A young artist’s gift is shared with others

By RICHARD A. ROSS

PORT JERVIS, NY — Not all gifts come gaily wrapped in bright paper and colorful ribbons.

One great gift comes in the form of a special talent that can enrich a person’s life and brighten the lives of others through its sharing.

For Port Jervis High School senior Mary Kapusinsky, whose gorgeous holiday rendering adorns the cover of this week’s Celebration section, the love of art is something that began to evince itself when she was very young, and it has burgeoned into something special that is on view for countless others to share.

Like many other young children, Kapusinsky gravitated toward crayons and paper, but the unique beauty of her work soon had people wondering if her talent was a product of lessons.

It wasn’t.

Though her parents, Brian and Christina, are indeed talented artists who encouraged and supported their daughter’s endeavors, they allowed her to freely explore and develop her gift without interference. Kapusinsky hails from a family with a longstanding artistic tradition.

“My grandparents on my mother’s side were both Broadway actors. My father is a wonderful painter, mostly with oils, but he sticks to singing/song writing with his guitar as a private hobby. My mother went to Parson’s School For Design and can sketch pretty much anything. She also has an amazing talent for working with beads to make jewelry,” said Kapusinsky, who strives to find her own artistic niche.

Though she acknowledges her family’s artistic imprint she feels her talent has evolved of its own accord. “Art to me is not something that can really be taught. It is a person’s own journey to self-expression.”

“I have experimented with a variety of mediums and have no preference for either one,” notes Kapusinsy, who enjoys working with charcoal, ink, watercolor paints, oil pastels or acrylics. “All mediums come with their own set of challenges,” she said.

“For this piece, I used acrylic paints because they are simple to use and blend well to create lights and darks. I was going for a soft look but yet colorful and defined. When I was told about the possibility of having a painting of mine on the front of Celebrations, I was thrilled. The first thing that came to mind was some type of Christmassy floral arrangement. I chose to do something like this because it reminded me of past Christmases at my house.

My family and I have always lived in a wooded area and have thus made good use of nature’s materials. There is something special about going out and picking evergreens and berries. But there is something even more important about the holidays, namely making the effort to spend quality time with the people you love.”

While acknowledging that Christmas is often synonymous with opening presents, Kapusinsky sees the holiday in another light. “Seeing people happy is the best gift of all. That is Christmas to me,” she said. So too is the notion of peace. “That is what the dove symbolizes,” she said.

Kapusinksy’s painting will join the work of other featured artists in the silent auction at Narrowsburg Roasters on Main Street in Narrowsburg.

Proceeds from its sale will be donated to The Church of the Holy Name in Port Jervis. Kapusinsky sees this as way of using her artistic gift to benefit those less fortunate. “I know the money will be put to good use. Even small charities can make a difference,” she said.

So what does the future hold for such a promising young soul? That raises more questions than it affords answers.

“I know that I definitely want to go to college, but for what, I am still not sure. One side of me loves academics, such as science and history. Paleontology and anthropology have fascinated me ever since I saw Jurassic Park.

“But my free-spirited side loves drawing, painting, crafts, martial arts, sports.

“My biggest concern is just being happy with my career. I don’t want a job that is going to make me miserable. I would urge all career-seeking students to do something that inspires them every day.

“In the long run, though, I feel that art will ultimately draw my attention (no pun intended!). It is just something I have always been good at. Who knows, maybe next time I may be featured on the cover of my own magazine.”