About the Series: 

Great art doesn't just appear on gallery walls, it emerges from hours of work, experimentation, and dedication within the artist's studio.

In the Studio is our new series exploring the creative process behind the work we show. We share interviews with LaFontsee Gallery artists to discuss what drives their practice, where they find inspiration, and what a day in the studio actually looks like.

These conversations go beyond the finished piece. We're interested in the materials that changed everything, the breakthroughs and false starts, and the experiences that spark new directions.

When you understand an artist's practice, you see their work differently. You see it more completely. You connect with the artist, and their work more.  

New conversations with LaFontsee artists, published every two weeks.

Ginnie Cappaert

Tell us about your background. What first drew you to art, and how did your path as an artist begin?

My degree was in business and when I had my second child I 'wanted out of the cubicle' and decided to pursue my art and stay at home to raise my family.  My art had a lot of twists and turns but has sustained me as a full time artist for 30 years. I never tire of being in the studio.  I have more inspiration in my soul than I will ever have the time to paint.  

I feel very fortunate to work this hard which has taken me to where I am at now.  I have found that owning my own galleries is also gratifying to me.  I love seeing and meeting collectors of my work.  Art is all about relationship building. 

How do you define your practice.  Tell us about the materials, processes, and ideas that anchor your work?

My abstract minimalist landscape paintings are intuitive and playful, often developed slowly over time through the extensive layers of oil, cold wax and marble dust.  I draw from the landscapes that I travel to and the landscapes that surround me in my daily life.  

The layers include texture, mark making, scraping and dissolving to subtly create depth, interest and curiosity within the painting.  I continually strive to find a balance in my work between abstraction and landscape.

Where do you find inspiration, both within the studio and beyond it?

I find inspiration in my travels and when I am out in nature.  As an avid hiker I am always drawn to the landscape both up close and at a distance.  The colors, the light and the texture of the trees and rocks speak to me.

What does a day in your studio typically look like?

I LOVE my studio time.  Making a hot cup of tea and sitting with my journal for a few minutes before I start painting is magical.  Every studio session I start with a new selection of paint on my palette.  This could be hours of just mixing colors!  I find this so gratifying and then I continue through the day painting with that palette only.  My work is very layered and is a  slow process so each day starts with a new palette and new inspiration making the paintings filled with variation and depth.

Which artists, writers, or cultural influences have had a lasting impact on your practice?

In my recent works, I am exploring the use of color, either neutrals and monochromes or vibrant and intense colors exactly like nature and the change of the seasons.  My inspiration comes from artists including Mark Rothko, Richard Diebenkorn, Wolf Kahn and Joan Mitchell.

When viewers encounter your work at LaFontsee, what do you hope they experience or take away?

My work is about place and memory.  I hope a viewer finds a memory of a place that they have been to.  This creates a relationship between the abstraction of my place and their place.  I am all about connection.  I also wish to portray a sense of serenity. 

What are you working on now, and what’s on the horizon?

Currently I am working on finishing some commissions and then as fall/winter arrives I will dive deep and settle into my studio.  I am always exploring color and using it in my abstraction and landscape work to push some boundaries. 

Outside of the studio, what sustains you and fuels your creativity?

Outside of the studio I love to travel, hike, bike and spend time with my 2 grandbabies.  Nature is my favorite place to be and I am surrounded by beauty in Door County, WI during the summer and Santa Fe, NM in the winter.  I own 2 galleries in both places and enjoy the varied landscapes of both Wisconsin and New Mexico.  Previously I lived in Michigan for 30 years where I raised my family.  

Want to learn more about Ginnie Cappaert? 

Visit her artist page to explore their full collection, biography, and available works.

There's nothing quite like experiencing art in person! The texture, scale, and presence of a piece reveal themselves in ways a screen simply cannot capture. 

We invite you to see Ginnie Cappaert's work firsthand at the gallery - stop by during open hours, or make an appointment today!