Upcoming and Current Exhibitions
nothing, nada, zip
nothing, nada, zip
Available Artwork
TN/ Covid/ SKPS
Inspired by Mesenchymal Stem Cells
(All have been sold)
(All have been sold)
Could stem cell injections be the cure? Stay tuned...
Kroeppler/ Rinehart Collaboration
The Collaborative Process
Vince Rinehart and Karl Gustav Kroeppler
(Marietta, GA/ Woodstock, GA)
Painting with a collaborator brings the enjoyment of human interaction- an added dimension to the joy of creating. Stories inside narratives overlaid with my own experiences as well as my collaborator’s are fused into a non-precise collage of paint and objects to bring to life human emotional experiences. Each viewer may see different stories than we intended. So much the better! Working on larger surfaces, starting with lines, boundaries and boxes, then free painting randomly with general, fuzzy themes, finishing after many scenes have evolved, changed and transformed into a final mosaic. Free- loose- and fun…painting with a partner brings a special joy to the journey and hopefully extends that joy to the viewer.
- Vince Rinehart
Vince Rinehart and Karl Gustav Kroeppler
(Marietta, GA/ Woodstock, GA)
Painting with a collaborator brings the enjoyment of human interaction- an added dimension to the joy of creating. Stories inside narratives overlaid with my own experiences as well as my collaborator’s are fused into a non-precise collage of paint and objects to bring to life human emotional experiences. Each viewer may see different stories than we intended. So much the better! Working on larger surfaces, starting with lines, boundaries and boxes, then free painting randomly with general, fuzzy themes, finishing after many scenes have evolved, changed and transformed into a final mosaic. Free- loose- and fun…painting with a partner brings a special joy to the journey and hopefully extends that joy to the viewer.
- Vince Rinehart
Trigeminal Neuralgia: Intractable 1 and Intractable 2
Trigeminal Neuralgia- Self Portraits
Trigeminal Neuralgia- Pills
Upon initially being diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia I was prescribed medication to subdue the lightning-bolt-like attacks experienced on the right side of my face. Prescriptions, here and there, were introduced. One prescription was replaced with another as the previous became ineffective.
Eight years after the initial diagnosis, in late two-thousand-fifteen, my trigeminal neuralgia became intractable. The lightning bolts would not stop. During one episode, while lying in my bed, I experienced an indescribable sensation. It was like someone was standing above me, hitting the right side of my head with a sledge hammer. My wife had to stand next to the bed while I screamed in agony. As the sledge hammer hit my head I would physically move in the direction of the strike. She was there to keep me from being thrown off the bed.
On three separate occasions, my episodes were so intense, I needed to be admitted to the emergency room. Each time, medications were prescribed in order to find the right “cocktail.” Finally, it became clear that Dilantin was what subdued my episodes. Dilantin is an anti-seizure medication.
Microvascular Decompression followed to cure me of the intractable nature of my trigeminal neuralgia. Unfortunately, the procedure did not completely cure me of the disease. I still experience episodes of TN1 and TN2. TN1 being lightning-bolt-like sensations and TN2 being pulsating-like, searing sensations, almost like having a live wire in your face that burns intermittently for sometimes twenty minutes. Both sensations are excruciating to say the least, impossible to describe with words.
In two-thousand-seventeen, my episodes became severe enough again to seek another treatment. This time, a “cocktail” of Tegretol (another medication that treats seizures and nerve pain) and Dilantin, provided me with the relief I needed in order to function normally.
Recently, another procedure was presented to me. I was hopeful that a Cyber Knife procedure would offer the cure I had hoped for. There was no guarantee what the outcome would be. After the procedure, my episodes continued and despite efforts to taper off the medication I ingest to subdue the sensations, I am now advised to expect to be on medication the remainder of my life.
So many medications ingested to provide relief. Too many medications to remember.
Eight pieces, eight of each medication to symbolize the eight years from initially being diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia to the inspiration for this series.
