THE EXCITING ART PLACE IN
Staunton, Virginia Located in the historic district of downtown Staunton, Virginia in the beautiful, celebrated, and historic Stonewall Jackson Elementary School building, the IagoArts Studio gives every person an opportunity to create and relax, regardless of your artistic skill level. The Studio serves a three- fold purpose: First, to give the public a chance to create, offering Art Classes and Art Parties. Secondly, to be a working studio for fine artist Donna Cruce Koćka, and to serve as her Gallery for showing and selling her artwork. And finally, the studio serves as a place for Art Classes for the community. Mostly for children's classes. Mrs. Koćka has been teaching for over thirty years and loves working with both adults and children. Along with teaching, she is a muralist, portrait painter, set designer, and loves plein air painter. She and her husband opened this studio in order to expand the opportunities for local art lovers to play and learn together. She is a firm believer in learning to become 'whole brained' and loves the prospects of strengthening that cerebral cortex. Let's do some Art to become a healthier community.
Staunton, Virginia Located in the historic district of downtown Staunton, Virginia in the beautiful, celebrated, and historic Stonewall Jackson Elementary School building, the IagoArts Studio gives every person an opportunity to create and relax, regardless of your artistic skill level. The Studio serves a three- fold purpose: First, to give the public a chance to create, offering Art Classes and Art Parties. Secondly, to be a working studio for fine artist Donna Cruce Koćka, and to serve as her Gallery for showing and selling her artwork. And finally, the studio serves as a place for Art Classes for the community. Mostly for children's classes. Mrs. Koćka has been teaching for over thirty years and loves working with both adults and children. Along with teaching, she is a muralist, portrait painter, set designer, and loves plein air painter. She and her husband opened this studio in order to expand the opportunities for local art lovers to play and learn together. She is a firm believer in learning to become 'whole brained' and loves the prospects of strengthening that cerebral cortex. Let's do some Art to become a healthier community.
iagoArts Students Summer Art Camps 2021
Join us the second week of each month for four days of HeArt Smart fun! Classes limited to six students so the instruction will be personal and pertinent! The second week of each of the summer months iagoArts will present a new opportunity to get your HeArt full of amazing Art.
June 7-11 Art History Camp We explored new artists each day, explore their techniques and medium and then create a painting in their style. Was a great success!
July 5-8 Hone up those drawing skills. For these four days we will take to the streets of Staunton to sketch, sketch, sketch! Fresh air, sunshine and our pencils and watercolors. Learn the basics of color and composition and get ready for some real 'plein air' painting!
August 2-5 Plein Air Camp Yes! Let's meet around our quaint little town, in parks and around historical buildings and learn a little about Staunton while we create some gorgeous acrylic paintings out and about. We will continue to learn more about color and composition, and throw in some important lessons in value and design.
All of iagoArts activities have been adjusted to the best of our ability to comply with the Virginia Commonwealth's and CDC's recommendations. We are now implementing special Covid- 19 protocol and can fit six students socially distanced with masks in the studio safely.
June 7-11 Art History Camp We explored new artists each day, explore their techniques and medium and then create a painting in their style. Was a great success!
July 5-8 Hone up those drawing skills. For these four days we will take to the streets of Staunton to sketch, sketch, sketch! Fresh air, sunshine and our pencils and watercolors. Learn the basics of color and composition and get ready for some real 'plein air' painting!
August 2-5 Plein Air Camp Yes! Let's meet around our quaint little town, in parks and around historical buildings and learn a little about Staunton while we create some gorgeous acrylic paintings out and about. We will continue to learn more about color and composition, and throw in some important lessons in value and design.
All of iagoArts activities have been adjusted to the best of our ability to comply with the Virginia Commonwealth's and CDC's recommendations. We are now implementing special Covid- 19 protocol and can fit six students socially distanced with masks in the studio safely.
Because I love teaching SO much, paint parties, children's classes and adult art classes, I sometimes forget to tell people that I am first and foremost, an artist. 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. Everything you see, (that isn't marked 'SOLD') is available for you to buy right now and hang in your beautiful home! 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!
The Art Institute of Chicago's MONET exhibit, May 2021! Woot! |
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Children's Art Classes at IagoArts
The Children's Art Classes are ideal for children, ages 8 through High School, who are being homeschooled or student's who are home bound. They meet regularly on Mondays, throughout the school year. Classes run mostly contiguous with the local school calendar beginning in August and ending the middle of May. Every year there are no classes between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.
Mrs. Kocka teaches her Art Classes with a four year rotation so that no class or activity is repeated for four years. This enables students to stay with her classes throughout their homeschooling years continually learning new and exciting skills and working with as many different media as possible.
Some classes will begin with a short five minute presentation of Art History. Every year the history follows a timeline beginning in the Fall with Prehistoric Art and moving toward Modern Art in the Spring.
