LLOYD COOK (1921-2007) "Low Tide" Vintage 1950s Mid Century Modern Watercolor on Paper on Board Hand Signed and Dated on Front; Titled Verso (see photos) Excellent Condition Matted and Framed 19" x 15" Text or Email with any Questions.......Thank You. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LLOYD COOK (1921-2007) Lloyd Vernon Cook was born Dec. 25, 1921, in Fitzhugh, Okla., to Ernest Elmer Cook and Leota Oliphant Cook. He jokingly said that his professional art career began at the age of 10 when he sold a drawing of a neighbor's dog to the neighbor for 25 cents. Lloyd graduated from Elgin Oklahoma High School as valedictorian and then moved to Oklahoma City where he went to business school and continued his art career at Veazey Drug, lettering signs and decorating the windows of their 22 stores. In 1941, after Pearl Harbor, Lloyd enlisted in the Army. He was recommended for Officer Candidate School but didn't have an interest in becoming an officer. As the Army tried to find the best place for Lloyd's high aptitudes, he went through specialized training programs for field artillery at Ft. Lewis, WA, as well as chemical engineering and math at the New Mexico School of Mines. He was eventually qualified for pilot, navigator or bombardier in the Army Air Corps in Albuquerque and was sent to Wichita Falls, TX, for pilot training. The Army decided it had enough pilots and canceled this program, so Lloyd was sent to Texarkana to work in the ordinance depot. From there he was sent to Bremerton, WA, where he received orders for overseas duty in 1944. Having undergoing specialized jungle training in Oahu, HI, Lloyd was sent to Okinawa, Japan, as a supply sergeant and was ultimately promoted to Staff Sergeant. Lloyd returned to the United States after the war. He had scored high in medical school aptitude tests early on, so the Army was eager for him to remain in service. Lloyd was interested in seeing what civilian life had to offer and was Honorably Discharged in 1945. In 1946, Lloyd moved to Amarillo, TX, and began his professional art career with Southwest Advertisers in partnership with Leon Crupp and Monte Rosenwald, later to be known as Monte Rosenwald and Associates. As art director for the agency, his innate artistic talents quickly became obvious. In this era, before computers, all aspects of advertising art were done by hand. Though not formally trained, Lloyd possessed unusual skills in design, illustration, lettering, perspective, drawing and painting in many media as well as the business abilities that helped the company grow in the exciting climate of postwar America. In 1960, Lloyd tried his hand at self-employment, opening Advertising Art Studio. During this period in his professional life, Lloyd was an extremely well respected artist, earning accolades and awards throughout the state. In 1971, Lloyd closed his studio and was invited by Texas State Technical Institute in Amarillo to teach in their advertising arts program. They were thrilled to have the expertise of this seasoned professional and he was excited to pass on to others what he had worked so hard to acquire. During this time he also attended Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX, earning a bachelor’s degree. Lloyd retired from TSTI as Art Director in 1983. In addition to his advertising art career, Lloyd also enjoyed painting, especially in watercolor. He and many of his artist friends would get together and paint at Palo Duro Canyon and other locations or work from a model in the studio. He was frequently invited to exhibit with groups such as The Artist of the Southwest, which included his friends Don Ray, Ben Konis, Jim Ward and James Edwards. Lloyd also taught painting and drawing to students at many art associations. His paintings are in many private and public collections in the Panhandle area. Lloyd's favorite painting themes were usually detailed portraits of old barns, farmyards and ranch scenes, seeing something in them that reminded him of his rural roots in Oklahoma, something solid and enduring. Email or Text any Questions.....thank you. Due to special packing necessities for framed art items, shipping times may take a few days longer depending on the item and shipping destination location. Email through for more information.