Artwork created by Joe Kopler (sculptured painting)

Look closely and you’ll see you’re not looking at the actual Beatles album cover, you’re seeing something new by Torrington’s Joe Kopler. Founder of a unique sculptured painting process, Kopler creates ornate works of art with 3-dimensional elements. His latest creation was inspired by Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

From the side you can see the raised quality of the characters

It is a sizable piece with dimensions of 24 x 24 with a 1/2 inch border. The sculptured painting’s foundation is birch plywood and Kopler sculpts the characters with durabond onto the board. After an acrylic primer, Kopler finishes the details with acrylic paints. Each painting is a labor of love; this particular work took 3 weeks to complete. Fortunately Kopler’s friend Mike Box filmed the process of the creation of this painting.

The subjects in Kopler’s work varies greatly depending on the inspiration or the wishes of the patron who commissions him. Kopler paints tributes to individual towns in Connecticut (his very popular Connecticut series), landscapes and even motivational signs but for this large work, he was inspired by the Beatles. “I was born a few years before Beatlemania broke out,” says Kopler. ” I grew up with them, playing the 45’s. Anyone my age can say the same thing. They (Beatles) broke up in 1970 and they’re still popular!”

Joe Kopler’s work can be found at his ESTY shop HERE

and can be found on facebook HERE

and at his gallery (open by appointment) at 91 country club road in Torrington, Ct.

Call (860) 626-TACO ( 8226 ) for more information or for an appointment.