I grew up in the vibrant, sun-drenched community of Ojai, California. From a young age, I was surrounded by creative talented people. My father, a naturalist, instilled a great appreciation and passion for nature. Nature continues to fill me with wonder; the dance of radiant sunlight and rich, dramatic shadows stirs something deep within me.  My hope is to convey those emotions through my paintings. Capturing the light and color of Southern California has been my obsession.

I pursued my studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, earning a Bachelor degree in applied art and design. After many years as a Graphic Designer in the cool windy climate of the Bay Area, I found my true home in sunny San Diego. Today my focus is on fine arts as well as singing with my husband in our duo HeartStrings.

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Contact information:

barbarakokaska@gmail.com