Rising Stars: Meet Anne Kupillas of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Kupillas.

Hi Anne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up on Long Island, NY in a family of hardworking creative types – my mom was a singer who worked at a local pharmacy, and her parents were creative as well, both working in sales. I have the most beautiful memories of my mom singing in choral groups and embroidering my clothing with bees and butterflies, and doing crafts together with my brothers and me. My grandfather was an amateur sculptor and my grandmother wanted to go to fashion school; we still have several of her 1940’s fashion illustrations – she had an abundance of natural talent. My brothers (three) are all also artistic in different ways. But I didn’t consider art as a realistic career for me. I grew up valuing traditional hard work, and the arts were just a hobby.

Even so, I was lucky enough to take art classes throughout high school, and my college roommate was a Fine Art major, so I would sneak into the studio with her. I majored in Art History but started attending all the live figure drawing sessions I could squeeze in. After graduating, I worked in a few museums and then moved out to Long Beach to run the gift store at the Aquarium of the Pacific. After that, I went into sales and began a long, engaging career selling furniture to international interior designers and hotels. I traveled the world and even lived in England for four years, all the while drawing and painting sporadically on weekends or on vacations. I did take classes here and there and even had a solo art show of my nude studies in 2009, at my brother Michael’s gallery in Florida. My dream was always to be a full-time, “real” artist – I just didn’t see how to make that a reality until retirement. I dreamed of turning 65 and wearing mumus full-time (ask any of my friends, this was an actual goal of mine) and painting. Just painting.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was my own obstacle for a long time, until by chance I fell extremely ill in 2017. No one knew what was wrong with me or how to help me. I had pain everywhere, vision and hearing problems, couldn’t think straight, and had a mile-long list of weird symptoms. I started having panic attacks, too, and was in and out of the ER and hospital several times. I saw 13 doctors (including a week-long stay at the Mayo Clinic) and had every test known to man, but NO ONE could figure out what was wrong with me. Now I know I had contracted Lyme Disease plus two co-infections, which is common when you get bit by a tick, as I did. But at the time, I was a medical mystery, so I took a demotion at work, and then quit my job as my health continued to decline. At my worst point, I couldn’t remember words, couldn’t read or drive, and couldn’t shower by myself.

To combat my growing restlessness and depression, my GP recommended I take up painting again. And I did! It wasn’t easy – concentrating would activate my nerve pain and headaches – but I kept at it for an hour or two every day, and the sketching and painting took my mind off my symptoms. I haven’t stopped painting since, and the art has become so much more than just therapy for me. It’s become a huge part of my self-worth and persona on this long road back to “normal.”

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mostly work in watercolors! I love painting from nature – animals, landscapes, figures, and trees. Southern California is a great place to be an artist, there’s such an abundance of natural beauty. I also got into gouache and acrylic painting two years ago, and I’ve been having fun creating on canvas and on ungessoed cradled wooden panels. I love the drag of the paintbrush against the raw wood grain!

Additionally, I’m know for my pet portraits, and also do vacation portraits more and more lately. I love doing custom work and making someone’s vision come to life. Now, I’m healthy enough that I can do more challenging fine artwork, I have been doing more challenging projects, including larger size watercolors and the acrylics and mixed media, and going back to figure drawing in ink and wash.

For several years now, I have been teaching workshops on watercolor painting at different spaces in the LA and OC, including through CSULB’s OLLI program and Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster. Hosting a free “watercolor happy hour” on Zoom every Friday afternoon, during which artists can join me to paint a different subject each week, has kept my students and community together through a LOT. We are approaching our 310th week!

How do you think about happiness?
Art and community are what make me happy. I am at my happiest when I’m painting with other like-minded creatives, whether it’s outside or in the studio, during a teaching session, a demo or just hanging out and painting with my students and friends. I truly believe that art is healing. I call it my “silver lining,” because I would likely have waited until I retired to start painting and feel the happiness of creating art for a living and also teaching others to create. I’m so glad I didn’t wait, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey, because it’s taught me so much – humility, compassion, patience, perseverance – you name it!

Pricing:

• Watercolor Pet Portraits starting at $175
• Watercolor Commissions starting at $225
• Private Lessons $65 / hour
• Watercolor Happy Hour / FREE

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annekupillasfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annekupillasfineart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@annekupillasfineart
• Other: https://anneqpdraws@etsy.com