Upon initially being diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia I was prescribed medication to subdue the lightning-bolt-like attacks experienced on the right side of my face. Prescriptions, here and there, were introduced. One prescription was replaced with another as the previous became ineffective.
Eight years after the initial diagnosis, in late two-thousand-fifteen, my trigeminal neuralgia became intractable. The lightning bolts would not stop. During one episode, while lying in my bed, I experienced an indescribable sensation. It was like someone was standing above me, hitting the right side of my head with a sledge hammer. My wife had to stand next to the bed while I screamed in agony. As the sledge hammer hit my head I would physically move in the direction of the strike. She was there to keep me from being thrown off the bed.
On three separate occasions, my episodes were so intense, I needed to be admitted to the emergency room. Each time, medications were prescribed in order to find the right “cocktail.” Finally, it became clear that Dilantin was what subdued my episodes. Dilantin is an anti-seizure medication.
Microvascular Decompression followed to cure me of the intractable nature of my trigeminal neuralgia. Unfortunately, the procedure did not completely cure me of the disease. I still experience episodes of TN1 and TN2. TN1 being lightning-bolt-like sensations and TN2 being pulsating-like, searing sensations, almost like having a live wire in your face that burns intermittently for sometimes twenty minutes. Both sensations are excruciating to say the least, impossible to describe with words.
In two-thousand-seventeen, my episodes became severe enough again to seek another treatment. This time, a “cocktail” of Tegretol (another medication that treats seizures and nerve pain) and Dilantin, provided me with the relief I needed in order to function normally.
Recently, another procedure was presented to me. I was hopeful that a Cyber Knife procedure would offer the cure I had hoped for. There was no guarantee what the outcome would be. After the procedure, my episodes continued and despite efforts to taper off the medication I ingest to subdue the sensations, I am now advised to expect to be on medication the remainder of my life.
So many medications ingested to provide relief. Too many medications to remember.
Eight pieces, eight of each medication to symbolize the eight years from initially being diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia to the inspiration for this series.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: Pills
My Trigeminal Neuralgia
January 2008
While toweling water off my face, I felt a small, spark-like sensation in my forehead. I didn't think much of it at the time. However, the "sparks" became more intense. Over the course of a week they became more painful and more pronounced. What began as a small "spark" became, at times, an instant sensation that threw me to the ground, afraid to touch my face out of fear that I could make it worse. I screamed uncontrollably. I prayed the pain would subside so that I could live one more day. I would describe it as a lightning bolt festering in my head for one, very long moment, countless times a day.
To put it in words belittled its painful visits to my head.
It afflicted me seasonally and I never knew when the season would begin or end.
I was finally, successfully, diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia.
It is referred to as "the suicide disease."
It has been listed as among the most painful conditions known to human-kind.
May 2013 Significant episode, increase in severity, emergency room, episodes now maintained with seizure medications
November 22, 2015 Episodes increased in severity and duration, intractable trigeminal neuralgia, ambulance, emergency room, oral seizure medications no longer effective, intravenous seizure medications administered
November 24, 2015 Episode, emergency room
November 25, 2015 Episode, ambulance, emergency room
November 29, 2015 Episode, ambulance, emergency room, five day in-patient pain stabilization needed
December 7, 2015 Evaluation with Doctor Benedict
December 9, 2015 Pre-op
December 11-14, 2015 Hospital, Microvascular Decompression (MVD-brain surgery) to relieve symptoms of intractable trigeminal neuralgia
April 2016 Symptoms return
March 2017 Symptoms increase in severity to include episodes of notable length. Ingesting Carbamazepine to minimize the shocks to my face and eliminate the lengthy episodes
April 2017 Appointment set for cyber knife procedure to “deaden” the nerve; to eliminate shocks to my face and to eliminate lengthier, excruciating episodes
May 15, 2017 Cyberknife procedure Kennestone Hospital under the supervision of Dr. McLaughlin
Success of procedure will be determined when completely weaned off all anti-seizure medication.
