Chris Cook, Artist, Painter. Southern Artist in Georgia

Old Country Church

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s true, it’s fitting for me that I am tasked with writing words about the pictures that Chris creates with his art. The job seems insurmountable at times; I get charged with writing down something that, when people read it, they better understand the how and why of the painting, as well as taking a moment to contemplate life through a lens that is shaded by the perspective of both Chris as an artist, and myself as an author. Chris creates pieces of artwork that capture moments from scripture, history, and today’s life that spark a gamut of emotions, thoughts, and memories for his audience, all while sampling from numerous artists that he appreciates (as an avid art history buff) and pays homage to in both style and subject matter. (No pressure, right?)

I came across this painting as I was searching for my next blog post topic. It’s a very small country church, surrounded by a lot of open space and a picturesque evening sky. It spoke to me on several levels, and I knew that I had to write about it.

1st- The perspective of seeing the church from a distance, in the middle of nowhere. It seems fitting that the church can do just that – be standing out in the middle of what could seem like a vast expanse of “wilderness”, both in the world, and in the hearts of the people in it. The familiar silhouette of the pitched roof and steeple serve almost as a beacon, as if coming from a lighthouse, shining out into the country.

2nd – My grandparents went to a small country Baptist church in Godfrey, GA that closely resembled the one in this picture. I have lots of memories of the uncomfortable pews, creaking floors, and low attendance numbers on Sunday mornings.

I begin to think about little churches like this one, and about the Church in general. For years, the Church (big C, the body, not the building) has been an institution of refuge and safety for those who come into it’s fold. It’s stood for love, acceptance, generosity, care, and hospitality. Here in rural Georgia, there are small country churches just like this one dotting the backroads all around.

As time has progressed it seems like the church (little c this time) has begun to shift it’s “look”. More and more, little buildings with pitched roofs and steeples seem to be closing their doors, and the congregations are gravitating more towards buildings in cities and towns that are less about steeples, suits, and shined shoes, and more about being the Church (with a big C). This is not to discredit the work, depth, or worship of the churches in the past at all, but is merely a reflection about the trend of moving from little c to big C churches.

I’m not entirely sure what the impact of this movement really will be, or if it is a “good” or “bad” thing. It’s just an observation… It seems that our churches, along with the world, are becoming more and more centralized, nationalized, and connected to the rest of the world in a very real way. The small country churches like the one in this painting seem to be going the way of the dinosaurs, as we move more into auditorium style venues with padded chairs, lights, and stages.

I know one thing for sure. Regardless of the future of how the church looks, the Church will carry on, and the message will continue to prosper and change lives.

So, what do you think? What will the church look like in 15 years? What will the Church look like in 15 years? What are your preferences? What do you see when you look at this painting? How does it make you feel about the church?

Chris Cook is a premier southern artist and owner of Madison Studios, a web design, maintenance, and e-commerce and marketing company. For his artist biography, contact information, or to view more of his work, click HERE.

For the record, there are only 691 words in this post, not 1,000. 🙂

Mountains at Dusk

I think that there are two types of people in the world….beach people, and mountain people.

Beach people are able to sit in the sand and sun for hours on end, listening to the waves crash, and seagulls call out without a care in the world. They come alive when the smell of the salt air hits their nostrils, and they’re able to get their toes in the sand.

Mountain people are the ones who wouldn’t trade a thing in the world to be sitting in a rocker on a panoramic porch in a cabin, sipping hot cider and listening to nature as the sun and stars pass by. The air in the mountain seems to be somehow a little more crisp and clean than anywhere else.

Sunsets are beautiful things to watch, no matter where you are. Depending on which coast your beach is on, you can view spectacular sun rises, sunsets, and beautiful skies year-round. Mountains provide a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and heights for the sun to dance through each and every day.

In this painting, Chris depicts what I see as a “typical” Georgia mountain scene at dusk. There truly is nothing quite like sitting in the mountains as the sun begins to disappear over the ridge, and watching the colors shift in the sky and the shadows grow longer and larger. (Not to mention a starry mountain night sky!) The shades of green, grey, and blue that the landscape is able to produce in conjunction with the beauty of the sun’s rays are unparalleled.

