December 16th 2023 Nearing the end of the craziest two weeks the painting comes home for Christmas and to start the New Year. Not on just any day, but the day that we place live pine Christmas wreaths at the grave sites of the thousands of US Veterans laid to rest at the Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery Little Falls.I did … Read More
October 14th 2023 The Charles Kapsner Salon 2023 has officially begun. The opening night was simple, grand, and engaging. For one of the first times in my life, I was the first one there and got to watch as the food was crafted and laid out in the most artistic and beautiful way by a top food marketing expert and … Read More
Opening Reception, October 13th 6 – 9 pm The Best of Him,by Artist Charles KapsnerCommissioned by JoyGenea Schumer Furnstahl, on display at the 15th annual Kapsner Salon at Great RiverArts! SPECIAL Opening receptionFriday, October 13th, 6 – 9 pm Great River Arts!122 1st St SE,Little Falls, MN 56345 Come join us for wine tasting, great food presented by Charles’s niece, … Read More
October 5th 2023 I received this email from Charles yesterday. “I varnished the painting yesterday. Looks Fab. Cheers ????, Charles “ It is the last and final step in the whole process. He explained to me months ago as to why it was so important to wait to varnish it. I don’t recall exactly, but I will share what I do … Read More
September 5th 2023 Recently there have been a couple of situations that have come up that have given me pause on the day-to-day of things and reminded me of my grief journey over the past years. All three involve grief but in very different ways. One involves the grief journey I have been on with my husband’s late wife’s amazing … Read More
July 5th 2023 Today I was finally able to have time to meet Charles Kapsner at the Minnesota Military Museum and see the painting there for myself. Seeing it hanging in the frame on a blank white wall is incredible. One of the most touching parts is that it is in the same room with Charles Kapsner’s historical new painting … Read More
JUNE 23rd 2023 To my total surprise and appreciation, I got a call from Charles Kapsner today explaining that his recent installation of the Women of the National Guard to the Minnesota Military Museum was complete and that he was talking with the director Randle about “The Best of Him” and how it would look nice at the museum. They … Read More
The Best of Him Brochure to print and share CLICK HERE TO VIEW PRINTABLE PDF Page 3 – The Best of Him by Artist Charles Kapsner & Commissioned by JoyGenea Schumer Furnstahl A Memorial oil painting designed at honoring the brave sacrifices made by our veterans and their families, not only during their service to our country but also in … Read More
The Best of Him by Artist Charles Kapsner & Commissioned by JoyGenea Schumer Furnstahl A Memorial oil painting designed at honoring the brave sacrifices made by our veterans and their families, not only during their service to our country but also in their everyday lives after their service has ended. The intention is to inspire awareness and open conversations about … Read More
May 15th Quote “Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint on it that you can.” Danny Kaye Grief is a great big canvas too. It’s got room for everything we are thinking and feeling. Enter so let’s throw all the paint on it that we can. Let’s take what’s inside of us and express it outside of … Read More
Today the mail person dropped off one of the most thoughtful and meaningful pieces of marketing I have ever received. The TAPS (tragedy assistance program for survivors ) box. Look at this thing. It is so beautiful that the mail person asked me about it. It really is brilliant on their part to have boxes like this. It reminds me … Read More
April 27th 2023 I got this email from Charles today. “Subject: TEASER Hey JoyGenea, Here it is!!!!!!!!!!! It came yesterday.Cheers,Charles” And this image. In that moment seeing the frame was when I really could see that the whole painting is going to leave the studio and hang on a wall and look so different not sitting next to the items … Read More
The moment has come for Charles to stop working on the painting and sign it. To bring this chapter of the journey to a close. The frame will be here in the coming week and it needs to rest before the big show in the fall. The day is sunny and spring smells are in the air. We arrive at … Read More
April 13th 2023 I was standing on a hill in eastern Ohio checking out the cabin the Pennsylvania family members had rented for the weekend when my phone rang. I looked at the screen and it was Charles, I thought I wonder why he is calling? He’s back from his honorary guest invitation to Norway visit and has been working … Read More
Paint on canvas brings more than just a story to life. It creates a connection. I’m visiting Charles Kapsner in his painting studio in Fort Ripley. I am taking in the depth of the atmosphere being here is full of. In some ways, it kind of feels like I am hanging out with my dad for part of the day … Read More
January 14th 2023 I drove up to see Charles today. We are just driving away from his studio and I am reflecting on what the painting looks like at this point and more importantly what it represents for me. Charles is in an excellent mode. He and Catherine are off to Norway soon to be honored and the women in … Read More
