Heartfelt by Lara Kulpa (2011)

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Petite $57.50
Small $69.00
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Description The ebb and flow of emotion when you've discovered (or rediscovered) your passions is evident in this piece.

Lara Kulpa, Somewhere in Upstate NY
Member Since March 2013
Artist Statement I graduated college in July 2001 as a Certified Zoo Animal Care Technician (aka “Zookeeper”). My goal was to work in the field a while, and continue on in school. I wanted that Ph.D. in Animal Behavior!

I was working two full time jobs in West Palm Beach, FL when 9/11 rocked our country (and world). What it did to the tourism industry was immediately felt by our little drive-through safari zoo. Add to that, I came home a few days later to start my second job online, and was locked out, being told that I had to either uproot and move to California on $10/hr or they had to let me go. Too much uncertainty.

I was 24 years old, single, scared, and alone. There was no way I could afford to stay there on just a zookeeper’s salary. I called my father on the phone and begged him to come down and get me. I turned in my notice at the zoo with tears streaming down my face. I don’t think I felt such sadness in my life up to that point, ever before.

Ever since about 1996, I had really gotten into the web design, development, and community stuff. I was a community manager at that “second job”, before “Community Management” was cool. ;) Since then, I’ve worked pretty much exclusively online, and I love every minute of it. If you’re interested in more of that “side” of me, you can check out LaraKulpa.com.

I’ve always been creative and artistic, though. And I love making art in all mediums and methods. I decided that it’s time to take my #2 passion and make it work for me in the #1 spot, so here I am with “Art By Lara”. I hope to have many great things to share with you – including collaborations of both my art AND my marketing skills.