Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy S. “WhiteBear” Copsey.
Hi Kathy S. “WhiteBear”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am an American artist with Native American & European heritage. I specialize in Original Contemporary Native-themed & Wildlife Artwork with a focus on Acrylic Paintings with Texture on canvas. I work in other mediums as well, and I am a self-taught artist with a strong background in art and music, having worked in multiple positions since 13 years old including my own art business, computer graphics, custom picture framing, as a self-employed musical instrument repair technician, and managing a music store for many years.
Many of my pieces come from dreams and visions I have received and animals that visit me in person, and with each piece also comes a message with my art being focused on helping as many as possible in all ways possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many challenges and lessons along the way in my journey. I have struggled with health issues almost my entire life ranging from illnesses such as Chronic Lyme Disease to numerous injuries as simple as strained muscles to a second neck injury and a back injury from being rear-ended while waiting at a stoplight and even injuries to both feet that made it unbearable to stand more than a minute at the most.
While I’ve never had an easy life, I have always managed to keep going despite at times it feeling like everything was stacked against me. I’ve been working since 13 years old, starting with my own businesses of selling my artwork and being a self-taught and self-employed musical instrument repair technician, and starting at 19 years old, I started other jobs such as custom picture framing, computer graphics, managing a music store, and more over the years, working up to 2-3 jobs at a time and up to 120 hours per week to make ends meet or to hold a business together.
I haven’t lived a single moment for over 26 years now without dealing with system-wide inflammation and body-wide pain in addition to other challenges of massive chronic exhaustion and cognitive challenges after becoming fairly ill at 17. But, I have been working since 2015 to improve my health, and slowly things are improving. I was hunched over for more than two years from being rear-ended in August 2013, but even though I still deal with a back injury, after starting physical therapy in November 2015 and a few months of working on my back, neck, and knees, my entire back no longer felt like it was completely on fire, I could start walking without limping so often, and I was able to stand up straight again. I went through treatment for Chronic Lyme’s Disease (which is now dormant) in 2015 and have steadily been working on my other health challenges. It has been a very long process so far and very slow progression, but even though it’s still painful, I can stand up straight and for longer than I could before, as of my second MRI a few years ago, I no longer had bulging discs in my back, I slowly am seeing improvements with my health in general, and I know I’m on the right track and truly believe everything will eventually resolve.
Despite all the challenges I’ve faced, what I’ve come to understand is how each one I’ve faced has shaped not only who I was meant to be or become, but also how much each challenge has guided me to the path I’m supposed to travel. Even though it took several years, there are many things such as my car accident in 2013 that if they hadn’t have happened, I may never have pursued being an artist full-time starting in 2018. What we all have to learn is that despite what challenges we face in our lives, whether small or large, easy or difficult, what’s important is how we learn to deal with those challenges and what we learn from them so not only do we not have to repeat the lesson we’re supposed to be learning, but also so we can use that knowledge and experience to help others.
While I haven’t met with much financial success with selling my art yet, I know I’m in the verge of a breakthrough, and I will keep fighting for my dreams no matter the setbacks because I love creating my artwork, sharing it with others, and bringing more joy & healing into the world, and once I meet the level of my dreams, I will be able to help even more, hopefully more than I could ever imagine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While I work in several different mediums, I specialize in acrylic paintings with texture. For many years I really only focused on drawing in pencil, but about five years ago, I got back into painting as well and started doing texture with my paintings about three years ago. While I have learned quite a bit on how to create the texture of an animal’s fur, a bird’s feathers, a plant or tree, or even a person, each piece I do with texture is always a learning experience and new challenge. While I have seen other artists do various versions of texture in their work, I have yet to see anyone else do quite what I’m doing, and each person I explain my method to is even more amazed when they ask how I actually created a painting that literally has something in 3D coming off the canvas. And, even more important is that I’m always thrilled when my intentions and the message with each piece comes across.
Most of my current pieces come from visions or animals that visit me in person, and in addition, each painting also has a message. One of the cool things about the messages that come with each visitor or painting is that while there might be a particular message for myself, what I often receive to relay as well may be a different message, and despite what message I may include with each piece, the person who sees or receives the painting may actually receive an entirely different message specific to him/her.
How do you think about happiness?
In general, I’m the happiest when I’m creating, whether it be painting or drawing or even to some degree other mediums as well. But I also love being surrounded by nature and it always gives me a special feeling and energy when I’m visited by any animal in person or through a vision. Both of these things center me, and when I have a day I can’t create or absorb the energy of nature the way I need to because of time or other challenges that may occur, I simply don’t feel in tune or balanced.
Even if I have a day where there’s simply not enough time for me to stop long enough to paint or draw if I can at least absorb the beautiful energy of nature to some degree that day, then I feel better, but the happiest I feel is when I actually get both that energy and have time to paint or draw, something I’m truly grateful for when everything lines up for that to happen.
I also love gifting my art to others whether it’s for a special occasion such as a birthday or just to bring some joy into someone’s life, especially when they’ve recently lost a pet or loved one. It brings me joy to help lessen the suffering of others and help them heal.
There’s a lot of cruelty in our world right now, but there’s also a lot of beauty. And one of the ways we can bring even more beauty into this world through listening, being more understanding of others, and our treatment of all living beings in this amazing world. We all need more kindness in our lives, and one of the best ways to receive is to give by sharing healing, love, and kindness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kathycopsey.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathycopsey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitebearnativeart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathycopsey/
- Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/kathycopsey/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whitebearnativeart
- Other: Etsy: WhiteBearNativeArt.com
