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.

January 2013 Workshops

Sandra Kaplan’s

January 2013 Studio Workshops

Two special workshops will be held in my St. Francis de Sales Studio in January.

COLLAGE

Thursday, January 10, 2013, 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Fee: $75

We will discuss a bit of the history of collage as an artists’ medium, and experiment with a number of collage techniques. Understanding the difference between collage as a craft medium versus collage as a medium for artistic expression will be included in our conversation.

A supply list will be emailed when I receive your check, which also reserves your spot in the class.

COLOR, MIXING PAINT

Thursday, January 24, 2013, 10 AM to 4:30 PM

Fee: $75

A prerequisite to this class is my Josef Albers’ based color class, either at the ASLD or in my studio.  In those classes, we worked with colored papers to understand visual color phenomena. Now, we will discuss color mixing, and do a structured series of painting exercises, in your preferred medium, to develop mastery of color and color mixing. Exercises will enhance your understanding of Hue, Value, and Saturation.

A supply list will be emailed when I receive your check, which also reserves your spot in the class.

And don't forget to register for one of the remaining spots in my Provence, France, workshop, October 2-12, 2013!

Collage, Plein Air Paintings Around Town

My work is scattered around town, and beyond, this month.

I was the juror of the "Own An Original" show at the Littleton Museum, 6028 South Gallup Street, Littleton, Colorado, 303-795-3950. The show will be on display through January 13. A large number of very talented, if conservative, artists applied for the desirable honor of a one person show at the Museum. The top prize went to Rogers Naylor.

Three of my Plein Air paintings are on display in this exhibit.

Aum Gallery and Framing, 2227 East Colfax, 303-394-3362, is displaying its 2012 Miniature Show through December 29, 2012, 303-394-3362. Three of my small collages are included in this Lilliputian exhibit. The collage pictured above is one of the three.

The Art Students League of Denver has an incredibly amusing show titled,"The Joy Of Toys". A small watercolor of our dog, Elgee, using one of his favorite toys as a pillow, is at the ASLD, 200 Grant Street, 303-778-6990, through January 23.

If you plan on a trip to the mountains, until about December 28, my Plein Air Vail Valley Workshop students from this past summer have some beautiful paintings remaining in The Mile Radio Station lobby,  Main Street in Minturn, 970-827-9400.

And of course, many more works of art are available in my studio, which is open by appointment.