"One Teacher, Many Voices"

Some teachers are flattered when students imitate their styles. Not me. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my students develop their own voices. In our new show “Sandra Kaplan And Friends,” you’ll see accomplished work that more than makes my point. And don’t be put off by the fact that you’ll be looking at student work. A number of these artists are represented by commercial galleries. I’ve selected works that I’m proud to curate, and which I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest that you add to your collection. Yes, the art will be for sale, and you’ll find paintings that should appeal to a variety of tastes. But if you just want to browse, join us anyway. I think you’ll be as intrigued as I was when I assembled this impressive sampling of work by current and former students.

In my classes at the Art Students League of Denver and other workshops, artists are encouraged to develop a personal, individualized approach to the world through their painting. Technical expertise is used in the service of vision. I believe that the stronger the exploration of a personal perspective becomes, the more interesting the resultant paintings will be.

“Sandra Kaplan And Friends”

Where: Theodore Schultz Architectural Offices, 863 Santa Fe Drive, 2nd Floor, Denver

When: May 3, 2013 through June 30, 2013

Artists will be present during the following times: First Friday, May 3, 2013, 5 to 9 PM Opening Celebration, Saturday, May 11, 2 to 5 PM First Friday, June 7, 5 to 9 PM Closing Party, Friday, June 21, 5 to 9 PM (although the exhibit continues until June 30)

Please visit us on one or more of the above listed dates. The exhibition will also be on view during normal Monday through Friday business hours, or by appointment with one of the artists.

Participating artists:

Tim Alcock, Acrylic

Courtney Ahn, Mixed Media

Young Hee Back, Oil

Rob Davenport, Acrylic

Pricilla Garrett, Watercolor

Matt Hardwick, Acrylic

Sandra Kaplan, Collage and Acrylic

Nancy Kembel, Watercolor

Suzanne Mills Kramer, Mixed Media

Gwen Marie, Watercolor

Elke McGuire, Acrylic

Patty Ramey, Oil

Dale Smith, Acrylic

Patti Spranger, Acrylic

First Peek At "Space Stories"

6 canvas multi media painting, "Space Stories", part of Sandra Kaplan's newest series

There is still time to catch an exhibit celebrating the first 25 years of the Art Students League of Denver, at the Redline Denver Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe Street, in the RINO Art District north of downtown. League Faculty members were invited to include a piece of their own, with work from three of their students.

My students are:

Suzanne Mills Kramer, Young Hee Back, and Tim Alcock; three artists who have been working intensely on their craft for a number of years, and have studied extensively with me at the ASLD. Their paintings range from abstract to very representational, but each artist's painting makes a very strong case for their unique vision.

I am showing, for the first time, part of my newest series, "Space Stories".

These multimedia paintings have been inspired by the Hubble Telescope images, and my gentle research into the history of astronomy. When doing research for my series "Some Thoughts About The Weather" a few years ago, I also collected many images from space, and I have been eagerly anticipating using them in another series for quite some time. History, science, philosophy and art soon collided, merging tales of gods and goddesses with scientific images of galaxies many light years away. I realized how swiftly changing our human view of our universe is, and how today's science will be tomorrow's folk tale.

More images to come.