The Tranquil Art \ Darlene
Kaplan
Like many artist Kaplan’s love of art
began at an early age. “My Mother would
draw little birds for us as children, “ Kaplan says, “and I was always
intrigued by what she could make come to life with just a pencil and paper. Kaplan would eventually become known
nationally and internationally for her traditional oriental brush paintings in
Ling nan style.
Kaplan grew up in the beautiful rolling
hills of Mulberry Tennessee. She was the ninth of 10 children. When Kaplan wasn’t helping with daily choirs
on the family farm she was in the woods exploring nature.
Oil on canvas-“Our Home” Private collection by Darlene Kaplan
Kaplan was later employed by Decatur
General Hospital as Chief Technologist of the Electrocardiogram, Encephalogram,
and Graded Exercise Testing department.
Working days at the hospital and attending night classes at the
University of Birmingham AL, left little time to pursue her avocation and great
love of art and nature.
As soon as Kaplan received her degree
she enrolled for night classes in Art 1 and Art History at the local community
college in Athens, AL.
Kaplan met her current husband and they
relocated to Alexandria, VA in 1981. She resigned as a Registered Cardiology
Technologist to accompany her husband on job related travel. Kaplan would take
a drawing pad and sketch from nature while her husband worked throughout the US
and around the world.
Kaplan’s first formal art classes were
from the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA.
She studied with Danni Dawson in figures then with Diane Tesler in
landscapes in oils.
Both taught at the Art League located
in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA.
Kaplan and her husband were avid tennis
players but didn’t enjoy indoor tennis.
While debating sports that they would both enjoy they signed up for
American Karate. One of the first
instructors was a Chinese gentleman that encouraged her to try the Oriental
brush painting style. Kaplan fell in
love with this medium right away.
Kaplan paints in the Ling nan style of
oriental brush painting which is a combination of Western and East Asian
art. She has been studying with Mr.
Henry Wo from 1985 till present.
This style of art is rendered on rice
paper using the Chinese mineral watercolors. “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”
quotes Kaplan.
Oriental brush painting “Cherry
Blossoms with Kingfisher” by Darlene Kaplan
Oriental brush painting “Peacock & Wisteria”
International & national award winning painting by Darlene Kaplan
Kaplan’s paintings could be simple or
very complicated. All her work derives
directly from nature.
Many viewers will inquire about the red
seals or chops on Kaplan’s art. One
would be her personal chop with her name on it while the others would be mood
seals with poems inscribed. When using a
red seal on a monochrome painting it is said to be “adding the eye to the dragon”.
As a professional artist and instructor
Kaplan is also an international award winning artist who has been captivating
art lovers worldwide with her energetic oriental painting for years.
Kaplan has professional art for
professional prices ranging anywhere from
$200.00 to $15,000.00.
Her art has been on display locally and
internationally including China and Japan.
Kaplan is the author of two books of
her art.
She has been published in numerous
magazines, won numerous awards, and has been on several TV programs talking and
demonstration her art.
Oriental brush painting “Bright Pink Tree Peony” by Darlene
Kaplan
