Meet John Cogan

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Cogan.

John, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In any endeavor such as starting your own business, foresight is invaluable. A person must know his product, his customers, and his production capability. That is as true for starting as an artist as it is for any businessperson. I solved that problem by being an artist part-time and slowly working my way toward full-time. When I was ready, I quit my regular job and set out on my own. That was over forty years ago.

Discipline is important as well. You have to make your business THE priority. When you set out, friends and relatives tend to think you “don’t work” and now have lots of free time. You don’t. You have less free time as you usually need to put in more hours at your business than you did working for someone else. I learned to spend time painting, working on ideas for new works, marketing and selling paintings in art shows, and teaching as necessary.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle is understanding the collector base, how it begins to change, and how to cultivate it. And the biggest obstacles are the unexpected times of slow sales during recessions or when art tastes change. These times always require an artist to try new techniques, subject matters, and materials as well as learn more ways to market the product.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I paint almost exclusively in acrylic, working on canvas or panels. I strive to capture creation’s splendor in the landscapes of the American Southwest. My style is unique, consisting of thin underpainting and thicker finishes, rich pigments, glazes, scumbles, and attention to detail. I like to focus on color and the transient effects of light.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
There have certainly been breaks in my career, but I think I opened the possibility for those by striving for the highest quality work of which I am capable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.johncogan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johndcogan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.d.cogan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-cogan-74834223/
• Other: https://www.johndcoganfineart.com