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Ann Upson, born Ann Elizabeth Epple on December 30, 1920, died November 22, 2003 after a courageous battle with cancer. Ann was first and foremost an artist, writing once: "There was never a time when I didn't want to be an artist". Her paintings, bold, expressive color fields frequently overlayed with linear structures, have been exhibited throughout the southwest and western United States. She has had several one-person shows and has received awards in both regional and national watercolor shows. Ann grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, living her childhood in a house her father built. She attended college and in 1943 received a bachelor degree from Purdue University. It was during her college years that she met her future husband, Silas Upson on a blind date to whom she was married for 56 years. During World War II, Ann worked as a technical illustrator at Martin Aircraft in Baltimore. These years of precise three dimensional drafting experience provided a splendid foundation for her later artistic work. In the 1960's she enrolled in the University of New Mexico, taking numerous studio art classes over the years. It was during this time that she further developed and refined her interests in art, concentrating on painting abstract forms in watercolor. Ann lived art and an artist's life. She traveled extensively to Africa, Australia, South America, Europe and Polynesia. Each of these trips provided material and experiences for her art work. Ann was a charter member of the New Mexico Watercolor Society, the National Association of American Pen Women, the American Association of University Women and the Albuquerque Unitarian Church. She is survived by her husband, Silas Upson; daughter, Kerry Upson both of Albuquerque; son, Craig Upson; daughter-in-law, Nina Katz; grandsons, Will and Max Upson all of Woodside, California; and nieces, Pam Epple and Melissa Epple Nibbelink both of Santa Fe. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to the American Cancer Society. A Memorial will be held at a future date.
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