January 9th 2023 Good morning JoyGenea,I hope you had a wonderful new year and are ready for a great 2023. Well here we are back onto this beautiful still life, I’m really enjoying working from life again! As you can see the next layer of color is being applied and you can start to understand and see the color density … Read More
October 6th 2022 Tony from the frame shop called a couple of weeks ago to let me know that my artwork was ready to be picked up. My schedule has been busy with many on-site projects and weddings on weekends. I have just been floating the note to pick them up. On Monday he called again and said Charles had … Read More
July 24th 2022 It has been months since I have seen the painting, so much has transpired in my grieving process. I am at a point in this process where the painting brings me great happiness. It really does feel like I am asking Charles to capture the best of my dad. That time and the layers that it takes … Read More
May 24th 2022 This was a very impromptu visit. With the trip to DC only days away and having my father top of mind, it had been a while since I had been able to stop by the studio and see the painting and talk with Charles about the progress. When I walked in the door, there was a distinct … Read More
February 23rd 2022 from Charles Hey JoyGenea,Since you would be walking in the door right now here is where things are at. Needless to a say very tedious! I am having a great time!We are completely snowed in at the county road level; I suspect tonight they may plow it. We have to keep the snow blower going to stay … Read More
February 17th 2022 from Charles Hey JoyGenea,Here is how it starts on the panel; very tedious measuring using a plumb line and measuring stick.Cheers,Charles PHOTOS
February 15th 2022 Charles has pointed out that a piece of art like this gets named. We are at that place. He said the naming of it is my search, it is part of my journey. Once it is named, the name becomes part of the project. The naming helps him with the feeling of the painting. I can see … Read More
Meeting with Charles Feb 13th Our meeting had to be rescheduled due to hazardous winter conditions twice. As Tom and I bobbed through the snow on a Sunday out to Charles’s studio I wondered what awaited me. February 14th 2022 from Charles Hey JoyGenea,Thank you for the visit and keen eye yesterday! Here is the cleaned up compositional sketch for … Read More
The day has finally arrived to sit down with Charles and deliver the bulk of the items I am hoping tell the story of my father’s life. The bag has been packed for a couple of weeks and now I bring it up into the kitchen to make sure that it is ready to go on the trip to the … Read More
Nov 20th 2021 Early, during the quietest time at our house in the morning, I went to the stack of my father’s most valuable belongings and I I started to sort out the items that would be part of his memorial painting. I was asking myself questions like, who was he, what are the objects that demonstrate who he was as … Read More
Nov 20th 2021 Early, during the quietest time at our house in the morning, I went to the stack of my father’s most valuable belongings and I started to sort out the items that would be part of his memorial painting.I was asking myself questions like, who was he, what are the objects that demonstrate who he was as a … Read More
May 27th 2021 The meaning behind these items for JoyGenea 1 Savage 12-gauge pump action shotgun One of the things my dad did with each of us kids was to bring us to the wild rice paddy fields on the weekends. That was when he had to go check the pumps and make sure they were still working from the … Read More
September 18th 2021 from Charles Hey JoyGenea,How are you all doing these days? Hard to believe it is the 18th of September already! My out door painting of the house is about to come to an end; we got the ramp moved on Monday allowing me to reach the high points on the north side of the house. With the … Read More
June 10th 2021 from JoyGenea Charles, I think this will be helpful in figuring out the medals or at least some of them. I will continue to send you emails with details in the coming week. I am going to be focusing on moving this aspect of the funeral. It will make it easy to pass along details. Thanks,JoyGenea Attached … Read More
May 29th 2021 From Charles Hey JoyGenea & Tom,Just checking in. Here is the latest; not finished, since you like flags I thought I would send a shot. Enjoy the Holiday weekend!!!!!! I am sure Hawaii was good!Cheers,Charles June 3rd 2021 from JoyGenea I love it.The frame looks great with that. Your right…I love the flag. Hawaii was wonderful and … Read More
May 10th 2021 Charles, I have had an idea rolling around my head since we met at your studio and I want to share the concept with you and find out if it inspires you a little too and if you would like to explore the idea more. I don’t know if you do commissioned smaller pieces? (I mean smaller than … Read More
2021-04-03 I have wanted to purchase one of Charles Kapsner’s original paintings for years. Each time we would go to another one of the presentations at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls for the giant murals he was painting to commemorate each branch of the service I would be reminded how I wanted a piece of his work … Read More
