Featured Artist of the Month : Theron Cook Aug. 2016 | TheArtList - Art & Photo Calls for Visual Artists and Photographers.

Theron Cook

New York City

When your goal is to be part of a movement toward change, inspiration and knowledge, you allow your work to consume you until it is no longer work, but a way of life. An award-winning visual artist, Theron Cook lives by the philosophy, “Art is everything and everything is art.” He attended Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia and completed an internship at VIBE magazine. In addition to his work as a professional painter, Theron is a published author and the founder of Mute Magazine. His work has been on display at a Da Vinci Art Alliance exhibition sponsored by Discovery Channel, and he has been a featured artist at the GoggleWorks. Most recently, Theron had two successful exhibits at Alvernia and Kutztown Universities. Then participated in a pop-art project with ReDesign Reading. Next up, he’ll head out a nationwide tour displaying his Master Collection that coincides with the message in his book, The 7eventh Note The Perception of Life.

How and when did you start creating art?

I have been creating art ever since I was a child, but I started taking art seriously when I was in High School.

What media and genres do you work in?

I’m a conceptual visual artist that paints (surreal/abstract) images with acrylic on canvas.

Who or what are your influences?

My influences come from my daily experiences in life, the universe & women.

What was your inspiration for your art?

Through my art, I have the ability not only to beautify and enhance people’s lives and environments, but also to
bring them together, to inspire dialogue, to produce work that acts as a bridge between individuals, that paves the
way for us to communicate with one another, to open up and share our experiences. Sure, my art is about me; it
represents who I am; it affirms my existence. But at the same time, it’s also about relationships and about
promoting some sense of unity and understanding among us all.

Think of my art as a discussion starter, as a means of reaching out to other people and affecting their lives, of
offering my own unique perspective, of helping others to see things in new and different ways. Art breaks down
barriers. It brings people together. It gives us permission to reach out to one another and it makes reaching out
easier. Art sometimes even allows us to confront or broach difficult or sensitive subjects with total strangers
because it’s there to break the ice. That’s what surviving as an artist is really all about: about making a difference,
a contribution that works to everyone’s advantage.

Describe your creative process?

My creative process starts with a concept from an experience or thought… I then do research to get ideas. Once I start getting ideas I start the sketch or sometimes I go right to the canvas depending on how I feel. There are times where I like to explore a blank canvas with no plan and just go with discovery as I go along. If that makes sense?

What are you working on currently?

I'm currently working on the “Butterfly Effect” aka (Butterfly Series) which consists of 33 paintings and the “Rose Series” which consists of 12 (dozen) Rose paintings.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

My near term goal is to grow as an artist.

To connect and inspire more people to believe in what im doing… My long term goal as an artist is to be able to travel and live off my art. To inspire people internationally!