David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
David Shepherd was born in the UK in 1931. He was not only one of his generation’s most well-known artists, but also an outspoken preservationist. At the age of just eight years old, he won a painting competition for the magazine Nursery World, marking the beginning of his painting career. Yet, after his school years, he traveled to Kenya in the hopes of becoming a game warden. Though he was rejected, the trip would ignite his passions for wildlife and wildlife preservation. He continued to paint throughout his lifetime, and many of his canvases took as their subjects the wildlife that he had grown to love. In addition to his animal subjects, he also dedicated paintings to the locomotive. He was a famed collector of steam locomotives, devoting much of his time later in his life to the preservation of these powerful engines. Shepherd was heavily involved in the founding of a heritage steam railway, the East Somerset Railway, and owned a number of historic locomotives. Both his painting of animals and steam engines were remarkably popular amongst the collecting public, and they remain highly prized today.
Artist Comments
"The flowers hide the face so that you don’t make assumptions about the model, you focus on the beauty of existence," states artist David Shepherd. "You appreciate that they are a person without any impressions of their character. When I compose a painting I think back to my childhood memories. It ties in with what I was saying above. When you’re a child it’s much easier to make friends and enjoy people. That innocence allows for such pure emotion. I always try and get back to that feeling when I’m composing my work."
About the Artist
Canadian artist David Shepherd fuses techniques from both old and modern masters to create contemporary interpretations of the human form. While offering strong nods to pop art and cubism, the work remains grounded by David’s training in 19th Century academic realism. Combining discrete techniques within a single tableau is initially jarring to the viewer, creating an unexpected visual complexity in the work and demonstrating the artist’s breadth of skills. “I think in the future we will be much more interested in works of art that show a mastery of multiple styles,” says David. Each artwork effectually suggests the surreal nature of human existence within a convoluted modern society.
Words that describe this painting: flowers, floral, portrait, realism, hyperrealism, photorealism, hyperreal, face, beauty, eye, rainbow, calm, calming, love, lips, people, large, people, flora, realism, oil painting, pink
Loose Lips...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Provocative hyperrealist oil painting created with breathtaking detail. Artist David Shepherd used water and flowers to create a feeling of life, and to serve...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
In this hyperrealistic painting of a close-up view of an eye framed by delicate white flowers, artist David Shepherd investigates taking people out of gender....
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage," says artist David Shepherd. He presents a vibrant, realistic piece of a face covered in vibrant flowers. A prismatic light...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Part of David Shepherd's latest series of hyperrealist paintings focusing on women's lips. A sensual portrait rendered in extremely precise painting. Among ot...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Part of David Shepherd's latest series of hyperrealist paintings focusing on women's faces. A sensual portrait rendered in extremely precise painting. Among o...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Bright pink petals frame a close-up portrait. For artist David Shepherd, the eye—like a fingerprint—uniquely identifies a person, yet their identity, orig...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Provocative hyperrealist oil painting created with breathtaking detail. Artist David Shepherd explains that he used the glass surface in this piece as a light...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist David Shepherd paints a hyperrealistic portrait of a woman adorned with white flowers. "The eye is like a fingerprint, it uniquely identifies us," says...
21st Century and Contemporary Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
In this hyperrealistic painting, David depicts a model holding plastic to her face. The work is meant as a commentary on global warming and a need to plan fo...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist David Shepherd paints a hyperrealistic close-up image of lips sipping on a flower. A torrent of dewy nectar drips slowly to the subject's mouth. Her sp...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Part of David Shepherd's latest series of hyperrealist paintings focusing on women's faces. A sensual portrait rendered in extremely precise painting. Among o...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
A hyperrealistic painting of a close-up view of an eye framed by glistening white and pink flower petals. Part of artist David Shepherd's series investigating...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
In this provocative hyperrealist painting, artist David Shepherd uses honey and leaves as symbols of health, well-being and sexuality. "By only showing a part...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist David Shepherd paints a hyperrealistic image of an eye surrounded by dewy magnolias in full bloom. He explores the idea of united humanity by obscuring the identity of his subject. "As we move forward in history, we move past the limitations of gender and race to see all people as equal and able to have a voice in society and be seen as beautiful," says David. The piece draws a symbolic comparison between the uniqueness of every flower and the singularity of a person.
About the Artist
Canadian artist David Shepherd fuses techniques from both old and modern masters to create contemporary interpretations of the human form. While offering strong nods to pop art and cubism, the work remains grounded by David’s training in 19th Century academic realism. Combining discrete techniques within a single tableau is initially jarring to the viewer, creating an unexpected visual complexity in the work and demonstrating the artist’s breadth of skills. “I think in the future we will be much more interested in works of art that show a mastery of multiple styles,†says David. Each artwork effectually suggests the surreal nature of human existence within a convoluted modern society.
Words that describe this painting: flower, floral, portrait, child, realism, hyperrealism, photorealism, eye, beauty, rainbow, bright, love, petals, detailed, oilpaint, people, people, flora, realism, oil painting, white
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Artist Comments
Artist David Shepherd promotes and explores the idea of united humanity regardless of who he paints. Focusing on the eye in this hyperrealistic piece, he surr...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
1950s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1980s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Masonite, Oil
1950s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
Late 20th Century American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1970s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas
1940s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1940s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
1940s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Panel
1950s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil, Board
1930s American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Artist Comments
Provocative hyperrealist oil painting rendered with breathtaking detail. "The world is a strange place," says artist David Shepherd. "Parents trying to interp...
21st Century and Contemporary American Realist David Shepherd Figurative Paintings
Oil
