OCAD MILITARIA COLLECTORS RESOURCES
  • HQ
  • BOOKS
    • Reference Books
  • ARTICLES
    • Helmets
      • Euroclones - An essentiel collector's guide
      • Helmet trends
      • Les Casques Militaires des Etats de l'Amerique Latin
      • M1 v. M75 An essential comparison: US M1 and Austrian M75 steel helmets.
      • Not without my helmet!
      • The M1 Helmet of World War Two - A Basic Overview.
      • THE HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN STEEL HELMET 1916-1945
      • Showcase: A beginner's guide to COMPOSITE HELMETS.
      • 10 other uses for military helmets
    • Uniforms and Headgear
      • An introduction to British and Commonwealth WWII Officer's peak caps.
      • Anodised Aluminium: The ‘No Bull’ Cap Badge of the British Army
      • British Officers’ Peak Caps of the Second World War
      • Grunt
      • Understanding Austrian Army caps
    • Shows & Events
      • A trip to a museum
      • HGM Auf Radern & Ketten 2016 review
    • General Interest
      • A guide to selling your militaria.
      • Action Guide
      • A Time to Reflect
      • Dad's Army – the movie!
      • Forgotten Hope 2 PC game
      • Last Execution
      • Matthew Cook – War Artist
      • Radio Controlled mini submarine review: T2M B2 Sub Explorer II
      • The History of the Springfield M1903 Rifle
      • The Mysterious Lt. Dr. Humphry By James Katzenstein
      • The South African Air Force in colour
      • ​Three Reasons Why War Memorabilia Collecting is a Viable Investment Strategy
    • Bookshelf
      • An End of Empire
      • An exciting new book series from Pen & Sword Books
      • French Warships
      • From Colonial Warrior to Western Front Flyer. The Five wars of Sydney Herbert Bywater Harris.
      • John Lewes author interview
  • COLLECTORS
    • Militaria Dealer Directory
    • Collections Directory
    • Reference Directory
    • Forum Directory
    • Museum Directory
    • Military Publications Directory
    • Regimental / Association / Historical Directory
    • Living History & Vehicle Club Directory
    • Facebook page Directory
    • Veteran Charities Directory
    • Researching a Veteran.
    • Ranks & Marking ID Charts.
  • SHOWS
  • FREE STUFF
  • HQ
  • BOOKS
    • Reference Books
  • ARTICLES
    • Helmets
      • Euroclones - An essentiel collector's guide
      • Helmet trends
      • Les Casques Militaires des Etats de l'Amerique Latin
      • M1 v. M75 An essential comparison: US M1 and Austrian M75 steel helmets.
      • Not without my helmet!
      • The M1 Helmet of World War Two - A Basic Overview.
      • THE HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN STEEL HELMET 1916-1945
      • Showcase: A beginner's guide to COMPOSITE HELMETS.
      • 10 other uses for military helmets
    • Uniforms and Headgear
      • An introduction to British and Commonwealth WWII Officer's peak caps.
      • Anodised Aluminium: The ‘No Bull’ Cap Badge of the British Army
      • British Officers’ Peak Caps of the Second World War
      • Grunt
      • Understanding Austrian Army caps
    • Shows & Events
      • A trip to a museum
      • HGM Auf Radern & Ketten 2016 review
    • General Interest
      • A guide to selling your militaria.
      • Action Guide
      • A Time to Reflect
      • Dad's Army – the movie!
      • Forgotten Hope 2 PC game
      • Last Execution
      • Matthew Cook – War Artist
      • Radio Controlled mini submarine review: T2M B2 Sub Explorer II
      • The History of the Springfield M1903 Rifle
      • The Mysterious Lt. Dr. Humphry By James Katzenstein
      • The South African Air Force in colour
      • ​Three Reasons Why War Memorabilia Collecting is a Viable Investment Strategy
    • Bookshelf
      • An End of Empire
      • An exciting new book series from Pen & Sword Books
      • French Warships
      • From Colonial Warrior to Western Front Flyer. The Five wars of Sydney Herbert Bywater Harris.
      • John Lewes author interview
  • COLLECTORS
    • Militaria Dealer Directory
    • Collections Directory
    • Reference Directory
    • Forum Directory
    • Museum Directory
    • Military Publications Directory
    • Regimental / Association / Historical Directory
    • Living History & Vehicle Club Directory
    • Facebook page Directory
    • Veteran Charities Directory
    • Researching a Veteran.
    • Ranks & Marking ID Charts.
  • SHOWS
  • FREE STUFF
Search

Interesting Articles.

Inform yourself and fuel your passion.

Matthew Cook – War Artist.
by Dorrell. November 2018.

