The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for the month of August is watercolor painter and digital designer Stefanie Culbertson, known for anuenue, or rainbow series of paintings.
In 1989, Culbertson moved to Hawaii, feeling immediately deeply connected to the island and took classes in watercolors, acrylics and dye on silk. Growing up in Germany, she has been painting since she could hold a pen in her hand and started her formal art education when she was 15 years old. She attended Hawaii Community College and transferred, earning her associates’ degrees in liberal arts and drama in California from Cuesta College in 1999 and 2001. In 2006, she earned her bachelor’s degree in digital design. She started her own business, Tiffany Arts Designs, doing graphic and digital design work and painting in watercolors. She also displays her art at the monthly Kokua Kailua Village Stroll. Culbertson is a member of the Kailua Village Artists gallery and the Blue Sea Artisans galleries.
Over the past six years, Culbertson continues to expand her watercolor paintings. In her “Anuenue Series” she aims to inspire and touch the viewers’ soul on a deeper level, captivating their imagination with her imagery of Hawaii, illuminated in vivid layers of rainbow colors and reflective light. Her latest work “Anuenue Hibiscus and Pele’s Volcano” is a challenging piece fusing the creation idea of the lava flowing out off Hawaii’s state flower the Hibiscus that is perched on top of Pele’s Volcano.
The “Cycle of Life &the 4 Elements” is Culbertson’s symbolic painting of the regeneration of life. The four elements, fire, earth, air and water are interwoven in the figure eight in a dramatic interchange. The phoenix rises out of the ashes of the fire touching the sun, while at the same time, the enormous wave crashes below, triggered by the molten fire moving in deep rumbles deep beneath the earth. The air is the fuel for the fire, and the force sustaining life, forming the waves on this earth.
Meet Culbertson while she paints at the gallery Aug. 2, 9 and 23. She will be one of the featured artists at Kailua Village Artist’s reception held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 8. The gallery is at 75-5729 Alii Drive, Suite C-110 in the Kona Marketplace and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 329-6653.