About the Artist

After visiting a John Singer Sargent exhibition at the
age of nine, Richard hoped to stroke the canvas with
similar conviction. He had no idea then that he would
be painting portraits or that he would be recognized
for his achievements in portraiture. While continuing
to study the great portraitists, since 1995 Richard has
taken leadership from renowned portrait painter
CedricB. Egeli of Annapolis, Maryland at the

Cape Cod School of Art.
      Richard loves the challenge of capturing the essence
of a person, especially the innocence of children. To him,
portrait painting is an enriching experience and a
process of getting to know his clients and subjects in a
unique way.
      Although based in the Philadelphia area, Richard
accepts commissions anywhere in the United States
and Canada. His portraits are in many private and corporate
collections.

Richard's portfolio is equally varied, from formal
portraits such as Mr. Allan Taylor, President and CEO.
of the Royal Bank of Canada, to the playful charm
of a little girl with her Raggedy Ann.

Awards and Memberships

Finalist, Braintree Historical Society for portrait of General Sylvanius Thayer (posthumous ), Father of the military academy at West Point.

Life Member of the Portrait Institute, New York, NY

Member of the North River Arts Society Marshfield, MA

Gallery artist at the South Shore Art Center Cohassett, MA

Portraits North Lexington Massachusetts, ongoing representation

Exploration House Gallery Toronto, Canada, ongoing representation

American portrait artist and official, family or children painter by commission in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Delaware, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Richard James Cook painter and artist paints prominent people both in America and Canada. While official portrait painting contributes to becoming respected in his field, Cook as a portrait artist and painter equally enjoys family portrait commissions and children portrait commissions. Cook's museum quality fine art commissioned portraiture at its essence is said to capture the subject's inner spirit. Cook is regarded a realist, he is an artist and painter with impressionist influence.
      American portrait artist and painter Richard James Cook has commissions of president portraits, C.E.O. portraits, lawyer portraits, college dean portraits, bishop portraits and military portraits.
      As a Member of The Portrait Society of America and The Portrait Institute, Cook is considered a portrait artist and painter of renown. Clients liken his light and color oil portraits to John Singer Sargent, a master artist and painter with a stroke of genius. Whether a luxury portrait painting is for prestige or for posterity, child or president, Cook's commitment to uncompromising quality is evident in his art. Often pets will appear in Cook's portrait paintings.
      Before Cook became an American portrait artist he spent a short time as a wildlife painter. Cook's art career began with being accepted at Cambridge College of Art in 1973 but he opted for a college with a more commercial art application. He graduated in 1976. Cook is known as artist and portrait painter in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Canada. He has been a painter and professional portrait artist for over a decade and has been represented as a portrait artist by brokers and galleries specialising in portrait artists in both Boston and Toronto.