Each year begins with a review of drawing skills then moves into a diverse use of painting and drawing materials which can include watercolor, acrylic, pastels and usually some form of sculpture to reinforce their lessons. Each class for that year will focus on one or two of the 7 Elements of Art- Color, Line, Space, Form, Texture, Value and Space- reinforced throughout that year.
Classes for High School students who are interested in exploring the possibility of pursuing Art after high school are offered as the High School Portfolio classes. These classes are generally after school hours so students from any school setting can participate.
Finally, each Spring we end the year with a beautiful Annual Student Art Show, complete with each student's work shown in a professional style, and the 'all important' punch and cookies to share with family and friends. For more information click HERE.
Mrs. Kocka teaches her Art Classes with a four year rotation so that no class or activity is repeated for four years. This enables students to stay with her classes throughout their homeschooling years continually learning new and exciting skills and working with as many different media as possible.
Some classes will begin with a short five minute presentation of Art History. Every year the history follows a timeline beginning in the Fall with Prehistoric Art and moving toward Modern Art in the Spring.
Each year begins with a review of drawing skills then moves into a diverse use of painting and drawing materials which can include watercolor, acrylic, pastels and usually some form of sculpture to reinforce their lessons. Each class for that year will focus on one or two of the 7 Elements of Art- Color, Line, Space, Form, Texture, Value and Space- reinforced throughout that year.
Classes for High School students who are interested in exploring the possibility of pursuing Art after high school are offered as the High School Portfolio classes. These classes are generally after school hours so students from any school setting can participate.
Finally, each Spring we end the year with a beautiful Annual Student Art Show, complete with each student's work shown in a professional style, and the 'all important' punch and cookies to share with family and friends. For more information click HERE.
The Clementine art show is over but much of the artwork that was there is still for sale. I am so excited to have been able to show my work in this fabulous space. The large brick walls showed off my art fabulously. I couldn't ask for more. Everything in the show was for sale so if you let me know you saw it there, and email me here thought 'contact'
I had a large collection of my paintings up. Lot's of large work, perfect for your mantle, and plenty of my plein air work.
You will also see a few of my portraits and floral! You can still check out my artwork in the store here.
I had a large collection of my paintings up. Lot's of large work, perfect for your mantle, and plenty of my plein air work.
You will also see a few of my portraits and floral! You can still check out my artwork in the store here.
Paint Party!
It's time now to schedule your Paint Party!
Boy, do I love Summer!
NOW is the time to schedule that birthday party you have always wanted! I am booking parties into the Fall already so call now! Things are a changin' around the studio these days. Due to some unexpected life-demand IagoArts will no longer be having regular public paint Parties. BUT, we will schedule YOU a private paint party. It's easy. And you can pick the date and the painting for your party.
Just contact me and let me know a date range and painting idea you are interested in. Mountains, flowers, birds, animals, whimsy?
Call now! We are now booking Private Paint Parties! I would love to make your very own Paint Party with your friends happen! Only a four person minimum.
Click here to start the conversation abut your very own paint party
At IagoArts you can come to our lovely studio, located in the middle of Historic Staunton's downtown, bring your own food and drinks, listen to some music while your are given everything you need to make a masterpiece. We provide everything from the aprons down to the canvas and brushes. or we can travel to you!
At IagoArts we will walk you through any number of options from start to finish and in a couple of hours you will be able to display your work on the wall at home. To come to an IagoArts Paint Party you can schedule a Paint Party with friends, by yourself or as a date for two, as a team building party for your office complete with complementary canvases.
Contact me to begin the conversation. We will pick out a date that works for you all and then find the perfect painting for you to do. We will check out the calendar to schedule a date nights and then sign you up. The paint events vary in cost from $25 to $65 per person depending on the size of the canvas, the size of the party and difficulty of the painting.
For a special event, such as a birthday party or just a girls night out you can schedule an ArtParty! You may contact Donna to make arrangement for a smaller party, or schedule as many as 10 in her studio for a group event. The Group ArtParty events are $300 for up to 10. For over 10 people contact me for pricing. We have other venues but we will have to discuss what your are looking for.
Do you want to remember that sweet little furry friend? She specializes in Pet Portrait Parties. Woof! It's easy- each of your party attendees will email the photos to the studio and when you come to paint your dear furry ones your will already find a helpful drawing on the canvas waiting on you. It's sort of like a paint by number.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for some IagoArts Paint Party painting ideas. Or check out Pinterest for ideas...
Just email us to let us know what type of Paint Party you want and IagoArts will make it happen!
NOW is the time to schedule that birthday party you have always wanted! I am booking parties into the Fall already so call now! Things are a changin' around the studio these days. Due to some unexpected life-demand IagoArts will no longer be having regular public paint Parties. BUT, we will schedule YOU a private paint party. It's easy. And you can pick the date and the painting for your party.
Just contact me and let me know a date range and painting idea you are interested in. Mountains, flowers, birds, animals, whimsy?
