background and artist statement

Barbara was born in 1972, the youngest of three children, on a farm in Switzerland. In 1996, she moved to Marin County, California in order to study English and pursue her artist career. She worked as an editorial freelance illustrator and taught art at different schools in Marin County. Her artwork has been published in children education books (CP West Publishing), periodicals (California Academy of Science), and on logos and packaging (Hat in A Bag) all over the Bay Area and the United States.  For several years Barbara has organized and taught summer art camps and after school art classes. In 2006 she was hired as the art specialist at Bacich Elementary in Kentfield CA, teaching art to students Kindergarten through 4th grade.

“Looking back to my childhood, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing, painting and creating art out of found objects- often at the expense of study time that should have been devoted to math and other academic classes. These days, of course, I know how important academic skills are to get you through life. Fortunately, I hardly ever use algebra; instead, I get paid to draw and paint pictures, and what I love to do the most, which is teaching children and adults how to create art.