ABOUT


As an educator / training manager since 1990, I have developed a passion for awakening and fostering the "desire to learn".

After graduating from university, I turned to a new field of education, "Continuous Learning".

Continuous learning is about expanding your learning capacity by regularly updating and increasing your knowledge base.

I am a visual arts educator and art historian, specialising in Spanish art and architecture. 

My students learn to understand, interpret, appreciate and ultimately enjoy great art and architecture.

Thank you for reading,


Karla Ingleton-Darocas
Tel. 648 156 066
info@darocas.com


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karla Ingleton Darocas is a lifelong student and teacher of Spanish art history. She is passionate about sharing her encyclopaedic knowledge of the history and significance of Spanish art, architecture and culture. 

She loves giving tours of Spain's world-famous architectural and artistic treasures and enjoys nothing more than introducing art lovers to the magnificent collections at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the Fine Arts Museum of Valencia and the Fine Arts Museum of Seville, to name a few. 

Karla has already published six books on Spanish art and culture, and each one is an enlightening adventure for her readers. 

Two of these books, the Medieval Glory of Javea and The Marina Alta and Gandia, are designed to highlight the local art and architectural treasures around her Valencian home of Cumbre del Sol on Spain's Costa Blanca. She has also written a book about the stories and legends of Javea. 

One of her best sellers is the biographical book Clotilde. It is about the dynamic wife of the famous Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla and is illustrated with wonderful works by the illuminator.

In her book entitled Spanish DOGS, a must for dog owners, Karla has highlighted the legends about dogs in Spanish history, culture and art. Dogs play an important role in many famous Spanish stories, adventures and paintings. Karla's book helps us understand their meaning and symbolism.

Karla is not only a published author, but also a respected lecturer in Spanish art. She has been teaching since 1990 and has given 60 popular lectures on leading Spanish masters such as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Sorolla, Picasso, Dali and Gaudi. She also teaches on major Spanish art movements and genres such as Baroque, Neoclassical, Romantic, Cubism, Modernism, Still Life, Landscapes, Portraits, Social Realism, to name a few.

Karla was born and educated in Canada. In 2001 she married her long-time Spanish boyfriend, whom she met in 1988 while on holiday after studying at the Prado Museum of Fine Arts in Madrid. She has lived in Spain for over 20 years and considers it her home. 

Karla's favourite quote about Spain is: "For someone like me who admires all Spanish culture, history, art and architecture, Spain is like my own personal Disneyland!" 

(ENDS)

Karla Daroca's contact information:

info@SpainLifestyle.com
Tel # 648 156 066

Websites

SpainLifestyle.com
KarlaDarocas.com

C. V. 


EDUCATION
  • Hons. B.A. FINE ARTS, Specialisations in Spanish Fine Arts Masters, Creative Arts, Film Studies and Photography, University of Waterloo, Waterloo. CANADA grd. 1990
  • Diploma Creative Arts. Rexdale College, Rexdale. CANADA . grd. 1979
  • Entrepreneurial Business Diploma. Kitchener. CANADA grd. 1990

ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISES
  • Owner of Hemlines Design - 1979 - 1984
  • Freelance Educator / Adult Education / Private Tutor since 1990
  • Owner of Zona Communications - 1984 - 2000
  • Owner of Darocas.com - 2001 to present
  • Owner of SpainLifestyle.com - 2004 to present
  • Owner of KarlaDarocas.com - 2006 to present

JOURNALISM / PHOTOJOURNALISM
  • Oshawa Times - 1979 - 1983
  • Oshawa This Week - 1996 - 2000
  • Toronto Sun - 1980 - 1984
  • Waterloo Record - 1990 - 1996
  • Valencia Life Magazine (editor)
  • Round Town News, Costa Blanca - 2002 - 2010

AUTHOR of Resource / Teaching Books
  • THE MEDIEVAL GOTHIC GLORY OF XÀBIA / JÁVEA
    *A Historical and Architectural Adventure
  • JÁVEA
    *Historical Stories of Prominent People & Places
  • MARINA ALTA & GANDIA
    *Captivation Historical Landmarks
  • CLOTILDE 
    *Sorolla's Cornerstone: A Tribute to the Life of a Woman of Vision & Grace
  • Spanish DOGS
    *The Story of Dogs in Spanish History, Culture & the Arts
  • PRIDE & PASSION AT THE PRADO
    *Spain's Seven Most Famous Historical Romantic Stories & the Artists Who Immortalised Them
  • DIEGO VELÁZQUEZ
    *The Man and his Mythological Paintings at the Prado


VOLUNTEER Organizations

RADIO HOSTING 
  • CKWR 98.7 Waterloo - 1992 - 1996

LEADERSHIP
  • Women in Business Club
  • Founder - 2004 - 2014
  • President - 2004 - 2008

DEGREES and Diplomas






ON TV. The Travel Channel

Understanding and Appreciating Spain with Karla Darocas

Interview in "This is Spain"webzine, 2017
One of the best ways to understand and appreciate Spain and its people is to study the great Spanish artists who have enlightened hearts and minds with their art works.
The Costa Blanca is fortunate as it has one of the most recognised Spanish art historians living and teaching in Benitachell, Alicante.
Since 1990, Karla Darocas has been an adult educator who has lived in four countries before making Spain her home when she married her longtime Spanish boyfriend in the year 2001.
In the past, her adult teaching curriculum focused on practical applications such as Business Development to Marketing to Digital Communications, but since 2012 she has narrowed down her spectrum to focus on her passion, which is teaching the great Spanish Art Masters.
When Karla graduated with an honours Fine Arts degree with a specialisation in the Spanish Masters from the university of Waterloo, Canada, she was never able to teach her passion. Living in Spain, she has now found an appreciative audience.
I have known Karla since 2002 and her website SpainLifestyle.com is fascinating.

INTERVIEW

STEVE: I see by the reviews on your KarlaDarocas.com website that you have really inspired a lot of people to enjoy Spain more by appreciating its great art and artists. How did it all come about?
KARLA: I have always been an artist but when I discovered the Spanish Masters at university, I was hooked. This passion lead me to Spain to study at the Prado in Madrid and then to Javea for fun where I met my now husband. That was back in 1988. To this day, I am continually inspired and moved by the sublime determination of the arts to make sense out of beauty and the intellect within the realm of the human condition. My students tell me that my passion rubs off on them!!
STEVE: What kind of things do you explore in your teachings and presentations?
KARLA: Art History is an exploration and adventure that looks at artist and answers important questions that might be philosophical or technical…like… How did the artist come to create the work?, Who were that artist’s teachers and influences?, Who were the patrons?, Who were that artist’s disciples?, What historical forces shaped the artist’s work, and How did that artist’s work affect history and in turn – political, and social events?
STEVE: And what kind of students do you attract?
KARLA: My students are adults who are well travelled and enlightened, but not always educated into the humanities. Once they attend my lectures, films, day trips or whatever, they develop their passion and can truly enjoy Spain for all the artistic and historical value it possesses.
STEVE: Do you only teach about Spain and its artists?
KARLA: No. Sometimes I will lecture on an artist outside of Spain but 99% of the time, those artists have been inspired by Spanish artists or have competed with Spanish artists?
STEVE: Great – Thank you Karla. Always wonderful to catch up with you. Stay in touch.
***
ALL TEACHING TESTIMONIALS ARE ARCHIVED HERE
www.KarlaDarocas.com