So, my question to each of you is this – Are you a mountain person, or a beach person? And, why? I can’t wait to hear your answers.

Downtown Santa Fe

In light of the forecasted 11 degree weather tonight in the Madison, GA area, I felt that I should post a blog that might help some of us think warm thoughts, and feel a little bit toastier in this bitter cold night.

This painting, titled “Downtown Santa Fe” is an original acrylic painting that Chris created based on a trip that he took to the Southwest a few years ago. I personally have never traveled that far west, but i’ve heard nothing but good things about the colors, climate, and people of that area.

I’m no expert on the science of warmth of colors, but looking at this picture does make me feel a little bit less of the sting of the windy cold that waits for me on the walk to my car in a few minutes. As I look at this painting, I can almost begin to feel the radiant warmth of the mud-walled buildings. Surely, this would be a much more inviting place and time to find oneself than anywhere outside during this cold snap.

The hues and tones of this painting make me wish that I were on the next thing smoking out west, or down south to a much warmer and calmer climate.

What about you? What picture, if you could look at it, would transform you mentally to a warmer and more enjoyable climate? Would it be a beach, a mountain house with a cozy fire, an adobe hut similar to this one in the southwest?

Art has the ability to transform us to places, even if it’s just in our minds. I hope that this painting brings you just a little bit of warmth on this cold, cold night! Stay Warm!

The Studios

There is something truly special and captivating about the buildings and storefronts of downtown Madison, GA, and the storefront of Madison Studios is no exception. There is a rich and storied history that is contained in each of the buildings. I love speaking with people who have lived in Madison longer than I have to get stories of what used to be in buildings in years past. The plaque outside of the office reads “The Hardware Bldg.”, so I assume that this might have been the original site for the hardware store before it moved to the old Livery Stable.

Chris painted this watercolor painting from a photograph that he took of the storefront. When he and I spoke about it, he mentioned that it definitely had a “photo” feel to it, meaning that the lines were much more pronounced and the angles of the awning were more severe than if he’d painted it from memory. Whenever I see it hanging in the office, I can’t help but think that it could easily be mistaken for a photo. It’s an amazing testament to Chris’ artistic ability. It is very reminiscent of the painting of the old barbershop that he painted.

Realism is a style of artwork that I don’t think that I would be very good at, therefore, I appreciate it all the more when I see an artist that has captured an image like Chris has here. This is just awesome.

Southern Snow-Madison

Living in a southern state, we don’t get so see snow very often, and when we do it is seldom at a time when one would generally expect it. I can count on one hand the number of “white Christmases” i’ve had in my 27 years. When we do get snow, its on a random night in March, or it just melts and causes all of the roads to ice over.

Chris Cook has lived in the Southeast for most of his life as well. He depicts one day in Madison, GA, post evening snow in this original acrylic painting. I feel like it captures the essence of what we get if and when we do get snow. The next day, the roads are slushy, if not iced over, and the fields are dotted with bits of white. Seldom do we have enough accumulation to make a snow man or snow angel.

Chris is a gifted artist, and I feel like his landscape paintings in particular do a fantastic job of capturing the southern terrain, in all of its glorious splendor.

With any luck, we will be able to get some snow before the winter ends this year…

Still Life:

When I think back to art class when I was in school, I typically think about the times that we’d “study” still life artists, and begin to dabble into creating our own still life images. It seems that this is probably one of the purest forms of art; to take an item (or two) and capture it on canvas in a way that represents it well. I’ve seen some that looked so realistic that one might not believe that they weren’t photographs. I’ve seen others that resemble more so something that my “artistic” mind and hands would have created.

That being said, Chris used this painting as an opportunity to showcase his tools as an artist, and to express himself in a popular style of painting.

