* LOOnC ATL hT AeL ESNcTe n e

Art from
the heart
After an injury, local artist
Carrie Knupp found a new
way to express herself.
STORY: AMANDA VALDERRAMA // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

W
hen it comes to motivation, any artist can truly aspire to be like Carrie Knupp.
Carrie suffered an injury in June 2015 on the night of the grand opening of her
studio. She tripped while carrying dishes and severed an artery in her right hand,
paralyzing three fingers. This did not stop the Leesburg artist, however, as she created 138
paintings during the three months of her recovery.
After surgery, I was supposed to paint 100 paintings for the Mount Dora Craft Festival.
I asked the Lord, How am I going to paint all these paintings? Im right-handed, Carrie
says. The reply I got was, You paint with your brain, use your other hand. So, I painted 138
paintings with my left hand.
Though she has used most of the familiar mediumswatercolor, acrylic, charcoal, pastel,
cartooningCarrie has a unique style of painting now.
I paint in molten beeswax. It is called encaustic, which is the Greek word to burn in. I use
a blowtorch to fuse each layer of wax, Carrie says. When I paint, I lose myself in what I am
doing. Things happen I may not have planned but I believe were meant to be there.

A lot of my
* Carrie spends most days at her studio, Encaustic Guru on
Main Street in downtown Leesburg.
A lot of my work is free form and relaxing to me and
those I teach. Things Ive gone through in my life inspire
work is free me. Those pieces are most important to me. They offer an
avenue to help others. If I can help just one person, it is all
form and worthwhile, she says.
relaxing Carrie often receives positive feedback about her artwork.
to me and I remember when the Holocaust piece won the Award
of Excellence and the Peoples Choice for three straight
those I teach. months at the Maitland Jewish Center Holocaust Museum. It
Things Ive was for the 75th anniversary of the Holocaust, Carrie
gone through says. I had a price on the artwork, but a Jewish lady came
up to me and said, You must not sell this piece. This piece
in my life is of God; you must teach with this piece.
inspire me. The womans words touched Carrie, who took the price
off the painting.
CARRIE KNUPP I began traveling and teaching with it, and so many
people have thanked me for doing it. Some were descendants of Holocaust survivors, and some
were experiencing hatred in their lives, as I have. Forgiveness is a big part of what I teach. My
late husband taught me that a long time ago.