Minnesota Artist Honors US Military with Paintings

LITTLE FALLS - A Little Falls artist is honoring the U.S. military with paintings depicting each branch of the service.

In 2009, the Minnesota State Veterans Memorial Association hired Charles Kapsner to create five 8-by-10-foot oil paintings.

Kapsner already has finished paintings of the Army and the Navy. On Saturday, he unveiled his latest work, focusing on the Coast Guard.

Each canvas takes about 18 months to complete. Kapsner starts with a sketch, then uses volunteer models in period military garb.

While Kapsner never served in the military, he said he does a lot of research. He says he wants to create monuments, not just art.

The paintings hang in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Committal Hall, near Camp Ripley.