Meet Renata Kosina

Was I always artistic?  As a kid in my native Czechoslovakia, I was often mesmerized by the play of light and color, so I’d say yes. As a teenager, I took painting and drawing classes, and a few years later, realized I was no Picasso and that pursuing a career in fine art wasn’t for me. Instead, I borrowed a twin-lens reflex camera to play with. My fate was sealed when, right after high school, I bought my first SLR with money I had earned myself. Initially, nature and architecture were the primary focus, but a 1986 backpacking trip through the Balkans sparked a new interest in photographing people. It was a terrifying and curiously exhilarating experience, so I continued to challenge my shyness. I felt that for the first time, I created something personally rewarding: portraits resulting from random new connections. Back at home, opportunities were also plentiful: dog shows, government-built block neighborhoods, or a famous Napoleonic era battle reenactment gone awry, where a bunch of drunk “Napoleons” roamed the grounds.

In my mid-twenties, and after the fall of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, the World opened up – literally, as we were finally allowed to travel to the West. By the early 1990s, I had traveled in Western Europe and crossed the US by bus, finally putting down new roots in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. New beginnings in the U.S. enabled me to pursue graphic design studies and launch my professional creative career. Soon after college, I was hired by an established magazine publisher as a graphic designer and in-house photographer. The travel assignments, both within the U.S. and abroad, were dynamic and provided a refreshing balance to my desk job, designing multiple magazines. To expand my knowledge, I attended workshops taught by National Geographic (and other) experts. Sharing direct experiences with such pros was incredibly inspiring and influential. 

Along with my fast-paced full-time job, I started a design and photography freelance business, and by the time 2014 rolled in, I was ready to fly solo. A year later, I joined The Gorge Magazine as a contract creative director and designer, a role I continue to this day. In 2019, the magazine won second place for design in a Pacific NW competition against the region’s most prominent publications. In addition to the magazine, I have the pleasure of working with a range of commercial, editorial, and personal clients.

I’ve also developed multiple personal projects inspired by my eclectic mix of interests. I’ve always been a nerdy kid at heart, so my work includes pursuing birds, getting dirty digging for rocks, and experiencing other cultures. I explore rural landscapes in the U.S., hike in the mountains throughout the Americas and Europe, and never pass up the opportunity to sail. During international travels, including to my native Czech Republic, I’m often reminded of how grateful I am for all the opportunities, inspiration, and people who have come into my life through my work.

I live in the breathtaking state of Washington and work with clients from near and far.