Frederic C. Kaplan

Frederic C. Kaplan serves as Senior Lecturer at Cumberland County College and Continuing Education Instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), with additional instruction at the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial. Holding an MFA from PAFA, he bridges professional art practice with education through specialized workshops in painting and drawing.

His educational foundation includes:

• MFA and Certificate in painting from PAFA
• Studies at University of the Arts and Barnes Foundation
• Training at Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial
• Independent studies in England and Italy

Kaplan's artistic practice centers on representational techniques with distinctive expertise in rendering complex subjects like reflective metal and transparent glass. His teaching philosophy emphasizes accessible methodology, transforming intimidating concepts like perspective into practical skills through his signature 'Painless Perspective' system. Workshops span foundational drawing, color theory, and specialized media applications, all grounded in observational discipline.

As an exhibiting artist since the late 1990s, Kaplan's work appears in public and private collections nationwide. His professional journey from commercial illustration to gallery art informs a uniquely practical teaching approach that values technical precision alongside creative expression.

Students engage with Kaplan through diverse learning environments including plein air sketching, studio-based still life, and intensive media workshops. His current 2025 PAFA curriculum features specialized sessions on perspective, metal/glass painting, and urban sketching, demonstrating consistent demand for his applied methodology across beginner to advanced levels.