JD Cole is a native of Oklahoma and seasonal resident of Texas and Alaska. His love of art is a life-long affair cultivated in his youth by the artistic pursuits and encouragement of his mother. Following 29 years of sharing that passion with students in public education, he is now achieving his dream of storytelling through full-time painting. He works primarily in oils in the style of classical realism.

Much of his work is inspired by the stories, traditions, and crafts of the past: those that are at risk of being lost in the modern-day world. Deep-rooted traditions, life-long passions, continuing legacies, costuming, and experimentation provide the backdrop for the stories his images tell. In an effort to preserve the past, he pays tribute to the moments of an everyday life, nestled among personal artifacts, to celebrate the remarkable histories and stories contained within them.

JD is currently finding inspiration through observing today’s contemporary laborer or craftsperson. Immersed in their day-to-day actions, these persons and their age-old skills are the backbone of modern progress. Captured within their surroundings, JD explores the beauty found within a grittier time and space.