A one-man exhibition by artist John Kaufmann is akin to a rare wine tasting -- eagerly anticipated and happily savoured, so when his new show opens at the Windjammer Gallery tomorrow, it is certain to generate great interest among art lovers.

Described by one critic as "Bermuda's reigning Old Master,'' Mr. Kaufmann's last one-man show was in 1994, and by his own admission he has been working towards this one "for a long time''.

Renowned in particular for his fascination with seascapes, the artist's newest collection, entitled `Essential Elements', continues this journey. While some of them have been painted in Maine and New Hampshire, the majority are Bermudian.

In determining the subject of this show, Mr. Kaufmann says he had first to address the conundrum familiar to many resident artists: "How do you paint Bermuda without being trite, or the same old two shillings and sixpence kind of thing?'' The answer, he decided, would be found through likening the merging of natural elements to those within the human soul -- which philosophy he sums up in the invitation to tomorrow's opening.

"When you are young all things are possible; all vistas new and exciting.

Perhaps now I paint their substance -- memories, reflections. The merging of land, sky and water is infinite, timeless -- essential elements, our soul,'' he writes.

Explaining that he has painted the major components of land, sea and sky in a soft, rather than highly detailed, style, Mr. Kauffman says he has "gotten away from putting a lot of detail into his paintings.

"Now I put in just enough to try and invite the viewer to float through the mists into a state of oneness''.

Surveying some of the 20 seascapes to be included in the new show, the artist explains: "This is a distillation of many years of painting in Bermuda and looking for deeper meanings. I am trying to get at the root of us -- `Where is your soul?'. There are touches of light and reflections, all of which are purposely done to try and get the viewer's mind involved. It enables one to enjoy the painting in a different way. (The experience) becomes more philosophical.'' However, pursuing a philosophical quest is but one part of the artist's approach to his work. Meticulous planning and painstaking attention to detail are also vital ingredients.

Since he has a preconceived notion of what he wants the finished painting to look like, Mr. Kaufmann admits he spends "many, many hours'' in preparation before he puts a brush to canvas.

"Sometimes I do little colour sketches or ink or wash drawings to test an idea,'' he explains. "I do studies with a digital camera, and take `millions' of photographs. It's all about taking the image and then getting into it and finding detail. It might just be in the tiniest little piece that I see the right mood, the right reflections.'' When he is not painting at one of his favourite seaside locations, the talented Bermudian works in a custom-designed studio attached to his Somerset home. Set in beautifully landscaped grounds with a profusion of colourful plants beyond its windows, it provides an oasis of peace and serenity far removed from the helter-skelter of the world outside.

Partly reclaimed cellar, the studio's rough-hewn cedar beams, plastered white walls, wooden Venetian blinds, and rugs from exotic places covering the Mexican tiled floors provide an ambience which is both cosy and conducive to creativity.

There are Kaufmann paintings hanging on walls and stacked against them, at least one a work-in-progress on the easel, and all the accoutrements of painting neatly placed.

When he is alone and immersed in his creativity, Mr. Kaufmann likes to be totally swamped with sound from the stereo system. His choice of music depends on his mood, but for the current show, Ravel and Shostakovich got the nod, with the same pieces being played over and over again.

"Ravel understands water,'' he says of this choice, "and I also play Shostakovich's piano preludes and fugues.'' Like many artists, Mr. Kaufmann has multiple canvases underway at the same time.

"I need to look at them, hang them on the wall and say, `Am I comfortable with this?','' he explains. "I am not painting a scene. I am painting an idea, and the elements have to come together in such a way as to illustrate the idea. The vistas are always changing. I use the basic elements to compose a texture.'' While most artists have their work commercially framed, Mr. Kaufmann always makes his own, using the same methods the Old Masters did way back when. He learned the technique from an expert craftsman in the US, and it involves patience and many steps.

With two workshop areas devoted to framing, the process begins with basic pine which is cut into several styles of mouldings, many of them involving the assembly of three or four different mouldings to complete the frame.

Assisted by his full-time gardener/handyman Hermano Froias, the wood is first sanded to glassy smoothness and then coated with gesso and smoothed out. Next a mixture of French clay, rabbit skin glue and alcohol is applied. When dried, gold or white gold wash follows. The surface is then rubbed down to reveal the varying colours of the different layers. Sometimes gold leaf is used, and burnished with agate stones.

Rolls of linen and other textured fabrics attest to the fact that Mr. Kaufmann also makes his own mattes.

That he is able to do all this in addition to painting is something of a miracle, the artist reveals, because there was a time when his hand was so affected by arthritis that he could not hold a brush. Today, thanks to the miracles of modern surgery, his hand has been restored using what he terms "spare parts'' from his own body.

As befits a father, grandfather, architect, businessman (he is the president of Hamma Galleries, a founder/director of SKB Coatings, a founding member of the Association of Bermuda Architects, and also designed the Bermuda National Gallery of which he was a founding trustee, among many other responsibilities), Mr. Kaufmann always had plenty to occupy his time, and while he has not retired, he says he has now adjusted his business life to make more time for painting.

Last year, he was awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour for "innovative architecture and renowned art greatly enriching Bermuda's landscape''.

Asked how he sees the future, Mr. Kaufmann, who has also exhibited internationally, with one-man shows in New York, Montreal and Minnesota, replies: "I just want to keep going as I am going,'' which is good news for art lovers and collectors of his highly prized oils, which hang in important corporate and private collections, including Government House and the Premier's official residence, Camden.

sion is free. For further information telephone 292-7861.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS Resident handyman Hermano Froias (L) assists John Kauffman with all his framing.

Essential Elements continues at the Windjammer Gallery through November 18.

Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and admission is free. For further information telephone 292-7861.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro At ease-l: Bermudian artist John Kaufmann works on a painting for inclusion in his first one-man exhibition in Bermuda since 1994. Entitled `Essential Elements', its focus will be seascapes.

Taking five: John Kaufmann has much to smile about as he relaxes amid canvases he has painted for pleasure and exhibition. Among them are seascapes to be included in his new exhibition, which opens at the Windjammer Gallery tomorrow.