Biography

deano-bio
Dive It. Photograph It. Share It. Respect It. Raise Awareness.

Deano is an artist, an avid scuba diver, an underwater photographer, and a realist. Born landlocked in Atlanta GA, his frequent trips to Florida’s panhandle as a child began his early fascination with the sea.

Deano’s artistic talent has helped him slowly gain recognition, and experience invaluable opportunities. One of these amazing opportunities was assisting Wyland, America’s leading marine life artist, in painting two of Wyland’s famed Whaling Walls. This led to Wyland enlisting Deano to tattoo his entire left arm with Wyland’s own incredible artwork. Through these experiences Deano gained a new sense of accomplishment and a renewed passion for the sea.

Through his photography, Deano strives to capture the beauty he encounters in the underwater world. His photos then become reference for his paintings as he realistically recreates his subject matter on canvas.

Deano is a man on a mission. He wants the people who view his artwork to see exactly what he sees, and to share his love and respect for the underwater world and all it’s amazing creatures.

Deano Cook | Marine Life Painter, Photographer, & Tattooist

Featured Press

Deano is a multifaceted artist with a passion for Photography, Painting and Tattooing. He is available for commissioned Artwork, licensing, partnerships and exhibitions.
________________
H2Ocean Team

“Cook is a member of The H2Ocean Pro Team which includes some of the best tattoo, body modification, and fine artists in the world.”
________________
Deano Cook Signature Collection from Fusion Tattoo Ink

“Collaboration between Deano Cook and Fusion Tattoo Ink, these signature marine inspired tattoo inks are thick with a high-pigment load and contain no fillers.”

Collaboration by Deano Cook and Guy Aitchison – 2013

“The “Aquatica” painting came from years of Guy Aitchison tattooing me. I would go and stay at Guy and his lovely wife Michelle Wortman’s house to get work done on my two sleeves and my chest. Each visit I began staying longer and tattooing Guy in return. We discussed the idea of a painting project together and were excited to see what would become of it.

We began by sculpting an organic-looking alien type of coral reef together. After a photo session we chose some of my photographs of underwater environments to help bring our reef to life. From this point, we laid it out on canvas together in pencil and I returned home.

I did the first 10-hour session of work on it myself and shipped it to him to work on. We allowed each other to paint right on top of the other’s efforts, creating a true mesh of both of our styles.This went back and forth a few times until I returned to his studio where we spent a few consecutive days painting. This was during the time his book Organica was released, so with that on our minds, and his obvious organic influence paired with my obvious aquatic influence, “Aquatica” was born…..”

Bimini Shark Week with Deano Cook – 2013

“In my life every week is Shark Week, but there are definitely weeks more intense than others. A recent visit from photographer, painter, tattoo artist and good friend Deano Cook was one of those weeks. I met Deano in 2007 when I saw him tattooing marine artist Wyland at a convention. As a lover of sharks and tattoos, I knew right then and there I had to have a piece of his art on my body. It took six years of busy dive schedules and missed attempts, but we finally made it happen when he came to visit us in Bimini.

Bimini is one of my favorite places on the planet and I absolutely love sharing my home with people, especially those that have a real passion for the ocean. We wasted no time getting in the water and headed out for a Caribbean reef shark dive….”

Discovery Channel Sharkopedia – 2013

“Featured photography inside the Discovery Channel Sharkopedia: The Complete Guide to Everything Shark Book (2013) including the inside of the cover page, contents page, numerous inside pages and back cover page. The book contains more than 400 incredible photos and lists the most infamous sharks, including the great white, bull, and tiger sharks.”

Tattoo Prodigies 2 – 2015

“Deano Cook was a featured artist among the 170 total artists in the Tattoo Prodigies 2: A Collection of the Best Tattoos by the World’s Best Tattoo Artists. Tattoo Prodigies features the world’s best tattoo artists who’ve been handpicked by Mike Devries; one of the most talented realism artists in the game for this book because of their impressive tattoo and painting accomplishments; as well as inspiring stories and interviews.”

Featured on Inked Magazine – 2014

“Not only is Cook a skilled tattooist, but he is also an award winning photographer and scuba diver.”
________________
FishCrack.com – 2013

“Artist Deano Cook Takes Marine Art To The Next Level. Sport fishing tattoos are becoming more and more popular as the sport continues to grow, and renowned artists like Deano Cook of Psycho Tattoo are setting standards high with realistic designs and body art…”

Awards

Featuring the award-winning Lemon Shark Sunset; Nature’s Best Photography Grand Prize Winner for the 2012 Ocean Views contest.

“As the sun was setting, I wanted to capture a quiet moment with one of the lemon sharks we had been photographing that afternoon. This particular shark was just as curious as I was, and what an amazing moment I was able to capture! His eye above the surface stares back at me, as if to show me he’s watching, too. Below the surface his mouth was just slightly open, showing off his sharp teeth.”

Wyland Walls

Artist Robert Wyland’s 93rd Whale Wall of 100

2005

After a success completion of the 88th Whale Wall, I was invited back to assist in painting a mural in New Bedford, MA, as part of his “Whaling Wall” project, a 20-year effort to raise environmental awareness by painting 100 murals around the world. “93 down, seven to go,” he said.

Artist Robert Wyland’s 88th Whale Wall of 100

2004

Assisted Wyland, America’s leading marine life artist, in painting two of Wyland’s famed Whaling Walls. In 2004, he invited me to come paint with him on a world record (in size) mural he was doing in Destin, once again. I was honored and took him up on his offer. We painted on the project for close to three weeks, during which time we took a major blow from Hurricane Ivan. It took an act of God to slow Wyland down long enough for me to finally start a marine life sleeve on him. We worked on it for a few days and then went back to work on the giant mural. It was during this break from the mural that we were having lunch and I brought up the idea of him doing a lifesize giant squid (60-70 feet in length) on the wall. Wyland gave it some thought. To my surprise, he said he wanted me to work on the squid while he would do a giant sperm whale colliding with it, the creatures locked in an epic battle. It was truly a highlight of my career and my life.That mural really made us closer friends.

Associates

Sponsors

Gear