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Jack CogginArtist, writer and illustrator
Date of Birth: 10.07.1911
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Artistic Training
- Wartime Service and Beyond
- Career as Artist and Writer
- Teaching and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Jack Coggins was born in London, England, on July 10, 1911. He was the only child of Ethel May and Sydney George Coggins. His father served in the 1st Life Guards, an elite cavalry regiment responsible for protecting the monarch. In 1923, the family emigrated to Long Island, New York, where Coggins attended Roslyn High School.
Artistic Training
Coggins developed an early passion for art and enrolled at the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. He studied under renowned impressionist Edmund Greacen, George Pearce Ennis, and Wayman Adams. He later joined the Arts Students League of New York and studied under Frank DuMond.
Wartime Service and Beyond
During World War II, Coggins served as an artist and correspondent for "YANK" magazine, depicting scenes from the front lines. He produced numerous paintings and illustrations during this period.
Career as Artist and Writer
Coggins' artistic career spanned over 45 years. He created over 1,000 oil paintings, predominantly on marine subjects. He was also a gifted illustrator, creating drawings for his own books, advertisements, magazine covers, and articles.
Coggins was a prolific writer, publishing several books on space travel. His wife, Alma Woods, played a significant role in assisting with his writing, inspiring many of his dedications.
Teaching and Legacy
Coggins taught art at the Wyomissing Institute of the Arts from 1957 to 2001. Despite losing his left eye due to an infection, he continued to paint and teach. He was a member of numerous artistic organizations, including the Pastel Society of America and the American Society of Marine Artists.
Coggins passed away at his home in Pennsylvania in 2006. He bequeathed his body to science. His wife, Alma, died in 2007. Their legacy lives on through their art and the many lives they touched.
