MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - eTradeWire -- South Florida visual artist Elena Kaplan creates magnificent contemporary portraits, she is best known for her beautiful paintings of faces and figurative works. "I have always had a deep inner need and desire to create. I want to capture beauty, and my preferred subject is the human face. I could draw or paint a thousand faces and never get bored," said the artist. "My medium of choice is oil paint, it's luminous and alive, with endless possibilities, and knowing the masters have painted in oil for hundreds of years, makes it feel special, like an age-old ritual."

Born and raised in The Netherlands, Elena started drawing as soon as she could hold a pencil and never stopped; if there was a piece of paper in front of her she couldn't help but draw. Surrounded by world-class museums in her native country, she was fascinated by the works of the old masters, especially Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. Elena moved to California at the age of eighteen, and studied acting, worked as a make-up artist and in the fitness industry as a trainer and model. She has had a successful career and family life, she resides and paints full-time in Miami. We recently had the pleasure to chat with the artist: (brief excerpt from our Q&A)

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Q – Which artist or artists (past and/or present) do you admire most and why?
A – I grew up in Holland so I have a special affinity for the masters of the Dutch Golden Age. I remember being in awe as a child seeing some of the masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Fabritius, and others. The way they painted light and likeness, without optic aids, except maybe for a camera obscura, remains very impressive. The late 19th century painters Bouguereau and John Singer-Sargent were very skilled and their depictions of women are just exquisite. I also love the strange, surrealistic works by Dali, such a fascinating person. Chuck Close is another artist I greatly admire, for reviving realism, and for his innovative portraits. Then there are the countless contemporary realist painters, like Alyssa Monks, Casey Baugh, Davis Kassan, I could go on, there are just so many amazing artists I admire.

Elena Kaplan has artworks available for sale on her website, as well as special commissions or one-of-a-kind portraits can be requested. To learn more about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, general inquires or information, visit: https://www.elenakaplanart.com/