Observations and stories of art and creative energy exchanges.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

As the year comes to a close, I want to take a heartfelt moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for being such an essential part of my creative family. Your unwavering trust and steadfast support truly mean the world to me, more than words can adequately convey. I am profoundly grateful to have the incredible opportunity to accompany you on your exciting journey toward experiencing remarkable art and unforgettable creative experiences. Together, we have shared moments of inspiration and growth, and I look forward to continuing this wonderful adventure with all of you in the coming year. Thank you for being an invaluable part of this journey!

A.D. Cook December 23, 2024

East Valley Cruisers Friday Cruise-In • December 6 & 13, 2024

Friday afternoon marked my fifth visit to the East Valley Cruisers Cruise-In in Mesa, AZ. My prior visits to the car show resulted in lots of great photos. This post includes dozens of awesome photos of everything from old street rods and classics from the last two shows.

A.D. Cook December 15, 2024

Tempe Festival of the Arts

I had heard about the Tempe Festival of the Arts but had never been. That all changed today when my local artist friend, NASH, invited me to join him for a stroll through the festival to meet some fellow artists.

A.D. Cook December 7, 2024

AMERICA and MOMENTUM at the National Corvette Museum LUSTER Exhibit, 2024

National Corvette Museum Lustrous Final Month Countdown

It’s almost hard to believe that the LUSTER Exhibit at the National Corvette Museum is coming to a close, with only a month left to catch it live.

A.D. Cook December 4, 2024

Corvette Nirvana

It’s no secret that I love Corvettes. I have always loved them, and I suspect I will always love them. That’s why I photograph every Corvette I can at the local car shows; lately, I see Corvettes everywhere. So, given that I’ve shot hundreds of Vettes at car shows, at the National Corvette Museum, and as reference for my paintings, I thought I’d share a few pics with you here, starting with the video above, featuring music by GC (Gate Citizens) featuring Emmillienne.

A.D. Cook December 3, 2024

The Ahwatukee Car Show

The Goodman Taylor Team & Precision Auto Body Presents The Ahwatukee Car Show, a charity even benefitting hope for the homeless. What a great car show! I feasted my eyes on a spectacular display of over six hundred classic, vintage, and modern cars. This show was so huge; there was something for everyone, from sleek sports cars to powerful muscle cars, rat rods, and everything in between!

A.D. Cook November 30, 2024

Las Vegas Brewing News: December 2024

The Nevada Craft Brewers Association (NCBA) will provide an opportunity to taste more than 30 beers from more than 20 Nevada breweries at its annual Brew Festivus Beer Fest. Held on December 7 from noon-4 p.m. at Cornerstone Park in Henderson, the unlimited sampling will include rare, collaborations, specialties, one-offs and holiday-inspired beers; and hard cider. Bring your four-legged beer buddy in festive gear to enjoy the fun and photo opportunity provided by Michael’s Angel Paws.

Bob Barnes November 28, 2024

Rat Rod Boogie

You’ll want your volume up for this one. I love this tune, RAT ROD BOOGIE, by GREASE GUN, so I contacted the band, who permitted me to share it with you. The music perfectly complements my photos from various car shows. This video is about the muscles and creativity of rat rods and draggers. Power and noise make these things sound great, and their bespoke design makes them something beyond cool — they are rolling art!

A.D. Cook November 26, 2024

Fine Art Flashback

I recently pulled a couple of paintings from my archive to share with someone with a similar taste for figurative artwork and fine art nudes. I haven’t seen the paintings I unboxed in years, so witnessing them with fresh eyes was nice — the kind of nice that required a fresh coffee and a little time to sit and enjoy some art I created several years ago. One of my recently unboxed paintings, in particular, is a huge favorite of mine.

A.D. Cook November 25, 2024

Catching Up With Bob

I always enjoy catching up with my Las Vegas buddy (and fellow writer) Bob Barnes. Over the years, we have shared countless laughs and memorable moments, and our conversations often span a wide range of topics, from the latest books we’ve read to our aspirations as writers. However, since I moved to Phoenix just a few months ago, Bob and I have had precious little opportunity to catch up over a nice craft beer (or two), especially since Bob continues to call Las Vegas his home.

A.D. Cook November 20, 2024

Arizona Car Show Update

These past few weeks have been an absolute blast as I’ve had the incredible opportunity to explore the vibrant and diverse Arizona car show scene in depth. Each event has been filled with unique and meticulously cared-for vehicles, passionate and enthusiastic car enthusiasts, and an electric atmosphere that truly captures the essence of automotive passion.

A.D. Cook November 18, 2024

East Valley Cruisers Friday Cruise-In • November 15, 2024

Today, I posted over sixty-five awesome pictures of everything from old street rods and classics. If you’ve been following my car show posts, you may have seen a few of these cars already, but there are plenty of new vehicles to see since the Valley is robust in cars with no shortage of stunning examples of every variety.

A.D. Cook November 16, 2024

Posts & Updates

Observations and stories of art, love, cars, and creative energy exchanges.