2001-2003 Los Angeles

Inspired by his newfound freedom in the arts, Caprell dedicated this period to experimentation and discovery. In lieu of formal training as a painter, he spent countless hours relentlessly developing his craft. He kept only a handful of paintings from this period – the rest were worked and reworked until rendered useless and finally thrown away. The process proved its worth when the last, and most potent of these paintings came shortly after Caprell stood at his bedroom window and watched the second plane crash into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Ready for a reprieve from the mournful aftermath, Caprell left for Los Angeles in 2002.

Once on the West Coast, Caprell found the relaxed atmosphere highly conducive to the progression of his work as he transitioned from representational painting to the abstract. While Caprell’s technique flourished, his personal life didn’t. The struggle of an emerging artist, combined with the inherent loneliness of city life, was a recipe for deep sadness, anxiety and vacancy. His work suffered under this cloud. Caprell was in great need of personal renewal.

That February, Caprell experienced an epiphany which he now describes as being filled with God’s spirit – his eyes were opened to the love that God had for him, and that love replaced the destructive powers of sadness and anxiety that were consuming his life. Three months later, his newfound sense of security was tested when he nearly drowned learning to surf in the waters off Newport Beach. Freed from the dark side of the human condition, Caprell began living with a fuller purpose, experiencing a heightened awareness of the beauty in life. From this, he painted. In July of 2004, Caprell began to compose his collection, sharing his work with the public for the first time.

 

BACK TO HISTORY