June 15, 2017 Procedure has proven to be ineffective. However, interaction with Dr. McLaughlin has led to a “cocktail” of medication that allows me to lead a relatively normal, day-to-day existence.
December 2019 Increased medication needed to ease painful episodes
February 2020 Increased medication needed to ease painful episodes. Prescribed 6 Dilantin, 6 Tegretol, 3 Gabapentin, 6 Prednisone- Slow taper off Gabapentin and Prednisone- Can not ingest less than 6 Dilantin and 6 Tegretol without increased symptoms. Concern for liver functions while taking such high levels of medication.
November 23rd, 2020 Percutaneous Rhizotomy- Dr. Boulis- Emory Hospital Atlanta, GA- Outpatient Procedure
Procedure has proven to be successful. Right side of face- perimeter of numbness-under right eye, rear of mandible, below lower teeth, upper and lower lips and area under nose- numbness beneath surface of skin- can still sense touch. Medication taper in progress.
June 6th,2022 Symptoms have increased in severity after sixteen months of relief and no medication. Appointment scheduled for assessment and subsequent percutaneous rhizotomy on July 13th, 2022.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia – also referred to as TN or TGN – is a chronic condition that causes extreme facial pain. With unpredictable attacks followed by increasingly brief periods of remission, trigeminal neuralgia is acknowledged by many in the medical field as the most painful condition in existence. Fortunately, there are advanced treatment options that can help.*
Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include sudden, severe, electric shock-like spasms or stabbing pain on one side of the face that last several seconds. Pain is often around the eye, cheek or lower part of the face and can be triggered by everyday occurrences such as laughing, drinking, chewing, brushing teeth, talking or facial touching. In some cases, patients first assume their condition is caused by nerves associated with the teeth, and seek help from a dentist, though the pain can be also be reported in the ear, eye and even the nose. If left untreated, the disease tends to worsen over time.*
*n.p. “Conditions and Treatments: Trigeminal Neuralgia.” Mischer Neuroscience Institute: Memorial Hermann: The University of Texas: Health Science at Houston. n.d. Web. 8 February 2016.
Miscellaneous Figure
I have always been plagued with a strong desire to write a memoir, of sorts, documenting my life up to the current time. My memoir would not only be a documentation of the "characters" in my life but would also document, of course, the events of my life up to this point as well. Despite this desire, I have come to accept the fact that I am not one to write a memoir but I could, instead, paint my memoir. With that in mind, understand that the people depicted in my work are not painted or drawn in a precise manner. I have learned to celebrate the fact that I am a human being and human beings are prone to imperfection. I enjoy dripping paint, a single line defining a contour or even a carefully placed brush stroke defining light on a surface.
My experience in my studio is one I wish to somehow share with others. I have come to appreciate the energy and sometimes happenstance nature of what occurs in the space in which my work is created. At the same time, I strive to obtain a balance with the medium(s) at hand. I enjoy the expressive application of paint, charcoal and collage as well as a more controlled handling of those materials where the piece demands such treatment. Thickly applied paint coexisting with thin, thickly drawn line with thin, vague areas of shape and line amongst areas carefully defined, etc. In other words, in my work, obtaining a degree of likeness of my subject is almost as important as the exploration and experimentation of the materials I have chosen to utilize.
I have always been plagued with a strong desire to write a memoir, of sorts, documenting my life up to the current time. My memoir would not only be a documentation of the "characters" in my life but would also document, of course, the events of my life up to this point as well. Despite this desire, I have come to accept the fact that I am not one to write a memoir but I could, instead, paint my memoir. With that in mind, understand that the people depicted in my work are not painted or drawn in a precise manner. I have learned to celebrate the fact that I am a human being and human beings are prone to imperfection. I enjoy dripping paint, a single line defining a contour or even a carefully placed brush stroke defining light on a surface.
