In 1976, after eight years of teaching university art, Warren Cullar resigned his position to pursue a career as a full-time artist.
Friends and family all told him, “You can’t make a living as an artist!” but Warren turned a deaf ear. For the next 40 years, Warren was a street artist traveling from art festivals to art shows. He moved his own artwork, displays, and tents a dozen shows a year. Most of his shows were in Texas, Colorado, and a few were in California.
Today, these types of art shows no longer fit his lifestyle, but he is still creating and selling his art worldwide. Warren and his wife Kitty Biel, a CPA and travel agent, live in Wimberley, Texas and travel the world, always looking for new adventures and inspiration.
“The studio,” the word itself creates images of lighted spaces, brushes, paint tubes on tables cluttered with tools, papers, sketch books and objects of all kinds from butterfly wings, to sea shells. That describes my studio. Some might consider it a romantic place to work, but for me it’s a functional place to work.
My studio always has something going on. It may be apparent, but if you look closely you will see a painting on the easel, a sketch book open with an ink line drawing in process or an etching waiting for watercolor on my desk. I work in the studio and keep it in a presentable order. I like my space to be organized, but when work is being done I am not aware of the clutter. When work gets put on hold, it’s time to cleanup.
I’ve had a home studio since I was a student. It is a place to create and have “show and tell.”
I created a simple easel out of a 4’x8’ sheet of plywood. Paintings rest on pegs and can be changed in seconds - simple and it works. Acrylic paints are on a thick glass palette in a Tupperware box with an air-tight lid. Tools are in drawers, supplies of all kinds are in cabinets.
You may find me at 2:00 am sitting quietly drawing or water-coloring an etching. My studio is always ready to go to work. Visit me in the studio. I don’t mind an audience.
Warren Cullar and Kitty Biel have a unique love story that began at one of Warren's art parties. Kitty wanted to buy one of Warren's watercolor paintings but preferred to negotiate a deal rather than pay full price. Warren, intrigued by Kitty's profession as a CPA, proposed a trade: Kitty would spend two hours with Warren's bookkeeper, Cary, and the value of that time would be deducted from the price of the painting. They agreed, sealing the deal with a handshake. Reflecting on this moment, Warren realizes that if Kitty had simply paid the full price, they might never have crossed paths again.
Their relationship blossomed, and they celebrated their 25th anniversary on Valentine's Day. Early on, Kitty developed a routine of joining Warren in his studio after work, sharing a glass of wine, and providing feedback on his paintings. Warren was pleasantly surprised by Kitty's keen eye for composition and design. He describes Kitty as his muse, and they live and work together, sharing a deep love and appreciation for each other's company. Warren considers Kitty to be the most interesting woman he has ever met, and their partnership is a testament to their compatibility and mutual admiration.
2005-present: As an Author / Artist selling my books, sculptures and paintings at art shows
2001-present: As a Sculptor / Artist selling my bronze sculptures and paintings at art shows
1976-Present: As an Artist selling my paintings at art shows.
2023 Published: The Extraordinary Journey, Messages from the Spiritual Realm and the Truth About Life After Death, a nonfiction metaphysical book.
2018 Published: The Making of an Arti$t, a nonfiction memoir.
2004 Published Sketch Book, a nonfiction book of 70 drawings with their stories.
1984-2001 Artist on 5 Scientific Expeditions to Peru, Easter Island, Brazil, Spain and Venezuela.
1976 Resigned after 8 years of teaching to become a professional artist, 48 years ago.
1975 Awarded a summer study grant Anishams University, Cairo, Egypt.
1972 -1976 established the art department at Western Texas College, Snyder, Texas.
1969 -1971 assistant professor of art, Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Texas,
1967-1969 Masters of Fine Arts, The Instituto de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.
1962-1969 Joined the United States Marine Corps reserve.
1966-1967 Advertising Manager, Gibson’s Department Stores.
1965-1966 Commercial Artist, Fidelity Advertising, Abilene, Texas.
