Daria creates expressive, deeply personal portrait art in charcoal, pastel, and oil, focusing on capturing the emotion, character, and quiet story behind every subject. She specializes in custom commissions of people, pets, and original pieces — each one made slowly, thoughtfully, and with a lot of heart (and usually a bit of charcoal on her hands).

Born in Russia, she moved to California at 21 and has been chasing light, color, and inspiration ever since. She never had formal art training, but honestly, she’s never really needed it — art has always just been something she does. Creativity runs in her family, and drawing has been a constant in her life for as long as she can remember.

Animals are one of her absolute favorite things to paint (and yes, she will absolutely stop everything to admire a cute dog). She has a deep love for them, and that connection shows up in her pet portraits, which aim to capture not just what they look like, but who they are — their personality, spirit, and little expressions that make them unforgettable.

Daria is currently represented by Laguna Art Gallery, while continuing to accept private commissions for anyone looking for meaningful, one-of-a-kind artwork. Every piece is created with care, patience, and attention to detail, and lots of joy in the process too.