After 33 years of teaching art, retirement certainly agrees with Paul Kaplan, a local artist who recently displayed years worth of watercolor works at his third art show at Il Vesuvio in Bayside.
“It’s been great,” said Kaplan. “When I retired I needed a new way to express myself.”
He has found that expression through painting outdoor scenes in water color; a medium that he says “tricks and challenges” and “forces the focus.”
It was a standing room only crowd at Il Vesuvio on Bell Boulevard as friends of Kaplan and art lovers alike shuffled in for a slice and a peak. Since Pasquale Fabiano took over at the popular Italian eatery over three years ago, he has embraced the work of local artists.
“Il Vesuvio has always been an incredibly warm and open environment in the community,” said Kaplan. “You get treated like you were at home.”
In 1971, Kaplan was one of the first art teachers at I.S.25 but today, he plans to continue on to his next project, painting a mural at Il Vesuvio; a feat he plans to accomplish by October by working early mornings and late nights.
“It’s the first time I’ve tried a mural and I’m excited about the challenge,” said Kaplan.
Watercolorist leaves mark at Il Vesuvio
By Bob Doda
Posted on
