'Down River Views'

Maumelle artist to show works in Russellville

By Carol Rolf

LITTLE ROCK — Maumelle artist David Paul Cook likes to "be out there where the blue meets the green."

He can be found early in the morning on any given day of the week along the banks of the Arkansas River and surrounding River Valley capturing what only his artistic eye can see, all in the hope of presenting his interpretation of the scene to others for their enjoyment.

Over the past three years, Cook, 65, has amassed quite a collection of his river vistas, painted in both watercolor and oils. He will present 41 of those paintings in a one-man show, "Down River Views," at the River Valley Arts Center in Russellville.

The exhibit will open Sunday, Sept. 7, with a reception, set for 1-3 p.m., and artist's talk at 2. There is no admission charge and the public is invited. The exhibit will remain on display free of charge at the arts center, 1001 B St. in Russellville, through Tuesday, Sept. 30.

"Landscape vistas and flat water have always drawn me to them to paint," Cook writes in an artist's statement. "I love the far view, where the elements of the landscape can change dramatically depending on the light, clouds, weather, wind and other natural elements. So it was, and is, that I work outdoors, above and along the Arkansas River, in all kinds of weather, to capture the everchanging scenes and moods of the river valley."

A native of Wisconsin, Cook is a landscape-painting instructor on the faculty of the Arkansas Arts Center's Museum School in Little Rock as well as a private teacher at the Sage House at White Wagon Farm near Maumelle. He often conducts workshops and is the coordinator of the Plein Air Painters of Arkansas. He is past president of the Arkansas League of Artists, a member of the Conway League of Artists and serves on the board of the Mid-Southern Watercolorists.

"I've been making art since I was a preteen," Cook said. "As a preteen, I was involved in a lot of group activities - Boy Scouts, football, basketball. I found I needed time each day to be myself, to recharge my batteries. I would often go out in the woods, into the fields, and what I saw, interested me. I was curious about all I saw outdoors. Once I took paper, pencil and pens and drew what I saw. That seemed to click for me and I've been doing it ever since."

Cook said Wisconsin was "not an easy state" in which to paint outdoors all year long. "But since we've been in Arkansas, I find that I can paint outdoors almost all year. In the summer, I get up early before the sun gets too hot and when the light is just right and get most of my work done before noon.

"And during the rest of the year, I find I can work outdoors generally with relative comfort," Cook said. "On rainy days, I go exploring, finding places I can paint when it's not raining."

Cook said he likes "to keep it simple" when it comes to creating art. "I like to make a direct statement," he said. "Outdoor work tends to be fresher and simpler and makes more of a direct statement than (what you create) if you have an unlimited amount of time to spend on the painting."

Cook said he had some formal art training at Studio San Damiano in Milwaukee as a preteen and teen. "It was a wonderful experience," he said. "I took a youth class and after our class, we were allowed to stay and see what the adult artists were doing. They were all very willing to take young people and explain to them what they were doing. It was like a magic carpet ride for me. It was a very good learning experience."

Cook also studied art at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. "But eventually I had to talk myself out of choosing art for a career," he said. "I was married and had a child on the way. There are very few people who can make a living as an artist : very few and far between."

Art became more of an avocation for Cook rather than a profession. "But I've kept working, taking classes where and when I could," he said.

Cook and his wife, Elaine, moved to Little Rock in 1985, when he accepted the positionof state director of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Lung Association. He joined several art organizations and took workshops when he could. "I consider art as a journey not as a destination," said Cook, who retired in 2000.

"Since then, I have been able to create art and teach art," Cook said. He said teaching takes most of his time during the year, but during the summer months, mid-June to mid-August, "I make a concentrated effort to create art." This summer he has concentrated on improving his oil-painting skills. "I've painted at least one a day," he said. "Last summer, I painted all watercolors. Last summer was particularly productive. I painted 45 paintings in 60 days, all on the spot and all early in the morning."

When he's not painting, Cook enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren. Son William Cook lives in North Little Rock and has three daughters: Lauren, 13; Leah, 8; and Kirsten, 6. Daughter Michelle Dowell and her husband, Joseph, live in Little Rock with their two sons, Jacob, 12, and Caleb, 7.

"Two of the granddaughters may have been gifted with the creativeness of art," Cook said. "When they come to the studio (Sage House), I can't keep them in supplies. They certainly take the volume approach to creating art. That's fine. If only we, as adults, could paint like little children. They're not concerned about the outcome. Just turn them loose and watch them have fun."

Cook also enjoys fishing, especially trout fishing, collecting stamps and gardening, both flowers and vegetables.

"Life is more than full," he said.

"I paint because I'm interested in seeing things better myself and in showing others my observations," Cook said. "If that's what I can do to help enrich people's lives, I feel I'm fulfilled as an art-

River Valley Ozark, Pages 155 on 08/24/2008