Art @ Top Hat

Opening night at Top Hat for Ralph Wolfe Cowan.

Cowan still paints many portraits.  "I have painted wives, husbands, children all together and separately, grandparents and business associates.  There are countless reasons for commissioning a portrait.  And, I've found that they become the most cherished of family possessions."  So, if you haven't found the unique Holiday gift, Cowan can paint your loved ones.  Cowan chuckles and promises "not" to paint them like Elvis.

    You can see more of Cowan's paintings and find out more about his career at www.ralphcowan.com

    For a phone interview, please call Steve Mohler, Manager at 561-833-1615 or 561-655-2636.  Ralph Cowan is very friendly and loves to chat about his unique experiences, relationships with celebrity clients.  He is passionate about his art.
 

Press Release

Royal Portrait Painter Unveils his New Body of Work and Reveals His Inspiration

    The jet-set artist from Palm Beach will open his exhibit at Art @ Top Hat in Christiansted on November 19, at 5 pm.  Artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan is best known for being the number one portrait painter in the world today and has been recognized as painting more reigning monarchs and works leaders than any other painter in world history.  His career took off in the mid 1950s when he painted the first portrait of singer Johnny Mathis used on his first album cover. The record went ballistic.  And Cowan saw his art in every record store window worldwide.  Shortly after, he was commissioned to paint H.S.H. Princess Grace of Monaco.  His full-length painting of her has graced the pages of every magazine and book on Monaco.  And, the painting is now considered the Legendary portrait.  That was his first experience painting Royalty.  And, since then he has painted many Kings and Heads-of-State of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Brunei, The Emirates, Chile, Philippines and a number of U.S. Presidents.  Event the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley commissioned him to paint a large full-length painting that still remains in prominently displayed in Elvis' Graceland.
    Cowan says, "Anything can inspire me.  When I was painting The First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos, I noticed she always wore exquisite shoes and a different pair every time we met.  When she was a little girl, she grew up poor and shoeless.  Shoes became very important to her.  When she became the First Lady, she told the story of growing up without shoes to the Filipino school children, and from then on, children from around the world started sending her shoes.  She ended up with thousands of shoes.  And, she would always pick up several pair while traveling.  I realized ladies shoes can almost be an art medium.  They are wild and very artistic.  So, lately when I've been meeting with my portrait clients, I've asked them to bring out their favorite and most interesting shoes in their collection.  Some were psychedelic from the sixties with high platforms; others were elegant with leopard skin and four inch heels.  So now, I am painting shoes in a contemporary format with vibrant background colors.  The few clients and art dealers that have seen them so far have flipped out over the paintings.  They are certainly fun, and I've heard extraordinary."
    This past spring, Cowen unveiled his "In Bloom" series.  During his travels, he would visit some of the most spectacular gardens.  He began to see the face of each flower to be unique.  "They really have a unique personality," Cowan says "and I love their exotic colors.  They can cheer up any room and create a joyous and serene ambiance.  I'm always painting new flowers; collectors love them."  A few will be on display at Top Hat.