My experience in my studio is one I wish to somehow share with others. I have come to appreciate the energy and sometimes happenstance nature of what occurs in the space in which my work is created. At the same time, I strive to obtain a balance with the medium(s) at hand. I enjoy the expressive application of paint, charcoal and collage as well as a more controlled handling of those materials where the piece demands such treatment. Thickly applied paint coexisting with thin, thickly drawn line with thin, vague areas of shape and line amongst areas carefully defined, etc. In other words, in my work, obtaining a degree of likeness of my subject is almost as important as the exploration and experimentation of the materials I have chosen to utilize.
Conversation
It seems, at times, the importance of conversation in our current civilization escapes most of humanity.
Many of our disagreements and misunderstandings with others could be resolved or avoided entirely by simply partaking in basic conversation; a simple exchange of carefully chosen words; the ability to converse and therefore to understand…hopefully with an open and accepting mind.
Drawing and painting have been processes of discovery and exploration of not only the information and materials at hand but of the subject at hand as well whether it is the human form or inanimate object; a conversation of sorts. The intense examination of a subject can only further one’s understanding of the subject whether it be the form of an apple or the gaze of the sitter.
Can a conversation be non-verbal? Unspoken?
It seems my understanding of a subject such as a set of eye glasses can be just as thorough as my understanding of my human subjects.
As of today, July 27th 2009, age forty-one, the act of conversation somehow enables me to possess an understanding of my surroundings and more importantly the ability to accept and even understand those nearest to me. Politicians or close family, the misunderstood, misunderstanding or the need to understand…converse.
It seems, at times, the importance of conversation in our current civilization escapes most of humanity.
Many of our disagreements and misunderstandings with others could be resolved or avoided entirely by simply partaking in basic conversation; a simple exchange of carefully chosen words; the ability to converse and therefore to understand…hopefully with an open and accepting mind.
Drawing and painting have been processes of discovery and exploration of not only the information and materials at hand but of the subject at hand as well whether it is the human form or inanimate object; a conversation of sorts. The intense examination of a subject can only further one’s understanding of the subject whether it be the form of an apple or the gaze of the sitter.
Can a conversation be non-verbal? Unspoken?
It seems my understanding of a subject such as a set of eye glasses can be just as thorough as my understanding of my human subjects.
As of today, July 27th 2009, age forty-one, the act of conversation somehow enables me to possess an understanding of my surroundings and more importantly the ability to accept and even understand those nearest to me. Politicians or close family, the misunderstood, misunderstanding or the need to understand…converse.
Studio Nudes
In 1985, I was one year into a Degree in the Arts. I was rather “blind” at the time and I was simply taking art courses because I had, what seemed to be, a lack of interest in anything but art. Well, I had other interests but they were nothing I could pursue in college. My first day in figure drawing was memorable. After all, I would be nervously drawing someone nude for the first time in my life. I soon discovered that that was the least of my concerns.
The revelation that accurately drawing the human form was very difficult, if not impossible, hit me at once. I managed to produce a small handful of, at the time, impressive drawings that exhibited improvement over the course of the semester.
Since that time, I have endured countless semesters of Life Drawing and Figure Painting and have toiled over many figurative drawings and paintings of friends and family both clothed and nude.
Rendering the human form is, artistically speaking, the greatest challenge I have personally faced. Many years ago I came to the conclusion that if I were to consider myself the artist I wanted to be, I would need to be able to accurately render the human form.
Many years have passed and what you see before you is my latest effort at somehow coming closer to achieving my goal. I am not, however, saying that I have achieved perfection in rendering the figure. It is my opinion that this goal can never be obtained and one can only continuously strive to obtain perfection without ever reaching it. At some point, I seemed to throw my hands up in the air and I accepted the fact that I will never reach that level of perfection. It is simply best to be content with the level currently obtained. After all, life is simply too short and there might be greater lessons to be learned by taking “the fork in the road.”
In 1985, I was one year into a Degree in the Arts. I was rather “blind” at the time and I was simply taking art courses because I had, what seemed to be, a lack of interest in anything but art. Well, I had other interests but they were nothing I could pursue in college. My first day in figure drawing was memorable. After all, I would be nervously drawing someone nude for the first time in my life. I soon discovered that that was the least of my concerns.
