Charles Thomas Cox developed a passionate interest in art while in high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During this time he was very active in the school's art club and won a number of local and regional art awards.
Determining on a career in art, he pursued his education at David Lipscomb, Ringling School of Art, Watkins Institute, and U. T. Nashville Extension, acquiring a B. A. in art from Lipscomb. He taught painting at Lipscomb and had among his students, Dawn Whitelaw, a well known painter and portraitist. Also during this time he had two one man shows at the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee, which received high praise from local critic, Clara Hieronymous, and was well-received by the public.
Cox then embarked on a long career as an llustrator, working for ad agencies and publishing houses in Nashville, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and New York, and winning awards given by judges such as Bernie Fuchs and Bob Peak. Illustrations he did during these years are in the permanent collection of The Baptist Board.
Ten years ago Cox retired from illustrating in order to paint fulltime, and has since sold virtually everything he has painted.
Although he has not emphasized entering contests he has won a Best of Show in the 2008 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional, First in Oil and a Best of Show at the Central South Show, and a First in Oil at The Tennessee Art League, along with awards at the Motorola Regional and Tennessee State Fair. He was also accepted into the 2009 Oil Painters of America National and Eastern Regional.
He counts among colleagues and friends acclaimed portraitist and painter Michael Shane Neal, and New York illustrator and painter Neal McPheeters.
His favorite artists are John Singer Sargent, Velasquez, Degas, and Corot, among others, and his painting style is painterly-realistic, with an emphasis on accurate drawing and tones, entertaining brushwork, good surface quality, enjoyable details, careful choice of subject, and rich color.
With his wife, Joyce, he travels each year in Europe, especially in France and Italy, searching for subjects. His paintings have been in collections at Vanderbilt University, David Lipscomb University, Cheekwood, and several Banks, as well as in private and corporate collections around the country. His youngest son, Bryan, is an animation artist in NewYork City. Bryan's work may be viewed at http://bryancoxanimation.com.
