Many people know the work of Leonardo da Vinci, but it wasn’t familiar to Ann Kufahl when she picked the artist’s self-portrait to reproduce in her drawing class at Washburn University. But with each brush stroke bringing her closer to completion, she got closer to the artist himself, a feeling she would later try to accomplish in her own pieces. “To me, a successful painting or work of art releases an intuitive communication and inspiration between the viewer and the artist,” says the 57-year-old painter. In Kufahl’s own work, she’s inspired by figures captured on camera (mainly hers) during interactions and special moments. She references the images, painting in a variety of mediums (oil, charcoal, conte crayon) and adds additional details until the image “comes alive again.” And no matter what she witnesses and translates to her paintings, no instance is taken lightly. “All we have is the present moment in time. The past is gone and the future is tomorrow,” she says. “Every moment is a gift if we choose to see it that way.” Anne Kufahl’s artwork is on display at the Walter Yost Art Gallery at Highland (Kan.) Community College from Feb. 9 through March 4.