on masonite, image area 10 1/2" X 8 1/2" plus frame, well listed artist, 1868-1931......John W. Cotton of Glendale is one of those artists of other birth who, having served his apprenticeship elsewhere, comes home to California. Extraordinarily versatile, he is finding outlet for his appreciation of her beauty through a variety of channels. Paintings in oil and watercolor, etching, drypoints, color aquatints even the sister arts of poetry, music and drama, all a test his love for the state which has been his for less than a decade.During these years there came to him increasing recognition. Exhibiting in all the important centers in the United States and Canada, appearing as well in many of the important European exhibitions, he was the recipient of many prizes and honorable mentions. His prints have had showing in the Royal Academy of London, and are included in many of the prominent private collections as well as in the libraries, museum and galleries. Proof of his recognition is found too, in his admittance to membership in the representative art organizations of the country.He is a member of the Chicago Society of Etchers, the Print Makers of California, the California Art Club, the California Water Color Society - he is president of this organization- and in recognition of his high ideals of friendship and loyalty among artists he was last year made the first president of the newly organized Painters' and Sculptors' Club of Los Angeles. This is a body similar in purpose to the famous Salmagundi Club of New York and the Palette and Chisel Club, of which he was a member while in Chicago.Few etchers have either the technical skill or the patience requisite to the successful production of the aquatint. It is an art as far beyond the line etchings as that is beyond the pencil sketch. It is an art which demands pure love of the work for its sake. Perhaps when the present apathy of the public is replaced by that appreciative fervor which will mean support of the arts there may be an incentive to other etcher to follow in the footsteps of the little group led by this artist of the south. Certainly few things could be more effective in dissipating public apathy than these exquisite creations of John W. Cotton of Glendale.All the above information was given by R. Roberts of the Art Library, Ontario Hall, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.John Cotton born 1868 died November 24, 1931.

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