The career of Hrvoje Kapelina has been
determined by an extremely wish and need to paint. Like
many other self-taught painters, unfettered and free
of all rules and techniques imposed by eventual schools,
he had to face many dilemmas and traps. Apart from the
strong wish to create, his success is due to the unquestionable
talent and to the great energy he invested in order
to acquire and perfect different techniques. Looking
for his personal, individual style, he taught from those
painters who gave preference to a drawing.
His
realistic appartenance is conditioned by the beauty
and the harmony of his homeland and the Mediterranean
in general, which, by its greatness, almost dictate
copying. Kapelina skillfully eludes to fall into temptation
of the blind imitation of nature and therefore, his
paintings, with recognizable motives and details, are
not the pure copy but the true, intimate impression
of landscape.
Sometimes, Kapelina's drawing is like
a guide who reveals us unknown details of known places.
Certain vignettes of the town itself, olive-groves or
seascapes, Kapelina would make enigmatic, mysterious
by his specific colouring. Kapelina's paintings art
the synthesis of persuasive drawing, convincing and
firm composition and airy watercolor which give them
softness and charm that enchant. Very special is the
cycle of pastel paintings where the painter opts for
different, almost mystic atmosphere, stressed by dark
background and special light effects.
In these last years oils on canvases
are not rarity in Hrvoje Kapelina's opus. These paintings
wear all the characteristics of his individual style:
convincing composition, stressed contour and irreal
colouring. The azure coat of paint brings to his canvases
and extraordinary atmosphere.
Hrvoje Kapelina is painter of a great
energy and his approach to painting is always a new
challenge when facing new motives or technical possibilities.
The sincerity and force of his artistic impression attract
the attention of local and international public. His
works of art have found place in numerous collections
all over the world, reminding their owners of the sunny
South and of the nice journey.
( Lucija Oresic, prof. )