One of America's premiere wildlife artists, Cowan was a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. His paintings have appeared as cover art and illustrations in such magazines as Fortune, Life, Look, Esquire, Sports Afield, Outdoor Life and other national publications. Cowan was introduced to the beauty of Texas as a young, enlisted man in the United States Air Corps originally stationed in Hondo, Texas, during World War II. He was honorably discharged after transfer to Ellington Airfield near Houston, Texas, where he served as an illustrator and began his professional art career. Two important collections of his artwork, The Golden Crescent and John P. Cowan: A Texas Treasure were originally published in 1969 and 1992. The Texas Legislature named Cowan as 1978-79 Texas State Artist and, over the years, he provided original art for 14 stamp prints: Trout Unlimited (1982), Gulf Coast Conservation (1983-first, 1986, and 1991); Texas Waterfowl (1985, 1988); Texas Turkey Federation (1985, 1988); Arkansas Waterfowl (1986); Louisiana Wildlife Federation (1986); Texas Nongame (1986); Texas Saltwater (1986-first, 1989); and Texas Quail Unlimited (1991). Cowan was also instrumental in the introduction and enactment of the Texas Red Drum Conservation Act of 1977 the first significant legislation designed to protect Texas' declining red fish population for future generations of Texas sports fisherman and women. In 1984, Cowan was selected as one of the top 12 contemporary outdoor artists in America in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Sports Afield magazine. Cowan received many honors and awards from local, state and national wildlife and conservation associations for his contributions: Houston Ducks Unlimited Sportsman of the Year (1973); National Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year (1977); Trout Unlimited Artist of the Year (1982); Texas Ducks Unlimited Wetlands Artist of the Year (1985); Houston Ducks Unlimited Sponsor of the Year (1985); National Ducks Unlimited Central Flyaway Artist of the Year (1988); Texas Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year (1989); Colorado River Environmental Steward Award by the Lower Colorado River Authority (2006); and most recently, the Lifetime Achievement Award in June, 2008, by the Recreational Fishing Alliance of Texas. Later this year, Cowan will be inducted into the new Texas Parks and Wildlife Conservation Hall of Fame in recognition of his many contributions to the protection and conservation of Texas' outdoor resources.
