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Catie Cook

565

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

Bio

I am a professional painter born and raised in Georgia. I graduated Summa Cum Ladue from at The University of Georgia in 2019 with a BFA in painting. I am currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Throughout my time at UGA I worked multiple jobs to support myself. Served as an ambassador for the School of Art, and helped to raise service dogs for The Guide Dog Foundation. I currently run my own business and am an avid women’s rights activist.

Education

Washington University in St Louis

Master's degree program
2023 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Fine and Studio Arts

University of Georgia

Bachelor's degree program
2019 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Fine and Studio Arts

Gainesville High School

High School
2015 - 2019
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Arts

    • Dream career goals:

    • Graduate Fellow

      Wash U Residential Life
      2023 – Present1 year
    • Student worker

      The Office of The Vice President of Student Affairs
      2022 – 20231 year
    • Retail employee

      K.A. Artist shop
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Mural painter

      Color The World Bright
      2020 – 20233 years

    Sports

    Golf

    Varsity
    2014 – Present10 years

    Awards

    • Tommy Aaron Golf Scholarship 2019

    Research

    • Fine and Studio Arts

      The University of Georgia — Student researcher
      2021 – 2023

    Arts

    • The Lamar Dodd School of Art

      Painting
      Voltz Clarke Gallery, exhibition 2023, The Georgia Musuem of Art, student curator , the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, intern, The Georgia Musuem of Art Intern
      2023 – Present

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      UGA Student Affairs — Mentor
      2021 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      The Guide Dog Foundation — Raiser
      2019 – 2022

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Terry Masters Memorial Scholarship
    I attempted plein air painting for the first time on a cliffside town in Tuscany. My senior year of undergrad I studied abroad in Italy. In so many ways the experience was life changing, but I will never forget painting the view overlooking the country side. It was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed (we used to joke it looked like a screen saver, it was so perfect.) As I painted, tourists would travel up the mountain, stopping to ask me about my work. I remember a German couple pulling out their phone to translate “beautiful” to me in English. The experience completely shifted the way I viewed painting. As I experienced outdoor painting for the first time I was struck with how it changed the way I interpreted the world around me and my approach to painting. It allowed me to capture the beauty in ephemeral and fleeting moments of life—-fresh snow on a sunny day, a little girl jumping into the ocean, or dogs chasing one another. To paint from life shows you the essence of an experience in a way that painting from a photo cannot. representing the beauty of the emotions, thoughts, and unpredictability in a moment in nature. I am interested in landscapes that inspire awe, moments of kind human interaction, and the beauty of every day life. I am pursuing a masters degree in painting because I believe that it is one of the most important gifts that we as artists can give the world. I believe that art is essential to our society. I am so grateful for your time and am honored to be considered for this award.