the Artist’s Corner Podcast: A Deep-Dive Conversation with Griff Cowan

Griff was the featured guest on The Artist’s Corner segment of the “Afternoon with Ed” show on The Voice Laguna radio station. This in-depth interview was recorded leading up to Griff’s solo exhibition at Seven Degrees Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA.

A Glimpse at the Process

For this particular show, Griff curated a set of paintings that showcase the breadth of his ability. He wanted visitors to see “a variety of what I can do,” focusing on pieces that represent both his technical range and personal favorites.

Painting is part of Griff’s daily rhythm, something he has done nearly everyday for over a decade. For him, painting is a comfort zone and a source of emotional grounding. “The paint can never go wrong.” he shared, “If you put your emotions into it, your good intentions are always going to come back around and be rewarded.”

Griff works almost exclusively with acrylics. His pace is fast—too fast, he says, to wait for oils to dry—and his process often involves juggling multiple works at once. It’s not unusual for him to paint on three different pieces in a single session.

Art as Tribute and A Lifeline

Following the loss of his best friend and Grandma, Griff’s friend gave him a canvas and paint as a way to process. From that moment on he learned how impactful creating art can be to fight depression and honor his loved ones. Art is his lifeline and passion, he puts his life experiences on the canvas to inspire people to keep going through the hard times.

how painting influences his music

“I’m thinking of painting while I’m rapping” he said. Painting itself is more instinctual and meditative for him, “some medium-type of energy.” Music is full of patterns, but both are guided by rhythm and flow.

In recent years Griff has found the same creative freedom in music that he naturally has in visual art. Not being classically trained in painting allowed him to be free from rules early on. Music, however, originally came with more structure.

The Power of Emotions

Among his influences is painter Henry Taylor, whose work he discovered more deeply during a 2017 visit to the Whitney Biennial. One piece in particular—a visceral portrayal of police violence—left an enduring impact. The raw emotion and real-world urgency of the work shifted something in Griff. “It inspired me to paint things that are real, even if they’re hard to look at or address,” he explained.

“For what art means to me and what the craft means to me, I’m always going to do something true,” he said. Art, he believes, has the capacity to reach people even when they resist engaging with difficult truths. “Even if somebody’s ignorant, the image of what’s being painted will stick in their head.”