The revelation that accurately drawing the human form was very difficult, if not impossible, hit me at once. I managed to produce a small handful of, at the time, impressive drawings that exhibited improvement over the course of the semester.
Since that time, I have endured countless semesters of Life Drawing and Figure Painting and have toiled over many figurative drawings and paintings of friends and family both clothed and nude.
Rendering the human form is, artistically speaking, the greatest challenge I have personally faced. Many years ago I came to the conclusion that if I were to consider myself the artist I wanted to be, I would need to be able to accurately render the human form.
Many years have passed and what you see before you is my latest effort at somehow coming closer to achieving my goal. I am not, however, saying that I have achieved perfection in rendering the figure. It is my opinion that this goal can never be obtained and one can only continuously strive to obtain perfection without ever reaching it. At some point, I seemed to throw my hands up in the air and I accepted the fact that I will never reach that level of perfection. It is simply best to be content with the level currently obtained. After all, life is simply too short and there might be greater lessons to be learned by taking “the fork in the road.”
Pills
Several years ago, my life began to get a little complicated. I was no longer a bachelor and two lives would soon need to learn to coexist with each other. It was at that point that I began to notice that my once restful, lengthy, uninterrupted nights of sleep were soon becoming interrupted and rather short in duration.
Amongst other events in my life, I was also accepted into a Masters Program, told I would be teaching during that program, loved ones were ill or passed away, a home was being remodeled and beautiful children were created.
As one may imagine, my once restful nights of sleep were over and insomnia became something I would struggle with for years. I researched the condition and every remedy was explored from mild, warm glasses of milk and meditation before bedtime to taking more extreme measures of hypnotherapy, drinking heavily and finally being prescribed Ambien (I was told it was the prescription sleep-aid to the astronauts). Nothing helped. Sometimes, after two or three days without sleep I began to question my sanity. When I did finally sleep, it would only be for a few hours.
Luckily, with the wisdom and encouragement of my wife, I began to realize that I simply couldn’t cope with some of the extreme pressure “life” presents to me. I have come to terms with the fact that I am a simple human being who enjoys the simpler things in life like looking up into the sky and watching clouds drift by, spending uninterrupted, peaceful moments with my family, listening to music, reading a book and, of course, relaxing in my studio etc. Computers, commissions, deadlines, cell phones, traffic, etc. would have to become someone else’s issues.
Upon completion of my degree, I had to move on from the generous studio space provided for me and into a much smaller space in which to work. Series’ needed to be reconsidered.
The pills series was a perfect solution. I would not only continue elements present in my preceding work but I would also be giving myself an opportunity to take a break from the figure, work small in a smaller space and, most importantly, I would be given a chance to meditate on the events in my life.
Today, I sleep soundly for the most part. I am currently free and clear of any sleep aid other than simply living my life (to the best of my ability) free and clear of stressful situations with the exception of the occasional disrupting event.
Fifteen drawings of pills, one hundred and twenty pills total.
Sleep well.
Several years ago, my life began to get a little complicated. I was no longer a bachelor and two lives would soon need to learn to coexist with each other. It was at that point that I began to notice that my once restful, lengthy, uninterrupted nights of sleep were soon becoming interrupted and rather short in duration.
Amongst other events in my life, I was also accepted into a Masters Program, told I would be teaching during that program, loved ones were ill or passed away, a home was being remodeled and beautiful children were created.
As one may imagine, my once restful nights of sleep were over and insomnia became something I would struggle with for years. I researched the condition and every remedy was explored from mild, warm glasses of milk and meditation before bedtime to taking more extreme measures of hypnotherapy, drinking heavily and finally being prescribed Ambien (I was told it was the prescription sleep-aid to the astronauts). Nothing helped. Sometimes, after two or three days without sleep I began to question my sanity. When I did finally sleep, it would only be for a few hours.
