Blue Sea Artisans featuring Stefanie Culbertson this month

The Blue Sea Artisans Gallery featured artist for the month of May is watercolor painter and digital designer Stefanie Culbertson, who is known for her “Anuenue Series” of watercolor paintings.

In 1989, Culbertson moved to Hawaii and 26 years later, it is still home. She started her formal art and drama education at age 15 in Germany, which is where she grew up. Culbertson attended Hawaii Community College for a couple years and finished her degrees in liberal arts and drama at Cuesta College in California, where she also worked on and off stage on productions, from acting, producing, stage management and many more. In 2006, Culbertson earned her bachelor’s in digital design and returned to Hawaii. She started her own business, Tiffany Arts Designs, doing graphic and digital design work and painting in watercolors. In 2012, she became a member of the Blue Sea Artisans.

During the past seven years, Culbertson has expanded her watercolor paintings of her vibrantly colorful “Anuenue Series.” She has been fascinated with infusing “Night Scene” paintings with color. Her watercolor painting “Sailing Full Moon Set” captures the bright full moon nights in Hawaii. The painting “Orchid and Dragonfly” captures a moment Culbertson experienced sitting in her backyard, when a dragonfly made a rest stop on her orchid and immediately inspired her to paint the scene.

“Waking up at 3 a.m. from the brightness of the full moon outside, with trouble to fall asleep again and being drawn into the magical glow of the full moon reflecting on the ocean. Even after so many years living in Hawaii, the power of the full moon is still amazing and how deeply it affects our life and sleep cycle,” said Culbertson.

The Blue Sea Artisans will host a featured artist’s reception for Culbertson from 1 to 4 p.m. on May 9 at the gallery, which is located within Kona International Market, north side of the Makai building, on Luhia Street in Kailua-Kona. Pupu and entertainment will be offered.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call the gallery at 329-8000.