Painting Made Round One and is a Semi-Finalist in Art Renewal Center’s 17th International Salon

September 19th 2024 On Sept 18th 2024 I received a text from the artist Charles Kapsner that read, “Great news; “the Best of Him” is in the Semi-Finalist Division of Art Renewal Center’s 17th International Salon! Next advancement will be announced on November 20, 2024.” A little more about Semi-Finalist Division of Art Renewal Center’s 17th International Salon “…competitions dedicated … Read More

The Best of Him Comes to My House

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

The Salon Was A Big Hit 2023

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

The Best of Him at 15th annual Kapsner Salon at Great River Arts!

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

Ground Breaking for the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum

September 18th 2023 CLICK HERE for a PDF of the dedication ceremony program. This weekend I had the rare and unique opportunity to attend the groundbreaking of the soon-to-be-new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum located in Central Minnesota near Camp Ripley. It was a lovely, sunny with a chance of a floating cloud covering the sun in the blue blue … Read More

Who Forgot the Gun? I did. From guns to flowers, changes at the studio

September 10th 2023 This weekend I had the chance and made the time to swing by Charle’s Kapsner’s little studio. A couple of months ago when I met him at the Minnesota Military Museum to see the painting for the first time on display and get all the artifacts he used for the painting, well the two of us forgot … Read More

Painting Hanging in the Minnesota Military Museum Summer 2023

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

Memorial Day at the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery Little Falls

It was a beautiful hot day, hotter than normal for Central Minnesota. My intention was to leave by 9:00am to be there by 10. Plans needed to change, due to the weather and my husband’s client schedules, so instead of him coming with me for the day, which would have been a long and boring day for him, he headed … Read More

The Best of Him brochure to print and share

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 Sign Next To The Artwork At Shows

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

It’s Here: The TAPS Box arrived for the Memorial Day Event

TAPS box image of outside front and front side

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

Sample of Painting in Frame

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

Signing of Painting

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

Time to sign the painting

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

Sitting in the Artist’s Studio

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

­The meaning of Valhalla and the military

January 23rd 2023 In the month or so before my fathers passing we had talked about his memorial and one of the things that was important to him was a nice program. He laid out in one of our conversations what he wanted on that program, the photos, the poems, the words to a hymn and a plan for service … Read More

Visit to Charles and Cemetery

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

Update from Charles

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

The Painting Progress

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

Visit to the Studio

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

Charles Kapsner Painting Visit

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

Correspondence- February 17th 2022

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

The naming of the project

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 and Review

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 Start

January 13th 2022 The visual part of the project starts. Last night I dove into the pile of important items that are currently stored at my house. The items that we didn’t want to leave in the storage unit, in case there was to be a break-in at the unit.I was on the hunt for a few more things to … Read More

Correspondence- December 29th 2021

December 29th 2021 from Charles Hey JoyGenea,I hope you had a good Christmas; and a quiet one. Ours was low key, just the way we wanted it.I have my last model coming back on Friday for her portrait. Finally!!!!!!!!!!! She had been in Africa and started a new job; that made scheduling rather difficult. I will be able to start … Read More

Dec 9th 2021

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

Picking the Items

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

Correspondence- Starting Concept and Size

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

Correspondence- Medals

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

Correspondence- May 29th 2021

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

Correspondence- The Beginning

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

Where the Inspiration Started for The Best of Him

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