For those of you who are not already familiar with the artwork of Matthew Cook, then you are truly missing out. As well as having won commissions from major corporations his illustrations have been featured in the Times newspaper. Regardless of subject matter they conjure up a certain atmosphere and are compelling to the eye, with their accurate perspectives, perfectly balanced colours and spot on contrast between light and dark. ​His War Collection, concerning itself with the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, could be interpreted as a modern version of the First World War artwork documenting life and death in the trenches.
​
​Indeed the artist’s favourite piece was created in open ground, under fire from insurgents with small arms and rocket propelled grenades. A distinctly dangerous situation to be in when holding a rifle let alone a pen, yet it presents a scene of apparent tranquillity and beauty.

As Edward Hopper’s compositions manage to capture little snippets of everyday life, so too do Cook’s, albeit in the un-controlled environment of a warzone. They share an honest glimpse into the conflict from an average soldier’s perspective, a perspective which was their everyday scenes. Through a selection of line drawings and coloured illustrations, the collection covers a diverse range of subjects from military jet aircraft and foot patrols to unloading aid trucks and wrecks of war. 

​So why then are Mr Cook’s pictures so compelling and seemingly real. Far from seeking to glorify war they are merely documenting. The art derives from a personal perspective, that of a soldier - an artist, who was actually there, having served on numerous tours. The mastery of his chosen medium and an understanding of the military situation create a certain accuracy that is hard to replicate.
​
Matthew Cook – War Artist.
The artist's favourite piece. (Image Copyright © Matthew Cook. All Rights Reserved).
Picture
Suspect being lead away, after discovery of an arms cache. (Image Copyright © Matthew Cook. All Rights Reserved).
Picture
Weapons cache discovered, including a gold plated MP5! (Image Copyright © Matthew Cook. All Rights Reserved).
Depending on the circumstances and time allowance, he would quickly sketch out the scene in situ, especially crucial for moving subjects or whilst taking fire, then add colour using acrylic inks, giving his line drawings a deeper and real dimension.  This careful choice of medium is not only a practical one but it is a key factor as to why the finished pieces are so striking. His collection shares a deeper understanding of these conflicts. 
Matthew Cook – War Artist.
(Image Copyright © Matthew Cook. All Rights Reserved).
Matthew Cook – War Artist.
The artist in the field. (Image Copyright © Matthew Cook. All Rights Reserved).
Military aside, Cook’s portfolio encompasses many different topics, such as sport, travel and industry, which are just as atmospheric, if not more so and should be given ample time to be explored. The complete War Collection can be viewed at his dedicated website, whilst prints can be ordered directly from the artist himself.


If you found this article interesting, why not follow us on Facebook or Twitter?
Inform your passion! The World of Collecting.

Back to Interesting Articles
Bookmark us!                About                Contact                Terms & Conditions                Privacy                ​Disclaimer   
 Copyright © The OCAD Collection 2011 - 2020. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logotypes remain the property of their respective owners.
  • HQ
  • BOOKS
    • Reference Books
  • ARTICLES
    • Helmets
      • Euroclones - An essentiel collector's guide
      • Helmet trends
      • Les Casques Militaires des Etats de l'Amerique Latin
      • M1 v. M75 An essential comparison: US M1 and Austrian M75 steel helmets.
      • Not without my helmet!
      • The M1 Helmet of World War Two - A Basic Overview.
      • THE HISTORY OF THE RUSSIAN STEEL HELMET 1916-1945
      • Showcase: A beginner's guide to COMPOSITE HELMETS.
      • 10 other uses for military helmets
    • Uniforms and Headgear
      • An introduction to British and Commonwealth WWII Officer's peak caps.
      • Anodised Aluminium: The ‘No Bull’ Cap Badge of the British Army
      • British Officers’ Peak Caps of the Second World War
      • Grunt
      • Understanding Austrian Army caps
    • Shows & Events
      • A trip to a museum
      • HGM Auf Radern & Ketten 2016 review
    • General Interest
      • A guide to selling your militaria.
      • Action Guide
      • A Time to Reflect
      • Dad's Army – the movie!
      • Forgotten Hope 2 PC game
      • Last Execution
      • Matthew Cook – War Artist
      • Radio Controlled mini submarine review: T2M B2 Sub Explorer II
      • The History of the Springfield M1903 Rifle
      • The Mysterious Lt. Dr. Humphry By James Katzenstein
      • The South African Air Force in colour
      • ​Three Reasons Why War Memorabilia Collecting is a Viable Investment Strategy
    • Bookshelf
      • An End of Empire
      • An exciting new book series from Pen & Sword Books
      • French Warships
      • From Colonial Warrior to Western Front Flyer. The Five wars of Sydney Herbert Bywater Harris.
      • John Lewes author interview
  • COLLECTORS
    • Militaria Dealer Directory
    • Collections Directory
    • Reference Directory
    • Forum Directory
    • Museum Directory
    • Military Publications Directory
    • Regimental / Association / Historical Directory
    • Living History & Vehicle Club Directory
    • Facebook page Directory
    • Veteran Charities Directory
    • Researching a Veteran.
    • Ranks & Marking ID Charts.
  • SHOWS
  • FREE STUFF