Luckily, with the wisdom and encouragement of my wife, I began to realize that I simply couldn’t cope with some of the extreme pressure “life” presents to me. I have come to terms with the fact that I am a simple human being who enjoys the simpler things in life like looking up into the sky and watching clouds drift by, spending uninterrupted, peaceful moments with my family, listening to music, reading a book and, of course, relaxing in my studio etc. Computers, commissions, deadlines, cell phones, traffic, etc. would have to become someone else’s issues.
Upon completion of my degree, I had to move on from the generous studio space provided for me and into a much smaller space in which to work. Series’ needed to be reconsidered.
The pills series was a perfect solution. I would not only continue elements present in my preceding work but I would also be giving myself an opportunity to take a break from the figure, work small in a smaller space and, most importantly, I would be given a chance to meditate on the events in my life.
Today, I sleep soundly for the most part. I am currently free and clear of any sleep aid other than simply living my life (to the best of my ability) free and clear of stressful situations with the exception of the occasional disrupting event.
Fifteen drawings of pills, one hundred and twenty pills total.
Sleep well.
Branch Study
2007 Kroepplers move from Phoenix, AZ to Woodstock, GA
2008 Karl Kroeppler fascinated with the abundant lifeless, leafless branches of the winter trees silhouetted by the gray winter sky- A landscape much different than what he witnessed in the southwest-
2009 Karl Kroeppler begins Branch Study consisting of fifteen individual observations of surrounding branch networks- the studies become exercises in composition and value-
2011 Karl Kroeppler completes branch study-
2007 Kroepplers move from Phoenix, AZ to Woodstock, GA
2008 Karl Kroeppler fascinated with the abundant lifeless, leafless branches of the winter trees silhouetted by the gray winter sky- A landscape much different than what he witnessed in the southwest-
2009 Karl Kroeppler begins Branch Study consisting of fifteen individual observations of surrounding branch networks- the studies become exercises in composition and value-
2011 Karl Kroeppler completes branch study-
Miscellaneous Object
Sketch
The sketch can satisfy a variety of needs for any given artist. It can help an artist brainstorm. Or it can allow the artist to experiment with a variety of ideas on a small scale. Artists are often encouraged to execute sketches before beginning something of greater importance so that time is not wasted, mistakes are minimized, no effort is lost, etc. Sometimes the sketch will satisfy that purpose for me. Often times, however, I carry a sketchbook when and only if I foresee an opportunity to work in it. I’m not militant about sketching. I am now a father of two children, one the age of three and the other five months, and find that if I have any time to sit, I choose to spend that time…well…sitting and doing absolutely nothing but collecting my thoughts, relaxing, breathing or trying desperately to muster enough energy to make it through the remainder of the day.
These days and in the past, I carry a sketchbook to document moments in gesture. Instead of photographing a moment, person or scene, I find it simply more satisfying to capture them through the act of drawing. A remote beach in Jamaica, a cool afternoon in Flagstaff, Arizona, my daughter’s heart wrenching struggle with a virus…all moments captured, documented in a…
Sketch.
The sketch can satisfy a variety of needs for any given artist. It can help an artist brainstorm. Or it can allow the artist to experiment with a variety of ideas on a small scale. Artists are often encouraged to execute sketches before beginning something of greater importance so that time is not wasted, mistakes are minimized, no effort is lost, etc. Sometimes the sketch will satisfy that purpose for me. Often times, however, I carry a sketchbook when and only if I foresee an opportunity to work in it. I’m not militant about sketching. I am now a father of two children, one the age of three and the other five months, and find that if I have any time to sit, I choose to spend that time…well…sitting and doing absolutely nothing but collecting my thoughts, relaxing, breathing or trying desperately to muster enough energy to make it through the remainder of the day.
These days and in the past, I carry a sketchbook to document moments in gesture. Instead of photographing a moment, person or scene, I find it simply more satisfying to capture them through the act of drawing. A remote beach in Jamaica, a cool afternoon in Flagstaff, Arizona, my daughter’s heart wrenching struggle with a virus…all moments captured, documented in a…
Sketch.