MTC ART GALLERY

Stan Cohen

Artist Statement

I have always known that art would be my life’s work. My parents openly worried that my path would be difficult, but I have seldom doubted my early choice.

My wife and I met at the High School of Music and Art in New York City and married a year after graduation. Naomi has been supportive of my work throughout our 64 years of marriage. We both were teachers in the Oakland Public Schools and I later was appointed director of art for the School District.

We both chose early retirement and have easily filled our time with creative and satisfying projects.

My serious painting began with my retirement and I have painted regularly, outdoors (plein air) with watercolors and in studio with acrylics. My paintings have been shown in juried and one-artist shows throughout the Bay Area and have sold well and have won a satisfying number of awards.

Preparing for this particular show gave me the opportunity to review my work more broadly than usual, in that both plein air and studio work were to be exhibited together — in other words, both works of outside perspective and of personal introspection. I hope the viewer will find the combination interesting.

Curriculum Vitae

1942-43 — Cooper Union Art School, New York City
1943-46 — U.S. Coast Guard
1946-48 — New York University
1948-49 — California College of the Arts, BAed
1949-52 — California College of the Arts, MFA
1949-83 — Oakland Unified School District
1983-Present — Happily retired and busily painting

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