VSC’s Fall Art Exhibit features local artist, Joel Cohen. A long time Mount Washington resident, Joel started painting in 2009 and has completed over 300 canvases combining acrylic paint and mixed media to produce abstract interpretations of people, places and things. In addition, at the top of his feel good list, Joel paints renderings of his friends and business associates’ dogs, or as he calls them, “miracles with paws”.
Described by others as primitive, satirical, or naive, ask Joel to define what he paints and the word “fun” repeats itself over and over. Joel has had no formal training and if you ask him he’ll tell you he can’t even draw, but looking at his finished paintings contradicts what he says. His use of color, especially bright colors, seem to appear in almost all his work and he has created a style so when an onlooker sees his work it has become identifiable as his alone.
