The work of award-winning, local artist, Lawrence Chrapliwy, will be the subject of a new exhibit at the Dolphin Bookshop & Cafe, with the opening reception scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Chrapliwy grew up in South Bend, Indiana. Living by the edge of the woods and St. Joseph River, he was always surrounded by nature.
While largely self-taught, he studied with the OPAplein air painters Kevin McPherson, Matt Smith, Kenn Errol Bachaus and MasterArtist Xiang Jie. He also trained at the Art Students League under painter Henry Finklestein in New York City.
Chrapliwy’s preferred style is a loose, impressionistic application of paint. He works primarily in oil and exclusively from life.
Now, living near the water, his love of painting the local boatyards, regattas and the landmarks of Port Washington are his inspiration.
Chrapliwy has many resident collectors who commission local scenes to remind them of
this beautiful area on Long Island. Ninety percent of his work is plein air and he often
uses his on-the-spot oil sketches to create larger landscape paintings.
Chrapliwy also teaches plein air painting to adults and young artists, and is president of the
Manhasset Art Association, with an exclusive membership of 125 artists. He is also an
associate member of the Oil Painters of America and The Society of Marine Artists.
Chrapliwy has won many awards for his paintings both regionally and nationally. Congressman Steve Israel purchased one of his plein air paintings of the Sands-Willets House for his office in Washington, D.C.
Chrapliwy and his wife Lynne are Artists in Residence at the Historical Sands-Willets House, which is the home of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.
