We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Teresa Cook a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Teresa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

To be honest, becoming a full time artist is always who and what I wanted to become. I also wanted to be my own boss, so to say. I started painting often when I was around 16. During high school, my art teacher, can’t think of her name right now, saw how great I was at creating and following the many techniques she gave us. I knew that art was what I wanted to do. It was not till I had my son about 10 years ago, that the thoughts I had of being an artist changed to how can I be an artist. I needed to be that full time artist. Now granted it took some time, becoming a full time mom and then finding a balance in that and the artist, but about 2 years ago, I became Teresa Cook Art, and I never looked back.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Being an artist is always wanted to do. I started out taking the technical concept of art by attending ITT Technical Instituted right after high school in 2005. I completed my A.S. of Science degree in Computer Drafting and Design (CAD), when graduated in September 2007, but unfortunately the market took a turn for the worst and hiring stopped. So I decided why not go to college for my skilled area of Art.

So in 2008, I enrolled into Jacksonville University to work on my B.F.A in Painting, Drawing, Printmaking. I was there for about 2 years then, I transferred to University of North Florida and this is where I honed in on my craft. It was not till my last year in college that I got the courage to try out watercolor. Unfortunately, the school did not offer classes in watercolor, but I did not let that stop me.

Since I was about to graduate in a year, I needed to start understanding the medium in a whole new way. I had only used acrylics and oils during my time in college. To study the medium, I would make different swatches of colors, techniques, use different papers and then later adding pencil or pen. I started painting anything from blobs of colors with my Winsor and Newton 12 color pan set, and then from blobs, to actual landscapes, buildings, and sometimes people. I would mix my colors based upon the skills I obtained from working with other mediums previously. I took what I had learned and I used this info for my end of the year critique, talking about watercolor paints and papers, one in particular, “yupo paper” and I use this paper now today for a lot of my watercolor paintings of my travels or home(Jacksonville, Fl).

Since then I have developed a discipline of testing and trying new things. This led me into teaching watercolor either online or in person in 2018. I started to see there were many people that wanted to learn how to paint with watercolor. In 2020 during Covid, I started creating watercolor kits that I also sell when I go to markets here in Jacksonville. Covid really changed the way we are able to interact with one another. I would do Zoom workshops and make the kits for people to do at home. I also create watercolor kits for traveling. It is a limited palette of 5 colors, that allows you to mix your colors and create anywhere. This kit is listed on my website if you want more info about it.

For me, painting with watercolor is therapy, and art is a great form of therapy. I think me wanting to teach watercolor and bridging the gap in these different ways, allows me to inspire others to create. I just want to make my small impact in way so that it may impact someone else to create. Honestly, I love to paint with watercolor. I want to show my fans and artist alike that they too can create with watercolor. Teresa Cook Art, is more than a watercolor artist, but an educator. I am proud to see fruits of labor and what my brand has become and how it will grow.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I am able to work for myself to spend more time with my family. Being able to spend quality time with my son, reinforce his growth, studies, communion, while still allowing me to be a full time artist is the rewards of this career choice. I see me being a full time artist as a luxury. I get to enjoy life through my art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by my goal for Teresa Cook Art, the brand, can grow through the different avenues I am/have created, so that me, Teresa Cook, can continue to just be an artist and create in my tiny studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.teresacook.net
• Instagram: Teresacookart
• Facebook: Teresacookart
• Linkedin: Teresacookart
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