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John Neville Cohen is really an artist
who uses photography. Photographer’s record reality and the best
do that really well, but John creates amazing fantasy from reality!
His beautiful pictures surprise, intrigue and make quite a statement!
"One of the essential differences between the artist and the photographer
is that the artist always starts with a blank canvas, whereas the
photographer's canvas 'the viewfinder', or screen, is always full!"
John Neville Cohen
There are three reasons why John’s art is so special: -
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Firstly,
he invented his own
photographic ‘painting with light’ method (a very different
and original 'special effect' pure photographic technique in the
early 1960's) without using any computer, darkroom chemicals, or
expensive equipment, to create his unique top international award
winning studies. This enabled him to produce transparencies (mostly
on Kodachrome) that amazed other photographers, Kodak and all
the experts at the time, well before anyone had computers.
- Secondly,
his pictures are not
simply the well composed flower, fruit, landscape, nude or portrait
studies. His pictures are so imaginative and once seen, form
an impression not easily forgotten. They have stood the test
of time, since many of his most valued pictures were created over 50
years ago.
-
Thirdly,
he has a unique vision and
his own art style that everyone can easily understand, yet no one
else creates fantasy visual art like his.
The first time ‘The London Salon
Trophy’, a much-coveted International award for artistic photography
had ever been awarded for a colour photograph was for 'Spirit of Spring’ in
1967. John was the not only the youngest salon member ever to have
received it, but it was also the very first time a transparency and a
negative appeared on the same film emulsion. Although technically
extraordinary, it is more importantly a very fine work of art.
Beauty is
Spirit of Spring
John’s discovery was based on simply
photographing projected images that were not always projected on to a
screen and the chosen screen often became the subject of the picture;
John has photographed projected images on to a feather, a flower, a
shell, a butterfly wing, and even on to the edges of the pages of a
book!
Madam Butterfly
Preacher
He built up a collection of around 75
studies that led to over 20 One-Man Exhibitions of his photographs (some
sponsored by Kodak) in New York, London, The Edinburgh Festival and many other UK & USA
Cities. At Photo Expo (famous photographers were lucky to have 3 pictures
included at 'Photo Expo 68') but a wall of over 60 pictures was devoted
to John.
"..regarded as one of Britain's most original
photographers" The Times.
"A woman's face was exquisitely
metamorphosed with the cup of a yellow tulip - a Femme - Fleur Picasso
might have perpetrated had he taken to photography” Arts Revue.
A number of newspaper and photographic magazine articles were published
and his art even attracted the attention of such famous names as Cecil
Beaton
C.B.E., Sir William Russell Flint
R.A., Sir George F. Pollock
Bt., M.A., and Lady Clementine Spencer Churchill amongst many others.
Flower Maiden
Sea Nymph's Mirror
John has openly explained that he often
starts with an idea and then experiments with various images, but
sometimes something unforeseen happened, that sends him down a totally
fresh route to create a very different picture than the one he
originally planned, often it has been these ‘inspired accidents’
that have since turned out to be his most valued artworks.
Recently a young art critic wrote
"John N. Cohen's artwork
incorporates several genres--ready-made objects, digital photography and
Impressionist style of light painting - to create a striking and surreal
effect that has a strong impact upon the viewer”
Claudia Moscovici.
"Indeed, since the photographic image is made by the action of
light, truth to light is truth to the medium of photography! All John
Cohen's photographs are made, simply and solely, by the use of light.
His magic is the magic of the luminous; his poetry is that of the
chiaroscuro. The attractions of his work is all the greater for the
purity of the photographic technique, and its appeal all the more
universal for being couched in an imagery common to all men and
intelligible to all”.
Sir George F. Pollock Bt., M.A.,
F.R.P.S., F.R.S.A.
John started promoting his high quality limited edition prints since he
retired and in a relatively short period of time, he has acquired quite
a following on LinkedIn, Facebook, and at various other art sites on the
Internet, like Flickr, where so many have chosen his pictures as 'favourites'.
"I love these, John.
Can imagine them large scale in a white room - would look fantastic!" 'Rachel
Glittenberg'
Facebook
"Hi John, I am so pleased to have come across your page, your
work is sensationally sophisticated and so softly intense, you have a
unique personal talent for expressing visually moments of being and
emotional journeys, sincerest congratulations on your excellent
artistic technique, xx
you are such a talent John"
'Monica Martinelli-Richmond' Facebook
"Stunning image! Your work is amazing!
Your work is extraordinary and very inspirational!"
'Emellin66'
Flickr
"really beautiful and magical. Love the composition." 'Galerie-Morgenstern' Flickr
Roller
John is now over 70 and is
still currently creating pictures (one of the latest is 'Roller').
His pictures certainly cause interest, adding a bright new dimension to
any wall. So sophisticated, always a talking point, appealing to all age
groups.
Montmartre
One must not forget that
John's reality photography is outstanding too (as can be seen in 'Montmartre')
and some of these are also published as limited edition prints.
For serious art buyers and art lovers there are still some of the prints
for sale. To buy an artwork by John, it is still possible to purchase a
print, although they are limited to only 8 of each picture. Not yet one
of the big names, but these pictures do have great investment potential and
now is the best time for astute buyers to buy.
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"Art Galleries
refer to me as a photographer, but photographers refer to me as an
Artist!" John Neville Cohen.
Keywords: John Neville Cohen, interview, Art, artworks, contemporary, impressionist, photographer, limited edition, painting with light, technique, for sale, pictures, Photo Expo, Kodak,
Kodachrome,
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