People have always been at the heart of Cathy Shepherd’s work. Even in still life and landscape works, the human presence is considered. This core interest led to like-minded schools and instructors: The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts with its long tradition of figure painting and painters, among them Will Barnet, Jimmy Leuders and Sidney Goodman; a printmaking degree from the Louisville School of Art and color studies with Mary Ann Currier; an MFA from Brooklyn College studying with Philip Pearlstein and Lennart Anderson.
Looking back, I am amazed that I was in line for all those great teachers.
You can't overestimate the value of a teacher who teaches you what they know but
leaves you to find your own way. There are so many more; I could list an armful of
great teachers.
Along with those teachers are influences of past artists; Degas, Rembrandt and Michelangelo are the three that created the passion for art in early years and they are joined today by Bonnard, Matisse, Cezanne, Hopper and Diebenkorn.
The more you look at art, the more art you like. Everyone has a story. I'm not so
interested in who is called "The Best"; that changes every year with everyone making the list.
To me, every artist has a piece of the puzzle. Some have two! But you should keep an inventory
of those who speak to you most clearly. Those are your mentors and cohorts. There are those
we love and those we respect. Keep clear which is personal affection or sentimental choice and
which is pushing you to move forward.
People often comment on the mystery and luminosity of the images where light is as important as color. The love of a story combined with a love of draughstmanship is central to forming those images. Within the classical construct of narrative/figurative art and that love of story, there is delight in the act of painting.
Shepherd has taught figure drawing, design and composition at the University of Louisville, is a Master Artist with Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft and most recently, reopened the Continuing Education program and designed CFAC Academy classes for the Louisville Visual Art Association. She has led Professional Development classes for one of the largest school systems in the nation. The recipient of national fellowships and grants, she has given classes and demonstrations in the US and Germany. Cathy Shepherd's work is in public and private collections in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Looking back, I am amazed that I was in line for all those great teachers.
You can't overestimate the value of a teacher who teaches you what they know but
leaves you to find your own way. There are so many more; I could list an armful of
great teachers.
Along with those teachers are influences of past artists; Degas, Rembrandt and Michelangelo are the three that created the passion for art in early years and they are joined today by Bonnard, Matisse, Cezanne, Hopper and Diebenkorn.
The more you look at art, the more art you like. Everyone has a story. I'm not so
interested in who is called "The Best"; that changes every year with everyone making the list.
To me, every artist has a piece of the puzzle. Some have two! But you should keep an inventory
of those who speak to you most clearly. Those are your mentors and cohorts. There are those
we love and those we respect. Keep clear which is personal affection or sentimental choice and
which is pushing you to move forward.
People often comment on the mystery and luminosity of the images where light is as important as color. The love of a story combined with a love of draughstmanship is central to forming those images. Within the classical construct of narrative/figurative art and that love of story, there is delight in the act of painting.
Shepherd has taught figure drawing, design and composition at the University of Louisville, is a Master Artist with Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft and most recently, reopened the Continuing Education program and designed CFAC Academy classes for the Louisville Visual Art Association. She has led Professional Development classes for one of the largest school systems in the nation. The recipient of national fellowships and grants, she has given classes and demonstrations in the US and Germany. Cathy Shepherd's work is in public and private collections in the United States, Europe and Japan.
