Painting a Painting 3 Times

Not sure if you noticed, but sometimes many artist paint the same painting multiple times. I have read that some great artist, like Robert Motherwell did this because he still felt he had to work it out, that earlier versions were maybe “not it” – was quoted saying “maybe now looking back, it could have been an earlier painting that was it”… Artist like Vincent Van Gogh painted the same painting multiple times to give one to his friend and brother but liked it enough to keep one for himself.

For me personally, this happens for several reasons.

  1. I notice an older painting and take a renewed interest in it and paint another version of it with a fresh look at the original.
  2. I feel that if I sell it (haha) that I might regret not having it around, so I paint another exactly like it (or as close as I can)
  3. I want to share it with friends and/or family and (like Van Gogh) want to have one too
  4. I looked at the original and something bugs me and I take another shot at it (like Motherwell, maybe the original was it?)
  5. I have a wild idea that maybe a museum would want the painting and paint it larger to be more in line with the works in a museum.
Jack Ruby Murders Lee Harvey Oswald on TV
Jack Ruby Murders Lee Harvey Oswald on TV

The second and the last reason above is the reason is the reason for painting the theme of Ruby shooting Oswald again and again. I stuck with the original theme which was to mix Pablo Picasso’s Painting of Guernica (black and white with a little brown) with a still from the television footage (black and white) of Ruby shooting Oswald on live television. Both the painting and the images of the 60s event seemed to have something deeply in common, something that has not changed since men have been on earth – a propensity towards violence to gain power over another person or group of persons…

Maybe I paint paintings multiple times because… I can?

Chris Cook

 

 

 

 

Now Exhibiting: FARM at the MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER.

Chris’ has created six large, new paintings + six smaller works on paper for this show. It is an exhibition inspired by the agrarian way of life, visually celebrating the world of farm living in Morgan County. Click Here for directions and more information.

FARM – Opening Reception FRI, SEP 5th from 6-8pm

unnamedSEPTEMBER 5, 2014 – JANUARY 4, 2015
MADISON-MORGAN CULTURAL CENTER

An exhibition inspired by the agrarian way of life, visually celebrating the world of farm living in Morgan County. FARM explores the rural values of respect, reliance, and love in relation to land by pairing eight regional artists with eight local farms.     Click Here for directions and more information.

Chris’ Statement of his work for the show:
In my many trips to The Lambert Farm, I have seen a wide variety of textures, light, structures and typography. I traditionally paint from photos or my memory of what I see – so, now to paint what I know, see and feel? The answer – The Lambert Farm painted through the eye of art history – more specifically, American Moderns. A wonderful blending of the style, technique and color pallets of six well respected American Modern painters with the the actual scenes, buildings and terrain of the Lambert Farm brings to life a whole new way of viewing the land we see everyday here in the Piedmont Region of Georgia. Chris Cook.

Monastery Graveyard

graves

 

 

In an earlier post, Chris touched on his time visiting with Father Francis at the grounds of the monastery in Conyers, GA.  He talked about the lifestyle and the contributions that the monks made to the area.

In this particular painting Chris showcases the cemetery on the grounds of the monastery. Seeing this painting has sparked me to think about the issue of human mortality.

I’ve heard it said that, “In all of history, one incontrovertible truth is that the human mortality rate remains pegged out at 100%”. Another way i’ve heard it put is the argument of “what are you going do do with the ‘dash’?” ( the one that’s on the headstone between your birth and death?

Human mortality is unavoidable, but I do believe that as believers, we have a hope for an eternal life through our saving faith in Christ Jesus. I believe that Father Francis and the monks at the monastery were well aware of this truth, and that is probably a big part of the reason that they devoted their lives to the work that they did.

I find comfort in remembering the words from the book of John, Chapter 3, Verses 16 &17 –

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

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.

My Paint Studio

studio-headerDSC_00031

 

Chris’ studio totally fits his style both as an individual and as an artist. From the outside, it looks quaint, southern and rustic. Inside, its a modern/simplistic space with bright lighting, and plenty of room for Chris to create his paintings and to draw inspiration from life, scripture, or other works of art.

Chris describes himself as a “fast painter”. He says that he doesn’t linger on a work too long, but rather paints what he sees and feels and then is done with the process. I love seeing his work, and totally feel like the space that he creates in is totally reminiscent of him and his style. He is consistently able to blend a touch of modern with an intentional nod to the classics and a somewhat simpler time and place into his work. I also love the fact that the website design studio doubles as a showcase for all of his beautiful artwork!

