I am first and foremost
a Shenandoah Valley Artist. Well.. actually, I am a wife, mother and grandmother... but that goes without saying if you know me.
I've been drawing and painting as long as I can remember. I have a BFA (that's an Art degree, :) from the University of Tennessee (that's why I can say, 'Ya'll' so well) and could never get enough time to just create! Please check out my artwork here on the D. Cruce Kocka Art page. For paintings that are available to buy and place in your beautiful home, click here! Nearly everything I do is LOCAL: people, scenery, pet portraits, etc. So my work is all VERY Staunton, VA. Mostly because I love it here. If you see something and are not sure if you want to buy it without seeing it in person, let me know. I will gladly meet you at the studio so you can browse my paintings! Please scroll down for my full biography.
a Shenandoah Valley Artist. Well.. actually, I am a wife, mother and grandmother... but that goes without saying if you know me.
I've been drawing and painting as long as I can remember. I have a BFA (that's an Art degree, :) from the University of Tennessee (that's why I can say, 'Ya'll' so well) and could never get enough time to just create! Please check out my artwork here on the D. Cruce Kocka Art page. For paintings that are available to buy and place in your beautiful home, click here! Nearly everything I do is LOCAL: people, scenery, pet portraits, etc. So my work is all VERY Staunton, VA. Mostly because I love it here. If you see something and are not sure if you want to buy it without seeing it in person, let me know. I will gladly meet you at the studio so you can browse my paintings! Please scroll down for my full biography.
Look for me at Art in the Park, Staunton 2023
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Thank you to everyone who came out to Gypsy Hill Park to Art in the Park to support your local artists. I had a wonderful time meeting new friends and was so pleased to have sold so much work! Now I need to get back to the easel.
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I am hoping that my next venture will be Art for Gifts at the Staunton Augusta Art Center in Novemember.
If you were at Art in the Park and are looking for one of my paintings, go to my Available Paintings page or click here. |
The iagoArts Studio space |
Retiring from teaching, simplifying life and focusing on painting
Thank you so much to all the wonderful students I had the privilege of teaching for the last 37 year! I hope this email finds you all well and enjoying our transition from the end of summer to the beginning of our beautiful Fall. To all of you who have had children in my classes. Please let me share with you all a recent, difficult but exciting,decision.
I have been blessed through the years with some of the most wonderful children and families to work with. I have watched some of your children grow up to love to create and some have even taken the skills that they have learned into their adult life. I have constantly been encouraged by the joy that being creative gives to all of us. Seeing so many wonderful accomplishments by each and every child has been some of the brightest highlights of my life.
But life is moving on and as I am growing older, I am desiring to simplify life and focus better on fewer things. With an aging father (he turned 90 this year and is still in great health!) and other life callings, it is prudent for me to whittle down some of the multitasking that I have been doing all these years. So, after many months of struggling to make a decision, many conversations with my husband and friends, I am retiring from teaching. It brings much sadness to me to let go of these beautiful young artists but it is the best thing right now. I am committing to one full year of full time artist work and then I will reevaluate.
I have been blessed through the years with some of the most wonderful children and families to work with. I have watched some of your children grow up to love to create and some have even taken the skills that they have learned into their adult life. I have constantly been encouraged by the joy that being creative gives to all of us. Seeing so many wonderful accomplishments by each and every child has been some of the brightest highlights of my life.
But life is moving on and as I am growing older, I am desiring to simplify life and focus better on fewer things. With an aging father (he turned 90 this year and is still in great health!) and other life callings, it is prudent for me to whittle down some of the multitasking that I have been doing all these years. So, after many months of struggling to make a decision, many conversations with my husband and friends, I am retiring from teaching. It brings much sadness to me to let go of these beautiful young artists but it is the best thing right now. I am committing to one full year of full time artist work and then I will reevaluate.
