Art is about passion, vision, talent… and commitment. This web site provides a visual exploration into the dramatic images delicately and carefully captured for eternity.
I am often told that my original paintings are hard to appreciate by simply visiting a web site. My paintings are dramatic in size, quality, texture and impact. Rich in detail and texture, they can be enjoyed from across the room or from just inches away. They’re realistic to the point of being illusion, yet stylized enough to be attention holding. They are my creative expression as artist.
I take an “old-school, hands-on” approach to everything I do in my studio. I take tremendous pride in the art that bears my signature. I firmly believe that art crafted by hand is essential, and quality and craftsmanship are a big part of that.
MY 21st CENTURY APPROACH
Like artists before me, I am inspired by great natural classical beauty. Powerful art nudes have been the focus of my art and creative energies. Unlike artists before me, my approach captures beauty and energy in a unique and 21st century style. My signature process results in a seemingly holographic image capturing beauty that knows no limits. Inspired by the classics, I create timeless heirloom images in contemporary media. My metal paintings engage the viewer with energy and power. They are at the same time contemporary and timeless.
FROM THE BEGINNING
A skilled photographer, I work from my own photo reference, collaborating with models to achieve the precise imagery in my vision.
METAL ART ORIGINALS
My metal artworks are created through a loving yet laborious task of grinding and preparing the metal. The figurative artwork’s grinds compliment the female form and the flow of the image and are as important to the artwork as the muse.
I paint with a variety of medium and tools to create special effects and illusions within the metal. Finished artworks are really more of a mixed-media painting with a high gloss finish. That high gloss is created in a spray booth with the application of several coats of clear finish and then polished to a glass smooth finish.
All completed metal art is mounted to create the illusion of floating in front of the wall and is ready to display in your home.
CANVAS ART ORIGINALS
My original canvas artworks are typically painted in acrylics on specially-prepared canvas – typically museum-wrapped with 1-1/2″ stretcher bars. Several layers of gesso are hand-worked into the canvas material and then meticulously wet-sanded to create my desired surface. The canvas is then sprayed to prime the surface for art. Details on canvas prep can be read on this site by clicking here.
Only after the surface is perfect, do I begin a painting. A lot of work and time goes into preparing a canvas, especially when you consider the size of most my originals. But with as much as has gone into preparing the canvas for art, it’s still just the beginning. Any given painting may take dozens to hundreds of hours at the easel. With each hour the painting grows and evolves to reveal the passion and beauty of the chosen piece. For me, this is what it’s all about – the process of creating beautiful art that truly captures my vision and passion.
Finished paintings are treated with special UV resistant varnish to protect the art and ensure a life-time of enjoyment and value. Different paintings receive different finishes, but typically figurative originals receive a satin finish, and paintings of mechanical items (like motorcycles) get a glossier finish (this isn’t a hard rule, just a general guide for viewing the site).
All this preparation and finish work provides for an extremely smooth painting – especially for canvas art. The outside edges are painted to compliment the art. Unless otherwise noted all original art is sold unframed, however all visible edges are finished and each painting is ready to display.
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All original art represented on this site is created by A.D. Cook. We’re proud to offer many of these original works of art for sale. Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding paintings or any items on this site. If you’d like to purchase any original art or discuss commissioned artwork, please visit my contact page.
All prices are F.O.B., Las Vegas, Nevada USA, and do not include framing or shipping.
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