US-based artist Zarina Natividad Docken’s diverse experiences in mathematics, art, technology, and design inform her unique creative perspective. Born in Manila, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of the Philippines, where she also cultivated her passion for theater as a playwright, designer, and actor. After immigrating to Chicago in the early 1990s and establishing a career in technology, she pursued a Master’s in Design from IIT Institute of Design.

Watercolors became her entry point back into the art world in 2019. Her work, characterized by luminous transparency, dynamic layers, and conceptual explorations has garnered recognition in national and international exhibitions and awards, including the International Watercolour Masters competition in England.

As a curator, she champions artists’ narratives and forges connections between different creative disciplines.

JURIED EXHIBITIONS
Jun, 2025 “Portraits With Impact,” The Grove Gallery (Evanston IL USA)
Nov, 2024 “Contemporary Exhibit,” ALMA Art Interiors (Chicago IL USA)
Sep, 2024 “Unwrapping Lumpia,” Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago IL USA)
Mar, 2024, Woman Made Gallery’s 25th International Open (Chicago IL USA)
Feb-Mar 2024, “Watercolor 2024,” Dellora A. Norris Art Center (St Charles, IL USA)
Oct-Nov 2023  “More Than Lumpia,” Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago IL USA)
Aug-Oct 2023, South Carolina Watermedia Society’s 46th Annual National Exhibition (SC USA)
May 2023, Rhode Island Watercolor Society’s The Limited Palette Show (Rhode Island, USA)
Apr-May 2022, Illinois Watercolor Society’s 38th National Exhibition (Dixon IL USA)

CURATION
Sep 2025: Lumpia Fusion: Filipino Americans at a Crossroads, Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago IL USA)

COMPETITIONS
August 2024, Stage 1 Finalist, International Watercolour Masters Competition 2024 (Shropshire, England)
May, 2024, Artistic Recognition, Art & Color 365 Magazine Competition
June 2023, Honorable Mention, Art & Color 365 Magazine’s Wildlife & Animals Competition
Mar 2023, Honorable Mention, Art & Color 365 Magazine’s Watercolor Competition
May 2022, Merit Award, International Watercolour Masters 2022 (Shropshire, England)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/ DEMONSTRATIONS
Nov 2024: Watercolor Portrait Demonstration at Lake Regions Watercolor Guild (Grayslake, IL USA)
Jul 2024: Watercolor Workshop for Project: VISION (Chicago, IL USA)
May 2024: Guest Panelist + Watercolor Demonstration at the 2024 Cultural Expo at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum (ND USA)

EDUCATION & TRAINING
Nov 2023, Abstract Painting with Joan Fullerton (Chicago USA)
Aug 2023, Marc Folly: The Magic of Contrasts, 3-day workshop (Chicago USA)
Aug 2022, Eudes Correia 3-day Workshop (Chicago USA)
May 2022, Patricia Guzman 3-day Workshop (Shropshire, England)
May 2022, Eudes Correia 1-day Workshop (Shropshire, England)
Nov 2021, Keiko Tanabe: Express Yourself with Mood & Atmosphere (Chicago USA)
Sep 2021, Alvaro Castagnet: Push Your Expressive Painting (Chicago USA)
Sep – Dec 2021, Evanston Art Center USA, Drawing & Painting the Nude: Long Pose
Sep – Oct 2021, Palette & Chisel, Chicago USA, Figure and Portrait in Watercolor
Jan 2021, Online, 2021 Watercolor Live!
Nov 2020, Online, Watercolor Workshop with Alvaro Castagnet
Apr 2020, Online, Masterclass with Eudes Correia
2009 – 2011,  IIT Institute of Design / Masters, Design (Chicago USA)
1990 – 1994, University of the Philippines / Bachelor of Science, Mathematics