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

America

amer

 

America means so much to so many people.

Freedom

Democracy

Security

Hope

Opportunity

As a whole, sometimes we take for granted all that is afforded us simply because we live in the US. The Star Spangled Banner flying above our government buildings, schools, and other locations signifies a great deal.

I pose a question. What does America, and being “American” mean to you today? Has that view changed in your time?

I am amazed at the power that can be held in a symbol, and how that symbol, depending on how it used, can instill so many different emotions.

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

 

 

Cow In Landscape

cow

Cows are everywhere in the part of Georgia that Chris calls home. Madison, GA, and its surrounding counties have depended on beef and dairy farming for many years as a means of income, identity, and self preservation. Eatonton, GA (the dairy capital of GA) once boasted more cows than people. Farming has long lain at the core of what makes this part of the south unique and special.

I like that, in this painting, the viewer is able to catch a glimpse of several of the aspects of “farm life” that Madisonians and the likes have come to know, love, and embrace through the years. If one were to take a drive outside of the city limits in any direction, it wouldn’t take long before they’d be able to “spot” the familiar sight of black and white Holstein cows and calves in pastures, grazing between milkings. Long red barns with tin roofs, rolling green pastures, dusty gravel roads, and the gentle “hint” of methane in the air are all landmark sights, sounds, and smells that help to distinguish this part of the country from others.

Chris does a really good job of simply capturing a momentary thought regarding farming in GA, but one that nevertheless echoes volumes about the way of life for so many down here in these parts.

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

The Cross

12-study050

 

 

The cross…

A device created by the Roman Empire to instill a painful and humiliating death for all those who opposed it’s rule, or disobeyed it’s laws.

A terrible way to nail up trouble makers, leaving them exposed and naked, to be picked over by wild animals, and to serve as a reminder to all those around of the fate that would meet any who didn’t conform.

 

The cross…

The place where they nailed MY Jesus – though they could find nothing to convict him of.

The place where they hung Him next two a thief and a murderer – after beating him senseless, humiliating him, chastising him, and casting lots for his clothes.

 

The cross…

Empty…Just like the tomb after the 3rd day – to serve as a reminder of Jesus’ power over sin, death, and evil. The grave, and all of hell itself could not contain the glory that laid within our Lord and Savior.

 

The cross… it serves as a beacon of light to remind us as his followers that He is still God, and He is still in control.

 

“I will cherish the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown”

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

White top cliffs

santa_fe1

I think that classifying himself as a “Contemporary Christian Artist” speaks volumes about Chris’ style of painting and his approach to life. His creative eye gives him the ability to spot beauty in things around him, while his faith allows him to remember that God is the ultimate creator and the force behind all things that are beautiful. What an awesome thought that the Lord of the universe is not only a loving God, but one who takes pride in creating beautiful things for us, his prized possession to enjoy.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

“He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the LordGod Almighty is his name.”

I too take solace and comfort in knowing that, with just His words, our God was able to create the beauty that is contained within our earth. I also love that artists like Chris are able to capture beautiful scenes like this one to preserve their visions and memories during their exposure to these places. Knowing that he knows WHO created this beautiful landscape, and why makes this painting all the more enjoyable to look at.

“I tell you,”he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

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

Burden

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Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Christ’s burden could really be seen from two different perspectives (if not more). On one hand, there was a physical burden – he was beaten within an inch of his life, betrayed by the ones who’d loved him, and forced to carry the physical burden of his cross through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha. On the other, the fullness of the world’s sin and the wrath of a jealous and just God was placed entirely on him as he was nailed to the cross.

I can begin to fathom neither of the two…

As Christians, sometimes we forget the fullness of the reality of what Christ endured in the time of his crucifixion. We love the freedom, and being “saved”, but often are too quick to forget the very real sacrifice that Christ the man endured.

This painting is very subtle, but it’s essence speaks volumes. We can see the cross-beam, a physical reminder of Christ’s earthly burden as well as taking a time to do some emotional reflection and searching about the heaviness of the truth that the sins of the world were laid onto one man’s shoulders on that day. All of God’s wrath was poured out onto His only son for each and every one of us. Every sin that had been, and would be committed was reconciled for all who would believe on that day.

As I reflect on that day through this painting, i’m reminded of the words of one of my favorite hymns …

“My sin, oh the bliss of that glorious thought! My sin, not in part, but the whole was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, oh my soul!”

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

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