Her subject matter is birds and she explores the relationship between stillness and movement in her paintings. Kauppila was born and raised in the small, rural town of Monkton, Vermont, and her connection to art has always been informed by a sense of community. Though she earned her BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design far from the forests and fields of home, she has remained active in local arts organizations and events. Her passion for collaboration and community involvement has most recently led her towards receiving her M.Ed. from UVM; Kauppila currently teaches both in the Design/Technology and Social Studies departments at South Burlington High School.