Call now! We are now booking Private Paint Parties! I would love to make your very own Paint Party with your friends happen! Only a four person minimum.
Click here to start the conversation abut your very own paint party
At IagoArts you can come to our lovely studio, located in the middle of Historic Staunton's downtown, bring your own food and drinks, listen to some music while your are given everything you need to make a masterpiece. We provide everything from the aprons down to the canvas and brushes. or we can travel to you!
At IagoArts we will walk you through any number of options from start to finish and in a couple of hours you will be able to display your work on the wall at home. To come to an IagoArts Paint Party you can schedule a Paint Party with friends, by yourself or as a date for two, as a team building party for your office complete with complementary canvases.
Contact me to begin the conversation. We will pick out a date that works for you all and then find the perfect painting for you to do. We will check out the calendar to schedule a date nights and then sign you up. The paint events vary in cost from $25 to $65 per person depending on the size of the canvas, the size of the party and difficulty of the painting.
For a special event, such as a birthday party or just a girls night out you can schedule an ArtParty! You may contact Donna to make arrangement for a smaller party, or schedule as many as 10 in her studio for a group event. The Group ArtParty events are $300 for up to 10. For over 10 people contact me for pricing. We have other venues but we will have to discuss what your are looking for.
Do you want to remember that sweet little furry friend? She specializes in Pet Portrait Parties. Woof! It's easy- each of your party attendees will email the photos to the studio and when you come to paint your dear furry ones your will already find a helpful drawing on the canvas waiting on you. It's sort of like a paint by number.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for some IagoArts Paint Party painting ideas. Or check out Pinterest for ideas...
Just email us to let us know what type of Paint Party you want and IagoArts will make it happen!
Plein Air Painting October, 2018 in the Adirondack.
OOOh the Fall colors! |
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), has been a longtime Staunton, VA resident. She is married and has three children, one beautiful grandson and two labs named Leighla and Mazi, and a very fat cat named Alan (who posed for the painting, 'Happy').
She is primarily a Plein Air artists and does custom oil and watercolor paintings of pets, houses and people. Currently she is enjoying teaching homeschoolers Art during the school year in her Monday classes at her studio. She also loves working with the public getting their hands into paint with her occasional Paint Parties and other volunteer teaching/ painting opportunities. When she is not teaching or painting, she leads group bible studies and teaches other Art classes in Staunton. She also loves to hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, read, walk in the park with her dogs, travel to Europe and Africa and especially she loves to have tea with friends.
Donna began teaching Art for children during her Senior year at the University of Tennessee. And along the way, as she was raising their three children, she was painting portraits, murals, theater set design and construction, faux finishes and also doing 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 Cape Cod, Massachusetts 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 the nations foremost landscape and plein-air painters and has had a heavy influence on Koćka’s painting. Her work as an artist is colorful and strong in it's impressionistic influence.
In the Spring of 2018 and 2019, 2021 she was one of the Artists represented at the Queen City Plein Air Festival and painted with the Staunton/ Augusta Garden Club Tour. Here work has been represented in many shows and competitions in the area.
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 painting inside in the colder weather, at her studio and gallery, IagoArts, in downtown Staunton. Donna is currently painting outdoor children’s portraits, landscapes and murals and is available for commission art work. Look for her Upcoming Paint Parties at IagoArts to get a chance to play and create art with her or just come by the studio to see her work that is for sale.
She is primarily a Plein Air artists and does custom oil and watercolor paintings of pets, houses and people. Currently she is enjoying teaching homeschoolers Art during the school year in her Monday classes at her studio. She also loves working with the public getting their hands into paint with her occasional Paint Parties and other volunteer teaching/ painting opportunities. When she is not teaching or painting, she leads group bible studies and teaches other Art classes in Staunton. She also loves to hike in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, read, walk in the park with her dogs, travel to Europe and Africa and especially she loves to have tea with friends.
Donna began teaching Art for children during her Senior year at the University of Tennessee. And along the way, as she was raising their three children, she was painting portraits, murals, theater set design and construction, faux finishes and also doing 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 Cape Cod, Massachusetts 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 the nations foremost landscape and plein-air painters and has had a heavy influence on Koćka’s painting. Her work as an artist is colorful and strong in it's impressionistic influence.
In the Spring of 2018 and 2019, 2021 she was one of the Artists represented at the Queen City Plein Air Festival and painted with the Staunton/ Augusta Garden Club Tour. Here work has been represented in many shows and competitions in the area.
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 painting inside in the colder weather, at her studio and gallery, IagoArts, in downtown Staunton. Donna is currently painting outdoor children’s portraits, landscapes and murals and is available for commission art work. Look for her Upcoming Paint Parties at IagoArts to get a chance to play and create art with her or just come by the studio to see her work that is for sale.
Thank you to the Staunton, Virginia NewsLeader for the lovely article in the paper... find it at: IagoArts Paint Party articlePhoto credit:Ted Tripp, Staunton NewsLeader
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