BIOGRAPHY of
RITA KAUFFMAN
Rita Kauffman’s love of art began at a very early age while observing her father, a painter and draftsman. She was most impressed by his paintings and his art box tools. His influence inspired her to produce her first published piece of art, which appeared on the inside cover of her senior yearbook. It was an ink drawing called ‘The Long Road.’ Rita’s mother also inspired her to work in their flower and vegetable gardens while observing nature at its fullest.
Rita grew up in a small northern Pennsylvania community called Hoban Heights. She ventured into the woods to play or pick berries with her family while enjoying the countryside. She overlooked the purple-blue Appalachian Mountains and the variety of trees changing colors during the fall and spring seasons. Flowers grew abundantly, and to this day, her love of their beauty is apparent in her paintings and photography.
After moving to the Philadelphia suburbs of Gladwyne, PA, she took art lessons at the Main Line Art Center in Haverford, where she actively began to paint. She produced her first solo show in 1981 at the University of Pennsylvania Faculty Club. Thereafter, she decided to enter art school at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she studied Illustration, Graphic Design, and Printmaking, which influenced her contemporary work today. She immediately learned the importance of color, composition, drawing, and perspective. Rita received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Rita moved to California in 2007 and served as an Art Docent at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento while she continued to paint. Her styles reflect both Impressionism and Realism, inspired by her travels, country upbringing, and life experiences. The ocean scenes reveal her nautical travels, as she was an avid boater along the Atlantic coast.
Rita participated in the 2024 CA Placer County Artists’ Studio Tour showing her work at Blue Line Art Gallery, Roseville, CA, Springhill Suites, Auburn, CA, and Auburn Symphony & Art in the Park. She showcases her artwork in international and local shows, recently winning second place in the Rocklin Fine Arts 2025 Annual Membership show. She will also be participating again in the 2025 CA Placer County Artists' Tour. See more information at:
https://placerartiststour.org