Kevin Cook was born in Amenia, New York, a rural community surrounded by farms and gentle woodlands near the Connecticut border. Cook received a Bachelor of Science in education from the State University at New Paltz, New York in 1980. It was at this time he discovered the work of the Hudson River School, as well as that of English Romanticist John Constable. Since his first exhibition in 1985, his subject matter has widened to the nearby Catskill Mountains and Hudson River. Kevin is a recognized regional artist whose work is widely collected and admired. He exhibits extensively throughout the Hudson Valley.
Artist’s statement:
I believe landscape painting to be a vital and integral expression in the contemporary art scene. It is inspired by the past, yet defined by present environmental realities.
Essentially a realist, I incorporate strong undercurrents of romanticism into my work. In the romantic tradition, I seek to give my landscapes deep emotional meaning, manipulating them into emotilonal dream worlds through subdued brushwork and diffused light.
Although my subjects are largely familiar local scenes, they serve merely as a framework or vehicle for expressing the spiritual truths I seek. The works are largely unpopulated, quiet, still, emphasizing an inner peace or the spirit of each place. Aspects of the works indicate inspiration, eternal life, the passage of time, and the process of nature.
(c) Copyright Kevin Cook
Website
http://www.kevincook.com
