About The Artist

Chris Cocozza, an award winning romance bookcover artist, has illustrated 100's of book covers for major publishers across the United States and around the world. Most recently, he won the 2010 Dunes and Dreams RWA cover contest award for "Best Historical Romance" for "His Conquest" by Diana Cosby. As a young person, his talent was recognized by Jack Davis, one of Mad Magazines' creators and famed cartoonists, who then helped to mentor Chris early in his artistic life. Mr. Davis provided perspective, insight and grounding at a very critical time, and helped Chris to understand the demands and commitments needed to pursue an artist's life. Chris started his academic career by studying in New York City at various institutions of higher education; The School of Visual Arts, The Arts Students League and the National Academy of Design where he honed his skills as a traditional painter and draftsman. Following in the footsteps of some of his most inspirational artists and teachers, Chris set out to traditionally paint the figure for the bookcover industry, first breaking in with the western and young adult genres, and expanding to romance, action and mystery genres. In the early 90's, with the advent of digital media, Chris easily made the transition to the new techniques and tools without sacrificing his mastery of the "traditional techniques". Chris was one of the first romance illustrators to embrace the new technology and continues to be one of it's foremost pioneers into the 21st century. His work is studied in many universitys across the country. Chris continues to embrace the incredible joy that these tools and creating great illustrative images bring him and others. Born in Bronx, New York, Chris now makes his home in bucolic Litchfield county Connecticut, with his wife and two miniature poodles. Some of Chris's clients include: Soap Opera Digest Harlequin Avon Books Harper Collins Penguin-Putnam St. Martin's Scholastic Kensington Bantam Doubleday-Dell Zondervan Ballantine among others...