About / Profile
Philosophy
Painting offers a way of seeing—one that slows us down, invites reflection, and reveals meaning hidden in plain sight. To paint from life is to practice sustained attention, a commitment to being fully present with the subject.
My first impulse is sensory—before taking shape on the canvas, the subject is felt. In translating sensation into form, painting becomes an act of honoring the subject. Through this process, I hope to create work that deepens perception, expands time, and cultivates an appreciation for the transcendent in the everyday. While this pursuit may be unattainable, it fuels my work and sense of wonder.
Recent Work
The Northern California coast, where my family’s roots run deep, has been central to my work for over ten years. I engage with its landscapes as I do with portraiture—the touchstone of my practice—capturing their shifting states over multiple sessions in varying conditions. Through this process, I strive to reveal the subject fully, with a distinct and renewed presence.
Building and Sustaining a Practice
Art has been a lifelong commitment. While earning a BFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I interned at Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios at the suggestion of the program’s director. In 1997, I joined the background department, expanding my skills in creating painted worlds while continuing to dedicate time to portraiture and independent study outside of work hours.
The experience and stability I gained at Disney allowed me to establish my practice abroad from 2002 to 2004.
Giving Back
Teaching became another way to engage with art, fostering dialogue with dedicated students whose hard work led to outstanding portfolios and success in animation.
From 2004 to 2011, I taught and developed courses as Senior Lecturer and Program Advisor at DigiPen Institute of Technology, preparing students for a lifetime of artistic inquiry beyond industry requirements.
Outside the classroom, I painted portraits of ten faculty members who generously gave their time during my semester-long sabbatical.
After relocating to San Francisco in 2011, I trained at the Legion of Honor, studying and writing on the museum’s collections, work that informs my reflections on art while enriching my practice in response to art history.
I also freelanced as a background artist for the short film Imitation of Life (Venice Biennale, 2013) and The Little Prince (Cannes, 2015), and led workshops on color theory for animation professionals.
Seeking Resonance
This journey in art has been one of continual evolution—leading to an ongoing pursuit of resonance.
About / Colophon
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Supportive Imagery
All paintings by Geraldine Kovats, except Joris de Caulerij, by Rembrandt.
Two Glasses, 2003, Oil on linen, ca. 9 × 12 in., Mexico
Sandals, 2003, Oil on canvas, 9 × 12 in., Mexico
Surf, 2020, Oil on canvas, 12 × 24 in.
Cemetery, 2004, Oil on linen, 24 × 32 in.
Background Art for Imitation of Life, 2013, Watercolor and Gouache on board
Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, Joris de Caulerij, 1632, Oil on canvas, 40½ × 33¼ in.