Born in Evanston and raised in suburban Chicago, Paprocki was intensely interested in art from an early age. When he was 7, his parents bought him a set of oils, some canvases, a palette, and an easel, everything an aspiring artist needed, and Paprocki plunged into his art. Five years later, his parents enrolled him at the Village Art School. At just 18 years old, he spent four months painting New York City's Plaza Hotel. Once finished, Paprocki saw no reason not to attempt to sell the painting to Ivana Trump, the new owner of the hotel. He sent a letter and a photo to her. The letter yielded an appointment and, ultimately, Paprocki's first sale.

Paprocki attended Loyala Univsersity in downtown Chicago where he majored in finance and minored in art because he was still uncertain about art as a career. During his third year at Loyala, Paprocki's work found a home in a New York City gallery and another gallery with facilities in Boston and Scottsdale. At just 21, his work was represented by a prestigious Chicago gallery where it hung next to that of major French impressionists. He currently lives with his wife, a classical violinist, in Park Ridge, Illinois.