IT was only natural that Jennifer Koach, a creative since childhood, pursued art in college, studying studio art, then went on to attend The Art Students League of New York. As she studied, Koach found her greatest outlet in painting, but she put her easel to the side while she pursued a degree in interior design. Over the next 25 years, she worked as an interior designer, living overseas for 20 of those years before settling on Kiawah Island. Retirement gave Koach the time to pursue her passion for painting, and she has been a full-time artist for the past 15 years.

Over the course of her career as an artist, Koach has painted landscapes, architecture and still lifes, though she’s become best known for her figures—bright, bold art that depicts what she calls “portraits of bodies,” as they capture the movement and gestures of her subjects, imbuing them with life and giving them personality and incredible dimension. “I’ll go out onto the beach and snap photos of people moving around on the beach and in the water,” says Koach. “My friends won’t go to the beach with me anymore!”

Currently, Koach shows her work at Studio 151, Art Mecca of Charleston and Mary Martin Gallery.