John D Cogan is an American painter, born 24 February 1953. He lives in Farmington New Mexico with his wife Karen.
John paints almost exclusively in acrylic, working on canvas or panel. He strives to capture creation's splendor in the landscapes of the American Southwest. His style is unique, consisting in thin underpainting and thicker finishes, rich pigments, glazes, scumbles and attention to detail. His focus is on color and the transient effects of light.
The Grand Canyon has been one of John's favorite subjects and he has painted it hundreds of times in all seasons and weather. He has participated in and exhibited at the Grand Canyon Association's Plein Air on the Rim from 2009 through 2021 as well as the 2009 Modern Masters show at Kolb Studio. In 2012 John's painting "Out of the Depths" won the Dudley Memorial Purchase Award and is a permanent part of the collection of the Grand Canyon. In 2015 John won Best of Show. He has spent time on both the North and South Rims as Artist in Residence.
Zion National Park is another of John's favorite painting destinations as well; its quiet beauty and cathedral-like setting have inspired many of his best paintings. He has participated in and exhibited at Zion National Park's Plein Air Invitational from 2010 through 2020, winning multiple awards including the Foundation Award in 2015 and the Superintendent's Award in both 2017 and in 2011. The recent book,Art of the National Parksfeatures John's paintings in the section on Zion National Park. John served as Zion Artist-in-Residence during April of 2019.
