Matthew Cogswell

About

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I'm an artist living in Los Angeles, CA. I specialize in allegorical watercolors using symbolism of the natural world.

The grandson of a prominent ornithologist, I grew up with a passion for nature & conservation. I use those passions to tell stories about my life and journey. I utilize my bipolar disorder to my advantage in creating hyper-realistic watercolors

At 23, four major US museums added my intaglio work to their permanent collections; The National Gallery of Art, DC, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, The Huntington Library, and the UCLA/Hammer Museum in Los Angeles]

I also teach when I can and do illustrations

[REPOST - sorry, better pic for posterity] DONE! 140hrs in 3 weeks
Slogging away
Ugh. I’ve hit a wall but that’s ok. Gotta put this down for a bit and recharge on it. Sometimes you need a moment away from your work to appreciate it again.
3,500 brush strokes later...
So honored to see one of my pieces so beautifully displayed . And just in time for lovely Marc’s birthday! Can’t wait till this pandemic is over and I can see it in person in his and @londonuday ‘s incredible home.
A few days work on a new project. Some of the most complex forms I’ve worked on with interacting cast shadows and form shadows. I always feel like I’m out of my league when I start a painting and I’ve almost immediately made grie
Today’s Sketch: Fuertes’ Parrot. Fuertes’ Parrot has a highly restricted range on the west slope of a single volcano in Central Andes of Colombia. It was recently rediscovered after being “extinct” for 91 years. Les
The sacred & ancient Egyptian Vulture is widespread but endangered due to habitat loss, collisions with power lines, intentional poisoning, lead accumulation from shot in carcasses as well as pesticide accumulation. Captive breeding programs are
We’ll pretend I’m done. Might rework later. “Quarantine” featuring an Irish Elk that went extinct 8,000 years ago. - #watercolorpainting #archeswatercolorpaper
Ok now to paint the snow. I’ve barely even SEEN snow. Ever. Any tips? This is gonna be interesting.
Slogging away. About to move onto the extinct Irish Elk - which I have to make up so... fingers crossed. 😬
I just realized I graduated to using a QUINTUPLE ZERO brush and am painting lines the width of a human (beard) hair on a painting that is 3x4 feet. Someone please help me.
Detail of Day 1’s progress on my largest (and most cumbersome) painting to date.
FLOW: a limited edition 2-giclée set is now on sale for $50 off through February cuz it’s my birthday. Link in bio.
Honored to grace such a prominent place in Geoscience Educator, Callan Bentley’s wall.
Nona Morta Limited Edition giclée is up in the store. 22x30 limited run. Link in bio.
Done! What should I call it?
Trying more to really capture the gossamer feeling of the fins. Next step:? Tricky dark background
Painting my first sequel