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James Peter Cost

Classic in style and tradition, Mr. Cost's paintings are regional; 
a celebration of the American scene, paintings of rural America - 
the remnants of a way of life that have contributed to the greatness 
of what this country is today. His paintings often depict the valleys 
and fields of his long-time former home on the Monterey Peninsula, 
Pacific seascapes so life-like that you can almost hear the pounding 
surf, or perhaps a lushly green tropical rainforest of his newly 
adopted home on the Island of Maui in Hawaii. Mr. Cost's son, Curtis 
Wilson Cost, is himself a highly acclaimed and collected artist in Hawaii. 

Each James Peter Cost painting is so meticulously conceived and 
executed that it is nearly impossible to guess the medium used. 
When pressed, the artist will admit that he is equally at ease 
with oil and acrylic paints. However, gouache (a combination of 
opaque watercolor and tempera) is the most flexible medium, and 
thus one of his favorites. Mr. Cost delights in adding little 
"can-you-find-it" touches to his paintings. One must always look 
carefully at a Cost oil painting to find those added elements 
that make his work so endearing to his many collectors around 
the world. 

James Peter Cost tries to capture something more complex, 
complicated and difficult in each new painting. "After mastering 
the basics, an artist, like a pianist, goes on to more complicated 
pieces. Thus, each painting becomes more of a challange." 

This confident approach has made Cost a champion sailor, golfer 
and lecturer, in addition to being the recipient of honors and 
awards as a superlative painter. He is a winner of the Franklin 
Mint Gold Medal Award for Distinquished Seascapes, and he has 
been commissioned twice by the Reader's Digest for covers featuring 
his renditions of the sea. James Peter Cost has long been the 
pre-imminent artist featuring the world famous golf courses at 
Pebble Beach. His paintings hang in private, corporate and public 
collections throughout the world. 

Mr. Cost took his Bachelor of Arts degree at U.C.L.A., and his 
Masters at U.S.C. He is a former instructor in fine art on both 
the university and secondary level. His recognitions include 
listings in "Who's Who in American Art", "Who's Who in America", 
"Who's Who in the West" and "Who's Who in the World."