I really like this picture; this may be in large part due to the fact that blue is one of my favorite colors. Another reason that I like it so much is that I don’t have to analyze this kind of art too much. I simply get to look at it, take it in, and appreciate it for what it is. I can see it, and know immediately that the artist was taking an opportunity to capture his pliers and a tube of paint. One does not have to read into thoughts like “why did the artist use the color blue right here?” or “what does the position of the pliers say about the feminist movement or the war on terror?”

Art is beautiful and expressive. I love Chris’ style and ability to showcase so much with varied styles, subject matters, and mediums in his work. Being surrounded by it each time I sit down to write one of the posts, I never get bored or feel like I’ve seen all that there is to see in his works. As a viewer/consumer, that is important to me.

Jesus Loves You:

It’s a message that we could all stand to hear more often… “Jesus Loves You”

This painting started off when Chris saw a picture in the local newspaper of a group of young children visiting the local nursing home. The picture showed a group of residents lined up in their wheel chairs, with the children in front of him. When I asked him he said to me “I probably didn’t even read the article, but I was touched by the picture, so I tore it out and made it into a painting”.

The painting itself is a really captivating blend of mediums. I love that you can see the article in the background, that Chris pulled one face out of the crowd and painted her rather than leaving the picture itself to feature the residents. I love the juxtaposition of bright colors with the black and white of the center picture and the text of the article. The implementation of the Cross brings the whole idea of one act of love making a difference in together.

That was the whole basis for the article. Chris saw this one act that the children did for the residents, and it immediately motivated him to capture it in a painting. His mind went to Jesus’ death on the cross, one act of love to save so many.

I really like this painting for so many reasons, not the least of which is the colors. The message that it brings is one that we all could stand to hear more often. Jesus really does love each of us. He’s not in the business of condemnation, punishment, or pain. “Love God with everything you’ve got, and Love your neighbor as yourself” “Love one another as I have loved you” “We love, because he first loved us”. Jesus LOVES us all…and that is something to cherish and to hold on to!

Rural Renewal:

Madison, Georgia, and the surrounding area, has been rural for generations and generations. My grandfather, who is 85 now, moved here with his father early in his life because his uncle told him that this was “God’s country” and that “the ground wasn’t as rocky as it was up in Gainesville, and things just grew better”. They dairied, farmed, raised chickens, sold bait worms, put out rabbit boxes, and lived off of the land around here for years and years. All of this was back in a time when “going to town” (Madison) was a big deal, and didn’t happen all too often. He has told me stories of a rolling store that would come around to different farms to trade and sell goods.

Anyone who has lived here, or even visited for any extended period of time knows that there is something different about this part of the state. Very little has changed about the town square, many of the antebellum homes are still in tact, and several families continue to work the land and farm, just like generations before them have done for years. Growing up a native “Madisonian”, the typical teenage argument is one of complaint that we’d have to drive so far to get to anywhere that had something to do (like a mall, movie theatre, or skating rink).

There has been a lot of development and progress in the past few years in this area, but it all seems to be at a much slower pace than that of other cities and towns. There is just something about the quaint rurality of Madison that has seemed to defy development and “progress”; our very own “Mayberry” here in Georgia.

Alas, the time, thy are a changing… There are glimpses all over the area of growth, development, and renewal. This painting shows a glimpse of this phenomenon. The barn is on a pice of land, not too far from Madison. The land was rented by a company that wanted to put a cell phone tower up. Chris’ thinking was “they’ve found a new way to ‘live off of the land’ & are using it in a different way to make money”. Things are different, but still the same in many ways. Things are done in the name of progress and development, but bits and pieces of the past continue to hold true. This artistic juxtaposition in many ways, represents life in a rural town like Madison, GA. Holding on to the past, giving it the respect that it has earned, while dropping in bits of the future, never fully letting go of what once was.

Chris does a great job of capturing the transitional time that this area of the country is in.

Yalta:

Chris took inspiration for this painting from a picture that he saw in Smithsonian Magazine. Art is so much about symbolism, placement, and subtlety so much of the time, and this painting is no exception. There is SO much going on in this picture, I’ll just have to get right to it.

The main three men depicted in the painting are Winston Churchill, FDR, and Joseph Stalin.

