He always intertwined school, college, professional and community endeavors with artistic expressions. For three years in WWII, he sketched hundreds of fellow officers and recruits, when not attending to their dental needs, in pencil, charcoal, ink, pastel and oil. A selection of those sketches was in a solo art exhibition at the Rockport Art Association in April '91. His oil technique was developed from books, museum paintings and prints. Although there is a resemblance to painters he admires, his paintings are recognized as having a uniquely bold, bright, personal style.

For over 35 years, despite a busy professional career, a variety of on-site paintings were done by carrying his easel with him to orthodontic meetings and on vacations. In the Kaplan Gallery there are many paintings of other countries and throughout the United States. He has captured well-known waterfront and street scenes on Cape Ann. His distinctive nudes, portraits, and figure paitnings are also on display.

He was an artist member of the North Shore Arts Association, the Rockport Art Association, and the Copley Society. Dr. Kaplan has exhibited in juried shows throughout the U.S. and won many awards for his work.

In the Spring of 1989, he had one-artist shows at the Rockport Art Association and in Cleveland, Ohio. His work is reperesented by the Agora Gallery in Manhattan, New York where he had a one artist show in 1992 and was part of a group show in June 1993.

When asked about how he found time to paint while maintaining a busy orthodontic practice and spend time with a busy family, he replied that, in the summer when he did most of his Cape Ann scenes, he achieved a form of solitude as a "cocktail hour" painter from mid-afternoon until the light was gone during weekends and on vacation.

After his death in 2003, the Copley Society in Boston, MA and the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, MA honored him with one man shows, in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

She studied watercolor with Myra Hall, Betty Lou Schlemm, A.W.S., Barbara Donnelly, S. Ohrvel Carlson, and Tom Sutherland.

She is currently an associate member of the North Shore Arts association, where she served on the Board of Directors, as well as the Rockport Art Association.

Ms. Kaplan's works have been exhibited at the Rockport Art Association; the North Shore Arts Association; the Fleet Bank in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA; the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; the Schrafft Complex in Cambridge, MA; the Addison Gilbert Hospital (one woman show);, the Melrose Arts Council juried show; the Reading Arts Association; the Red Brick Gallery Invitational Exhibit; and the State of the Art Gallery in Gloucester, MA.

Ms. Kaplan is currently involved in writing and illustrating children's books. She continues to paint as time allows.

Some of her awards include:

Best in Show (out of 108 works of art in all mediums), Rockport Art Association

First Prize Professional Watercolor Division, Topsfield Fair, Topsfield, MA (professionally judged) 2002

Best in Show in any Medium (out of 61 works), North Shore Arts Association, 2006

Numerous prizes (first, second, third and honorable mentions), Yankee Dental Congress Exhibitions (professionally judged), 1994-2001

In 2007 Ms. Kaplan is exhibiting at the Beebe Estate in Melrose, MA and in the Annisquam Art Gallery in Annisquam, MA, as well as, the North Shore Arts Association Associates Exhibit.