Darlene Kaplan
Biography
Darlene Kaplan is an award-winning artist who has been captivating art lovers worldwide with her energetic Oriental Brush Paintings using Chinese watercolors for more than 40 years. Her many awards include First place at the Campagna Center, Alexandria, VA, First place at Green Spring Gardens, Annandale, VA, First Place Award in the National Sumie Of America Annual Juried Exhibition, Bethesda, MD, and Finalist at the 27th Annual Arts Competitions-Artist Magazine, Winner of Splash Competition-announced in Southwest Magazine, Professional Artist, and American Watercolor Magazine, and winner in Healing for the Arts at Manhattan International Arts, NYC.
She grew up in the country in Tennessee and states, "All of my spare time was spent walking in the woods searching out bugs, plants and anything else that was alive. Those childhood days spent with nature is brought alive every time I put a brush stroke down on paper. All of my paintings are derived from nature."
Darlene paints in the Lingnan style of Oriental Brush Painting which is a combination of Western and East Asian art. She has been studying with Henry Wo Yue-Kee from 1994 till present. Mr. Wo paints and teaches this freestyle of ink and color on rice paper that originated in China centuries ago.
"For many years I painted realism in oils before making the change to oriental brush painting. Studying martial arts/Tai Chi’ for years inspired me to try this medium, which I fell in love with right away. The calming effect of grinding the ink before painting, the energy that is put into throwing ink on paper is just the greatest of pleasures that only this style of art allows me to feel."
In her paintings Darlene attempts “to show purity in painting the snow, brightness in the moon, fragrance in the flower, sounds in the waterfall and spirit in people.” Before beginning, she has a vision in mind. "The mind has the plan and the hand follows. Once started, the brush and ink require full attention. Without the mood, brush and ink do not have anything to attach to; without brush and ink, the mood cannot be expressed. These are inseparable elements.”
The artist has had many solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States including an exhibition of over 100 paintings representing Oriental Brush Painting during the Cherry Blossom Festival 2012 in Washington, DC. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries and museums including Charles Sumner School Museum in Washington, DC, Ratner Museum, SoHo District in NY City, and many, many more locations.
Kaplan has published two books of her art titled “Nature’s Journey”, and “Tranquility In Motion”.
She was published in Elan Magazine in 2013 where she wrote an essay on publishing her books.
Kaplan was asked to be a guest on Public Access TV in 2012 to demonstrate her art. The TV program is now available on YouTube for public viewing.
Kaplan is represented by Manhattan Arts International, NY, ArtLa in CA, Asian Brush Painter in Hong Kong, Saatchi in CA, International Chinese Calligraphic Art Chinese Art Painters Society, See-Me, Long Island, NY, and Paragon in WA.
Kaplan teaches Oriental Brush Painting classes in her studio, Alexandria, VA. She also holds an annual 6 Day Workshop. Her art may be viewed in person at Soft Brush Studio in Alexandria, VA. You may view her art on-line at www.darlenekaplan.com.