Arnold David Clapman  

In the early 70's,  Arnold David Clapman studied printmaking with the world-renown lithographer, Tur Bengs, at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston. Tur Bengs’ work was stylized and representational, while Arnold's was expressionistic and often abstract. Having mastered conventional techniques, Arnold tried to expand the range of graphic effects possible on litho stones and began experimenting with Picasso's deconstructing method for making linocut block prints. This culminated in a series of abstract interpretations of George Catlin's Native American portraits.
 
After graduating with a masters degree, Arnold implemented an innovative fine arts program at the Girls School of Milton Academy, a distinguished prep school in Milton MA. After concluding this project, he continued to focus on abstract expressionism, first in Cambridge MA, then years later, in his Boston studio using oils and acrylics, mixed media, airbrushing, and spray cans.

Conventional canvases gave way to sculptural armatures, over which canvases were stretched; these became enormous freestanding constructs, representing a variety of life size animals. These works were later exhibited in the Boston Visual Artists Guild show, a one-man show at NYC's Andre Zarre Gallery and a few were also part of a Mayoral Exhibition at Boston's City Hall.

 The energy of the time was electric; the Viet Nam war wound to an end and the Black Power movement was in full sway. No doubt all this had a dramatic impact on Arnold's work.