Churchill – He’s depicted smoking a cigar & with a pig’s foot in place of one of his hands. In the years after England was bombed, as his people lived in shambles and extreme poverty, Churchill was notorious for continuing to smoke his cigars, and drink his liquor. This earned him an infamous reputation as a “pig” for his lavish lifestyle, despite the suffering all around him.

FDR- Can clearly be seen leaning in the direction of Stalin. Chris says that this is indicative of his decisions to give so much of Eastern Europe to Stalin’s forces, even so late in the war. He’s facing Churchill, but clearly leaning to Stalin’s side. His hand is even beginning to become gnarled like Stalin’s are.

Stalin – His hands are gnarled up and demonic/animalistic in appearance. He has a cheeky grin on his face, pleased with the direction and progress of things so far.

The Raven – Often a symbol of impending doom and death in literature and art. Conveniently perched between Churchill and FDR.

The Owl- Symbolizing secrecy, stealth, wisdom, and things hidden. He watches from over Stalin’s shoulder.

There are images of soldiers fighting the war off in the background of the painting, reminding the viewer of the “grunt work” of fighting that was taking place while these men held their meetings and decided the fate of much of the free world at that point.

The man pictured over Chruchill’s shoulder – His countenance bears a striking resemblance to what many of us would imagine the devil’s face to appear like. Chris says that he painted the devil into this picture so that, “he can be there making sure it all goes down the right way”. He uses influences from lyrics from the classic rock song “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones. The song references the devil being present in times like when Pilate washed his hands of Christ’s blood, and “watching with glee, as kings and queens fought for decades…” Take a listen to the song while looking at this painting, it’ll definitely make you stop and think for a while.

Art is all about symbolism, emotion, and interpretation. I think Chris did a fantastic job of all of these in this painting. Take a look…Take a listen… Think, and Tell me your opinion.

Resurrection

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The titles of these two pictures are “Resurrection of the Dead” and “Resurrection of the Living”, respectively. They are Chris’ depictions of the time that Jesus returns in all of his splendor to bring his people home.

The Resurrection of the Dead hints to the sea, the grave, and the ground – all things that currently hold mortal bodies for now. A holding place, if you would for us to wait on Christ’s return. I love that the way he depicted the grave is that it’s torn open and the “person” is ascending, leaving the mortal and earthly realm behind. Death conquered once and for all by God’s mighty power.

The Resurrection of the Living shows the “person” ascending from the earth into the sky. You can clearly see the presence of the image leaving the body behind.

I know that there are countless nuances and intricacies of the return of Christ and the ascension of his people that we will never be able to comprehend this side of Heaven, but there are many truths that bring me a lot of comfort as a believer held within this time as well.

Death itself has no power over those who are in Christ Jesus – our earthly mortality will cease, and the graves will no longer have their hold on those who have gone before. All will be returned and restored to Him in his time and plan
Sickness has no power over Jesus’ work on the cross. We will all be made perfect, and our weak and wounded bodies will be fully restored to the perfection that God had in mind for us from the beginning. The pain and sickness that we feel now are fleeting and temporary, nothing compared to the restored glory that lies ahead.

I don’t know the specifics of the how and the when of this time, but I take comfort in knowing that they will take place. God has a plan to return his people to himself, and I know that he will be faithful to bring it to completion.

These paintings serve as a great artistic reminder of God’s promise to return us to him. There is something to be said about seeing a peace of art, and having it fill you with a sense of emotion. That’s really what art is all about, after all. Chris does a really good job of capturing the promise of our resurrection through Christ in these works.

Theres a sense of peace that I get when i see a visual reminder of the grave split open, that death itself can not be conquered by our King. It’s a great reminder that this world, and all of it’s pain, sickness, war, poverty, famine, and trouble is merely temporary, and will all fall away in comparison with the eternity that is in the perfection of a relationship with Christ.

Chris Cook Artist

Kratos

Footprint

Kara

Chris Evans

Blind, Not Blind, Judged, Not Judged.

Untitled – Man Reaching

Woman at the Well

Untitled on Purpose