Watercolor is said to be mesmerizing, addictive. The appeal is many-faceted, but it is the unique spontaneity of the medium that many find exciting.
Watercolor is not a medium to be totally controlled and manipulated, and of course, that is the essence of its beauty. In the same breath, one could use the exact same words to describe the watercolor artist that is Jessica Lupisan.
The charisma, glamor, and magnetism this lady exudes seems to be an extension of her art.
The enchanting nature in the reflection of transparent watercolor against paper that is uniquely brilliant and alluring, is likewise mirrored in the woman herself.
Another of the ‘born and bred’-in-Silliman breed, Jessica has been drawn to art for most of her growing years from kindergarten all through her college years.
She remembers being class artist most of the time, honing her painting skills for a few summers under the tutelage of then artist-in-residence, Dr. Albert Faurot.
After graduating from Silliman University High School with Batch ’79, Jessica proceeded to the College of Business Administration which, soon after graduating with a Management degree in 1983, led her to the world of banking.
And there she stayed for 23 years, becoming the head of branches of Far East Bank & Trust Co., PCIBank, and Equitable-PCIBank, with her last local post as manager for 11 years of Banco de Oro, Escario branch in Cebu City.
Her innate business savvy took her to greater heights in the banking industry, and soon after, she found herself becoming a financial consultant at Nexus Insurance Brokers LLC in United Arab Emirates, a position she held for the last six years until recently.
The love of home and her unica hija, Shekainah, led her to close her business ledgers, and settle down in Dumaguete.
Through all these years of her impressive career in finance, Jessica has kept her art close.
Aside from being a member of Fine Art America, an art brokerage company that sells art from all over the world, just recently, she had an art exhibit at the local GATXS Gallery in Dumaguete.
But her creativity does not stop there. “I love anything that makes me create with my hands: I also do needle work, I sew clothes, do crafts, interior design, fashion design, photography. I’m also a coach on personality development.”
And she keeps on painting.
In a feature interview during the recent Dagit Arts Festival, she had this to say: “The moment my brush touches paper, I get thrilled knowing that what I perceived in my mind comes to life. Most of my subjects are God’s awesome creation. As I stare and internalize my subject, it is then that I notice all the minute details of each creation, and it gives me so much satisfaction to capture every detail on paper. Anything inspires me, from a piece of wood (becomes) a mother carrying a child because I don’t just see a piece of wood. I begin to see colors, texture, light and shadows, symmetry/asymmetry, patterns that I cannot wait to paint.”
“¨And like her artwork, this artist is beautiful, fun, and suggestive of endless possibilities. (Linda Bañas-Alvarez)
