Fish Art...Ryan Kupfer's Watercolor Art

This is a repost from May 2014... Happy Birthday Ryan!

Some of you may recognize this artists last name, its the same as mine. Thats because this is my younger brother. Before I tell you about his art, let me tell you a little bit about him and us.

In 2001 my mom, Ryan and I were all in a car headed to church around 8am on a Sunday morning. All seemed routine until we reached a large intersection here in Annapolis when all of our lives were changed forever, most of all was my brother's.

In a matter of seconds, we had gone from making a left hand turn to our car screeching to a halt on the wrong side of the road facing stopped traffic at the light. Our Volvo station wagon had been hit by a Chevy Suburban going an excessive speed. As the dust and smoke settled, I heard my mom ask if I was ok and I remember giving a small nod to her through tears motioning I was ok, despite my face and arms being filled with small glass shards. The next things I heard and saw have never left my mind.





My brother was slumped over the back seat with only his seatbelt holding him up. Most of the right side of his skull had been crushed and he wasn't breathing. I did my best to get out of the car through what was left of my door. I was simply a helpless 12 year old, watching my 9 year old brother die right in front of me. Through the grace of God, a trauma surgeon was at the intersection, headed to work. He jumped out of his car and opened/maintained my brothers airway until the paramedics arrived. We were all three rushed to the ER I currently work in on the medic units I have ridden on while I went through paramedic school. My mom and I had minimal injuries, basically all cuts and bumps. My brother on the other hand, was in the room next to me fighting for his life. He was intubated and stabilized by the staff I now call my co-workers and sent to John's Hopkins for immediate surgery. He survived surgery and was put into a medically induced coma for over 7 weeks.

After over two dozen surgeries and 12 years, I have my brother back. He is my biggest role model and holds a spot in my heart that can never be altered. I thank God daily for keeping him on this Earth simply due to the impact he's had on hundreds of people through his story and life. Now 22 years old, Ryan is going to be graduating high school on June 18th and moving on the college at our local community college with a focus on art. Other than a slight limp and the occasional confusion, Ryan is back to himself with an amazing sense of humor and a heart that gives and gives.

There isn't a single artistic bone in my body, I don't think I can draw a stick figure well to be honest. My dad is creative and slightly artistic and my mom, well, she's creative, thats for sure. I can be creative, as some of you have seen through our DIY section. Something happened on that sunny May morning that we will never forget and that is obvious through the fact that my brother is one of the most artistic people I know, who puts the ART in heart. I think his artistic abilities came through this accident.

My brother LOVES watercolor and focuses primarily on nature. He is always asking for pictures of fish and landscapes I catch and see for inspiration for this latest projects. Ryan has an Etsy store where he sells some of his art on greeting cards. Here is some of his art for you to see...

"Shore Birds"

"Paradise"

"Brownie"

Shorebirds, Mom's Hydrangea, Brownie (Trout), Paradise (Bird of Paradise), and Rose Again are prints of original watercolors by the artist, Ryan Kupfer. The artist is a young man who suffered traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for 7 weeks due to a car accident. Overcoming all odds, his recovery has encouraged many and is shown in his passion for art. Each picture depicts the beauty of nature and God's wonderful palette of color! The cards are 4.25 X 5.5 and printed on white card stock. There are 5 of the same design in each pack with envelopes. An assortment pack can be ordered. Please specify your choices.

For only $12.00 with only $4.00 for S&H, you can support my brother and his art. Ryan has recently decided to pick up fly fishing and its been my privilege to teach him. The boy loves fishing, just as much as I do, he's just been on the Dark Side (spinning gear) a little longer than I was.

Boom...Morgan