John Cook

     

"Ruby Tuesday"
16" x 12"  Oil

 

 

 

 

 

"The Gathering Storm"

20" x 24"  Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sunshine Softly"

12" x 16"  Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Two Doves"

16" x 20"  Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Little Girl Blue"

20" x 16"  Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Intrigue"

16" x 12" Oil

 

 

 

 

 

"La Femme Nouveau"

Palette

12" x 18" Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Compadres"

24" x 48"  Oil 

 

 

 

 

"Confrontation"

30" x 40"  Oil 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I Shot the Sheriff"

Framed Palette

11" x 14" Oil 

 

 

 

 

 

   John Cook began his fine art career in 1990 at the age of 49, inspired early by the paintings of Russian-American artist Nicolai Fechin. Later influences included artists John Singer Sargent, Frank Brangwyn and Winslow Homer, as well as the still life and florals of Henry Fatin Latour.
 
      By drawing with a brush rather than pencil, Cook achieves the loose and free style that characterizes his work. Never belabored, each painting reflects his passion to catch a mood with the interplay of light and shade.
 
     Nothing is too small or too large to attempt, as reflected in his diverse range of subject matter: from still life to portraits to landscapes, architecture and his native-Texas Western imagery. Trips to London, Paris and San Francisco also produced many of Cook's paintings, even inspiring two special shows of his work at Dallas' Victorian Gallery, Inc.
 
     Among his accolades, Cook was selected for The one Show by the Art Directors Club of New York; the Illustrators Shows in Dallas, Los Angeles, Denver and New York; and the prestigious Top 100 for the National Park Services' "Arts for the Parks" project in 1991. Born in 1941 in Dallas, Cook grew up near Highland Park and attended school at the University of Arlington and the Art Center School of Los Angeles.
 
     In his initial career as an illustrator, Cook's work was in demand by advertising agencies and their high-profile clients, including American Airlines, CBS, Neiman Marcus and Disney Epcot Center. In 1990, he put aside his illustrator's pens and inks and pursued his heart's desire: a career as a painter.
     

    Married in 1970 to Jean, a deeply religious, devoted family man, Cook says, “Painting is not the most important thing in my life, but I consider to be able to pursue painting for a living truly a special gift and blessing from God, who is the most important being in my life!”