1965 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas.
1960 -1962 Architecture Engineering Major: Texas Tech, Lubbock, Texas.
1957 Awarded Eagle Scout Badge.
2023 After six years writing published “The Extraordinary Journey.”
2022 Moved the second time in Wimberley, Texas to 66 Woodcreek Dr. 78676
2019 The city of Cedar Park, Texas purchased “The Group.”
2019 Moving from Austin to Wimberley, Texas
2018 Second edition of memoir with new title “The Making of an Arti$t.”
2017 Sold the Monumental Sculpture “Desert Water” to a private collector.
2016 Started writing “The Extraordinary Journey.”
2016 The city of Cedar Park, Texas purchased “The Game” (Rock Paper Scissors.
2016 The city of Fountain Hills, Arizona purchased the “Sky Totem” permanent collection.
2015 Painted 66 paintings of Warren's "Dream" series.
2015 Warren displayed his work at the Loveland Sculpture Show for the 13th year.
2015 “Base Romance” was awarded the 36th Pecan Street Spring Art Festival Poster.
2015 “The Juggler” was Awarded the 35th Pecan Street Fall Art Festival Poster.
2015 Warren's sculpture "Play the Game" won a top award at the Bastrop Art in Public Places in Bastrop, Texas.
2014 “Serenade” was awarded the 33rd Pecan Street Fall Art Festival Poster
2013-2014 Warren spent two years writing “Yes You Can Make Money as an Arti$t”.
2012 Completed twelve new paintings and created a new web page and an apprenticeship program.
2011 One-man sculpture show at the Haven Gallery in Austin, Texas.
2011 Two-man collaboration show at the Longview Fine Arts Museum in Longview, Texas.
2010 Completed a series of twenty painted acrylic landscapes. One man show, July 2nd at my new gallery, Pippin Meikel, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Eight different sculptures are cast in bronze.
2009 "Sea Spiral" monumental cast bronze sculpture 30" w x 7' h stand alone, the same sculpture designed as a water feature 7' h x 2’ w.
2008 Plano Medical Center, Plano, Texas commission for 2 life size “River Totems” bronze sculptures for meditation garden.
2008 Hawaii, private commission 3 bronze water feature
2007 Co-Founding the Garden of the Gods Sculpture Center in Santa Fe, NM
2007 Commission for the city of Edmond, Oklahoma art in public places collection
2006 Industry Award: Sculptural Pursuit Magazine
2005 “Spirit Totem” – Monumental sculpture 6’x 2’ x 2’
2004 Published “SKETCH BOOK” 70 drawings and the stories
2004 Wine Label Award Twin Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley
2004 "Party Music" - Monumental sculpture 3' x 7' commission for private collector
2004 "All That Jazz" - Monumental sculpture 3' x 7' commission for private collector
2004 "Abstract Strings"- bronze relief for Austin Symphony Patron Award
2004 "Evening Jazz" 3’x7’ cast bronze sculpture for Benson Sculpture Garden, Loveland, Colorado, Purchase award.
2004 Built sculpture studio in Austin, TX
2003 "Running Free " – Monumental bronze sculpture commission for private collector
1990-2000 Independent painting expeditions and exhibitions
1989 "Studio Quest" sold $40,000 of art futures to fund painting studio in Austin, TX
1988 "Vision Quest" sold $88,000 of art futures to fund a painting expedition.
1978 “Southwest Art Magazine” 11-page article.
1976-1980 taught watercolor workshops in Texas, California, Colorado and Mexico.
1976 Opened my studio as a professional artist and entered my first major art show.
1976 –2018 Over 100 one-man shows and countless juried exhibitions
We are proud to have over 50 countries stamped on our passports. My wife, Kitty Biel and I have traveled the world on cruise ships and after 25 years we have been on over 100 cruises on a variety of ships. Kitty has a dual career as an independent CPA, and Travel Agent. Contact Kitty for your travel needs.
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