| behind the brush |
men and servicewomen, active or veterans, deserve
much honor and respect. These soldiers were real
people who were asked to go very far from home for
great sacrifice. I hope to provoke emotion, sympathy
where appropriate, and admiration of anyone
willing to put their own interests aside to serve and
protect others.
Q: Is there a connecting theme between portraits
of the Vietnam Veterans and your other
portraits?
A: I do strive to breathe life into any portrait that I
create, not just record a representation of what they
looked like at that moment. I want to add a little of
their personality, I guess.
Q: Do you have a favorite Vietnam Veterans
portrait that you have painted?
A: Maybe the two soldiers listening to music on a
little turntable that they placed on the sandbags of
what looks like a trench. It gives you a little glimpse
into their lives during “the down time” that they
had. It shows how universal the love of music is and
how it can bring so much joy. I never paint without
having music playing in my studio!
Q: Your next big exhibit is slated for this Fall
at the Madison Artists Guild. What can people
expect to see when it opens?
A: I will have some of the Portraits of the Infamous
in the “Places and Faces” show at the gallery, but
I am open to showcasing some of these Vietnam
Veteran portraits, too.
An exhibition
of Chris Cook’s
newest works will
be on display at
the MAGallery in
downtown Madison
from Sept. 21 to
Oct. 22. An opening
reception for “Places
and Faces” is held
Sept. 23 from 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. Selected
works by Cook are
also included in the
Madison-Morgan
Cultural Center’s
current “FARM
2022” visual arts
exhibition, on display
now through Oct. 29.
To find out more
about Chris Cook,
and even purchase
some of his art, visit
www.chriscookartist.
com.
“I hope to provoke emotion, sympathy where
appropriate, and admiration of anyone willing to put
their own interests aside to serve and protect others.”
/www.chriscookartist.com