Sam Cook
1917-1999

Sam Cook Yesterdays Harvest Midsized Thumbnail
Yesterday's Harvest

Sam Cook Red Caboose Midsized Thumbnail
Red Caboose


We are pleased to offer the Family Collection of Sam Cook paintings pictured below. Sam is known for his wet into wet method, and studied with famed watercolorist, George Post. He was also an art teacher, and often taught in tandem with oil painter E. John Robinson of Mendocino. Read more ...

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The family retains possession of these paintings.
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Sam Cook Bavarian Chapel Midsized Thumbnail
Bavarian Chapel

Sam Cook Adolph Max Brussels
Boulevard Adolph Max, Brussels

Sam Cook Bright Autumn Midsized thumbnail
Bright Autumn

 

 
Sam Cook Chapel in the Snow Midsized Thumbnail
Chapel in the Snow
Sam Cook City Gate Delft Midsized Thumbnail
City Gate Delft
Sam Cook Harbor Inlent Oregon with Lighthouse Midsized Thumbnail
Coastal Inlet Oregon with Lighthouse
   
Sam Cook Corner Flower Stand Midszied Thumbnail
Corner Flower Stand
Sam Cook Corner Store Midsized Thumbnail
Corner Store
Sam Cook Country Church Midsized Thumbnail
Country Church
   
Sam Cook Domed Church Germany
Domed Church Germany
Sam Cook Gateway to the Sea Midsized Thumbnail
Gateway to the Sea
Sam Cook Green and Gold Farm Midsized Thumbnail
Green and Gold Farm
   
Sam Cook Harbor at Evening Midsized Thumbnail
Harbor at Evening
Sam Cook Harbor Inlet Lady Belle Midsized Thumnbnail
Harbor Inlet Lady Belle
Sam Cook House in the Woods Midszied Thumbnail
House in the Woods
   
Sam Cook Market Tower Midsized Thumbnail
Market Tower
Sam Cook Marshalls Boatyard Midsized Thumbnail
Marshalls Boatyard
Sam Cook Morning Blues and Grays Midsized Thumbnail
Morning Grays and Blues
   
Sam Cook Old Ferry Bodega Bay Midszied Thumbnail
Old Ferry Bodega Bay
Sam Cook Oregon Farm Midsized Thumbnail
Oregon Farm
Sam Cook Side Track Midsized Thumbnail
Side Track
   
Sam Cook Sidewalk Cafe Midsized Thumbnail
Sidewalk Cafe
Sam Cook The White Tank Midsized Thumbnail
The White Tank
Sam Cook Valley Barn Midsized Thumbnail
Valley Barn
   
Sam Cook Village Street Germany Midsized Thumbnail
Village Street Germany
Sam Cook Winter Barnyard Midsized Thumbnail
Winter Barnyard
Sam Cook Winter Twilight Midsized Thumbnail
Winter Twilight

Sonoma, California, artist Sam Cook was born in Ohio and received a degree in education from Ohio State University. He began teaching in Ohio, but soon transplanted his career to California in 1949 where he taught fifth grade for San Jose's Campbell School District.

As a child, Sam was recognized for his artistic ability and was known as a cartoonist among his school friends. But he did not discover his painting talent until his early 40's, while in the middle of his teaching career.

Sam Cook at Easel

He enjoyed traveling about Northern California on weekends and school holidays, especially in Sonoma County and the foothills of the "Gold Country," and would have a sketch pad at the ready, or when time and weather would allow, he would paint plein air. He was intrigued with painting old barns or weathered structures, and old boats.

To advance his skills, Sam took the opportunity to study watercolor with famed San Francisco watercolorist George Post and also with Henry Gosser of the New Jersey School of Fine Arts. He pursued painting into his retirement when he moved to Sonoma, California where he continued his artistic life. A painful neck injury along with arthritis and failing eyesight brought an end to his painting career which spans 1951 to 1974.

One of three artists known as "The Waterworks," his closest painting associates were E. John Robinson (oil paintings of water views), one of his best friends, and Ken Wilkerson. They exhibited their work at Wilkerson's "Vintage 1870" in the Napa Valley. He often taught painting with E. John Robinson.

Sam's technique involved first wetting the whole sheet of watercolor paper, then quickly blending in most of the color areas while wet. The finest details and darkest colors were applied when the paper was almost dry. The "red caboose" painting is an example of the "vignette" presentations he favored in the later years. He preferred to use English cold press rag paper as it was best for an even saturation of wet into wet.

He exhibited his work through various art associations, including the Marin Watercolor Society, and with his students was one of the founding members of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society, along with fellow artists Charlotte Britton and Elsie Nelson. He taught watercolor classes in California and in Oregon. He was a member of the California Professional Artists and the Society of Western Artists. The Sonoma Valley Hospital still displays his works.