Meet the 2025 Plein Air Weekend Judges – Barbara Cochran

Barbara earned her degree in studio art from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois and continued her studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. From early on painting and exhibiting were her deepest passions.

 

She worked for many years as a graphic artist at WLS-TV, an ABC affiliate in Chicago, where she created artwork for broadcasts, designed promotional print materials, and developed animated graphics. Barbara then devoted the next 20 years to raising her four children, finding creative outlets along the way through design work for schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations.

 

Once her youngest left for college, Barbara returned to painting full-time. She primarily works in watercolor, acrylics, and oil, often exploring landscapes and scenes inspired by her surroundings and travel. Now retired with her husband on a farm in the area, she grows English cider apples, peaches, Saskatoon berries, flowers, and vegetables. Her on-site studio allows her to paint regularly, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of Leelanau County. For the past nine years Barbara has served on the Glen Arbor Arts Center board, contributing and engaging with the vibrant arts community in the region.