Rita Kauffman

As I walked into my father’s room at a very young age, I could see him painting at his easel while loud classical music played. I wanted to play with his art box tools and not so much hear the music. This experience inspired me to learn more; and in my Senior year of high school, I painted my first art piece for my Yearbook called “The Long Road.”

Growing up in a small Pennsylvania community in the purple-blue Appalachian Mountains made a lasting impression. It allowed me to venture into the woods, pick berries and vegetables with my family, while viewing beautiful flowers and changing colors of the trees. Working on a small farm taught me discipline through my family’s strength.

When I moved to Gladwyne, PA, I started to work as a fashion model, pursuing my art classes and bachelor’s degree. It was this experience that shaped my artistic path. My travels also contributed to this path. I boated along the East Coast, witnessing stunning views that inspire me today. My preferred mediums for painting are oil and acrylic that encompass styles of Impressionism, Realism, and Abstract art.

Upon relocating to California, I worked as an Art Docent, studying art by examining paintings from artists such as Ian Roberts, Gregory Kondos, Georgia O’Keefe, and Claude Monet. I also found inspiration through photographing flowers and listening to my dad’s classical music.

Although I worked in many positions, it was my art education and experience as a model that honed my aesthetic sensibilities, understanding the compatibility of fashion and art. Now I draw upon this diverse background to infuse my work with depth, meaning and compassion as my art flows from my soul.