For the months of July and August, the Gallery at Canton Public Library features the art of local artist Jim Koplar. Calling himself an artist/educator, Koplar has been a practicing artist for most of his life. Most recently, he has begun offering classes at Phoebe'z Easle at 7 River Street in Collinsville.

As a young man gazing out the schoolroom window, Koplar was accused of being a daydreamer. He was actually developing his artistic sensibilities and building a repertoire of scenes and landscapes. A largely self-taught artist, he expresses himself in a variety of media, including graphite, charcoal, pastel, and oil and acrylic painting.

Born and raised in Torrington, Koplar moved to Canton in 1992. A carpenter by training, he has taken advantage of a number of locally offered classes in drawing and painting to develop his artistic eye. He received his associate's degree in visual fine art from Tunxis Community College in 2004.

Of late he has found that the sea is calling to him, and his recent paintings are of boats and buoys, rock shores and misty seascapes. "Perhaps the stillness of the water is reflecting my own inner quietings as I approach my 50th birthday," said Koplar. He finds inspiration, too, in the people and places of the Farmington Valley.

As a teacher he finds he most enjoys working with people who consider themselves "non-artists," or those whose inner artist is emerging. He has taught in a wide variety of settings, including the Center for Youth of the Center City Churches, the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, the Plainville Art League, the Canton Park and Recreation, the Burlington Library, and the University of Hartford.

Koplar's work has been shown throughout Connecticut's northwest corner. Most of the 25 works on display in the library show will be available for sale.