The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for July is watercolor painter Stefanie Culbertson, who is known for her Anuenue (rainbow) Series of paintings.
The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for July is watercolor painter Stefanie Culbertson, who is known for her Anuenue (rainbow) Series of paintings.
Culbertson’s formal education started in Germany when she was 15, where she studied the fundamentals of drawing, painting and art history. She came to Hawaii in 1989 and took classes in watercolors, acrylics and dye on silk and joined the Kailua Village Artists and the West Hawaii Arts Guild in the early 1990s for a couple years.
She attended Hawaii Community College and setting out for more adventures, she moved to California and finished her associate degree in liberal arts and drama and earning a bachelor of arts degree in digital design. After graduation, she started her own business, Tiffany Arts Designs doing graphic and digital design work.
Over the last three years, Culbertson immersed herself in painting watercolors again and continues to expand her Anuenue Series and rejoined KVA in early 2011. One of her most distinctive paintings is of the “Anuenue Honu ‘Twins.” Her latest work, “Manta Rays — Into the Light” is her inspiration of how light illuminates the night, showing the silhouettes of the wonderful creatures at night.
To meet Culbertson and talk story with her, visit the gallery July 6 and13 where she will be painting. She will also be at KVA’s featured artists’ reception from 4 to 7 p.m. July 12.
The Kailua Village Artists Gallery is located at 75-5729 Alii Drive, Suite C-110 in the Kona Marketplace, across the street from Kona Inn Shopping Village. The gallery is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. For more information, call 329-6653.