ABOUT THE ARTIST, Kenneth Wayne Çook; when I was sixteen I sold my first painting. When I was eighteen, I sold my second painting. When I was nineteen I was in my first museum show, the Oklahoma City Annual. When I was nineteen I won first place in an annual art contest at North Texas State, Denton, Texas, where I attended University. I use the award money to move to Manhattan, New York for the first time. I have lived there three times, three times in San Francisco California, and five times in New New Orleans, Louisiana. In Manhattan I was hired to do display for a ladies clothing chain. Nine months later I was drafted into the military. I was sent to Vietnam where I became the artist to the commanding general of the Fourth Infantry Division . After two years of service I returned to University and completed my Bachelor Fine Arts in painting and drawing and art history.
Upon graduating, I threw caution to the wind and moved to New Orleans. The year was 1972. It was there that I discovered the artists of Jackson Square, and art colony dating back to around 1950. It is the only art colony of its kind in the United states. There, artists sell paintings and other art year around. I began my professional career on Jackson Square and I have returned to it numerous times.
I worked for a number of years in advertising photo studios starting in 1978. Traveling between New York and San Francisco I collaborated with some of the nation's best photographers and art directors. I built sets, painted backdrops, and at times art directed. In addition I helped in the creation of videos and commercials. My work has won awards and appeared in national publications such as McCall's, Good Housekeeping, GQ, and others.
My paintings and other work have been exhibited in museums, galleries, art walks, wineries, open studios, and Designer Showcases. In San Francisco, a room divider(see website) was commissioned by an interior designer and sold by the designer at the end of the show.
I have lived, painted and exhibited my work in San Francisco, Manhattan and New Orleans. I am fortunate to be able to say that I have spent my lifetime working as a professional artist.