John Cosby

As a painter, Cosby travels extensively painting what he sees and feels.  Bold use of color and an energetic brush stroke combined with the truth of the place is what you will see and feel when viewing a painting by Cosby. Born in Hollywood California in 1955, Cosby was raised in the west.  At an early age he began to draw and paint and was lucky enough to have been inspired by a grandmother who was an oil painter. “She would give me the paint, some brushes and a scrap of canvas and set me off to paint. This early experience took the fear out of creating a painting.”

Cosby started traveling at an early age. At 18 he was chosen as an advance man for the Executive Branch of the US Government, served under two presidents and traveled the world.  He met many interesting people and saw many things but what most interested him were the great works of art he encountered.  “They haunted me and helped set the course for my career as a painter.”  After leaving the White House, Cosby rebuilt a classic sailing sloop designed by Nathanael Herreshoff with a friend (who had dreams of being a writer) and set sail up and down the eastern seaboard for 3 years.  Thus, he began his art career. “Doing drawings of anything that moved me, things began to sell and my course was set.” said Cosby.

Upon his return to California, Cosby worked in commercial illustration and design with many clients such as In-N-Out Burger. While he was having much success with design and illustration his heart was in fine art painting, the sea and landscape of coastal California called.  With a strong gallery response, his success as a fine art painter quickly followed. Cosby currently resides and maintains a studio in San Clemente, CA.  He works on location around the world and is represented by some of the finest galleries.  Cosby was a founding board member of the prestigious Laguna Plein-air Painters Association, a signature member of both Plein-air Painters of America and The California Art Club.  He has served as an officer of these groups to help further the cause of Art. Cosby was also a founder of the Laguna Beach Plein-air Painting Invitational that was held at the Laguna Art Museum and is now in its 23rd year.