Rex Kochel is an artist based in Ojai, California, where he lives with his wife and their dog, Romeo. His artistic career spans more than 39 years, beginning while he was an instructor at Ventura High School. After retiring in 2004, following 34 years in public education as a classroom instructor and basketball coach, Kochel was juried into the prestigious Ojai Studio Artists group. He is also a longtime member of both the Buenaventura Art Association and the Santa Barbara Art Association. 

Soon after his retirement, Kochel was commissioned by RE/MAX to create artwork for their new building in Ventura. He completed 54 paintings for the project, all of which are now part of the company’s permanent collection.

Kochel’s work has been exhibited in diverse locations, including Avalon on Catalina Island at C.C. Gallagher’s. In recent years, his work has focused on the places he has traveled with newfound time as a retired educator. The paintings shown on this website reflect his journeys throughout Mexico, Peru, Panama, and Argentina, as well as extended periods painting in San Francisco and throughout Ventura County, including his home terrain in Ojai.

Kochel’s artwork has evolved steadily since he began taking classes in his mid‑30s. A constant throughout his career has been a strong emphasis on composition, with many works moving toward abstract realism. His signature whimsical and lyrical style emerges from a distinctive creative process: many paintings begin as blind continuous‑line drawings made on location, then later refined and painted in his Ojai studio. Since 2007, his work has also incorporated collage and limited acrylic overpainting. From his first solo exhibition, Eclectic Explorations, Kochel’s work has embraced a wide range of themes and approaches and continues to branch in new directions. He invites viewers to enjoy the journey as much as he has.