Plein Air Painting in the Fall
the Adirondack Mountains OOOh the Fall colors! |
The Art Institute of Chicago's MONET exhibit, May 2021! Woot!
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Quick Links: Donna Cruce Kocka's beautiful original, Shenandoah Valley plein air paintings, or portraits click here.
Donna Cruce Kocka Biography
Born and raised in a southern family, Donna has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. Donna Cruce Koćka, BFA, University of Tennessee (1986), is a Staunton, VA resident. She is married and has three children, one beautiful grandson. Currently she is enjoying painting and she leads group bible studies. She also loves to hike and camp in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, read, walk in the park with her dog, travel and have tea with friends.
She is now retired from teaching but began teaching art to children during her senior year of college. And along the way as Donna was raising her children she was painting portraits, murals, theater set design and construction, faux finishes and a little graphic design.
In 2011 she took a landmark oil painting class with Cedric Egeli, an internationally known colorist and portrait artist on Cape Cod. This outdoor portrait class began a new journey for her. She is fascinated with the effects of light and color and has since studied on the Cape again with Camille Prezwodek and at Maryland Hall with John Ebersberger. At the local Beverley Street Studio School she has taken classes with Elise Blake, Jeffery Stockberger and numerous classes with the renowned colorist, Ron Boehmer. Boehmer is recognized as one of Virginia's foremost landscape painters and has had a heavy influence on Koćka’s painting.
In the Springs of 2018 - 2023 she has participated as an invited plein air painter the Queen City Plein Air Festival/ Virginia Garden Club, Garden tours. She has has been in numerous shows and festivals in and around the Shenandoah Valley. Her love for painting plein-air painting often draws her outdoors to the beautiful Virginia countryside or to historic downtown Staunton. She also spends time at her studio and gallery, IagoArts, in downtown Staunton.
She is drawn to her love for painting plein air in the beautiful Virginia countryside and in downtown Staunton. She also spends much of her time at her new studio, IagoArts, near downtown Staunton.
Donna is currently painting outdoor children’s portraits, landscapes and murals and is available for commission art work.
If you have any questions about anything you may contact her for a commison painting, use the contact button above. She will respond quickly.
She is now retired from teaching but began teaching art to children during her senior year of college. And along the way as Donna was raising her children she was painting portraits, murals, theater set design and construction, faux finishes and a little graphic design.
In 2011 she took a landmark oil painting class with Cedric Egeli, an internationally known colorist and portrait artist on Cape Cod. This outdoor portrait class began a new journey for her. She is fascinated with the effects of light and color and has since studied on the Cape again with Camille Prezwodek and at Maryland Hall with John Ebersberger. At the local Beverley Street Studio School she has taken classes with Elise Blake, Jeffery Stockberger and numerous classes with the renowned colorist, Ron Boehmer. Boehmer is recognized as one of Virginia's foremost landscape painters and has had a heavy influence on Koćka’s painting.
In the Springs of 2018 - 2023 she has participated as an invited plein air painter the Queen City Plein Air Festival/ Virginia Garden Club, Garden tours. She has has been in numerous shows and festivals in and around the Shenandoah Valley. Her love for painting plein-air painting often draws her outdoors to the beautiful Virginia countryside or to historic downtown Staunton. She also spends time at her studio and gallery, IagoArts, in downtown Staunton.
She is drawn to her love for painting plein air in the beautiful Virginia countryside and in downtown Staunton. She also spends much of her time at her new studio, IagoArts, near downtown Staunton.
Donna is currently painting outdoor children’s portraits, landscapes and murals and is available for commission art work.
If you have any questions about anything you may contact her for a commison painting, use the contact button above. She will respond quickly.
Six plus years in the Stonewall building. So sad to leave but excited for the next adventure. Thank you to the Staunton, Virginia NewsLeader when I opened, for the lovely article in the paper... find it at the IagoArts Newsleader articlePhoto credit:Ted Tripp, Staunton NewsLeader
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