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 happened to be 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 shaped the early years and they remain guides today joined by Bonnard, Matisse, Cezanne 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 crowned "The Best"; everyone has a piece of the puzzle. But
you should keep an inventory of those who speak to you most clearly. Those are
your mentors. There are those we love and those we respect. Keep clear which
is a personal affection 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, the framing and support for whatever follows. There is always the artist curiosity about new ways with new and old mediums. Within the classical construct of narrative/figurative art and that love of story, there is play and 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 happened to be 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 shaped the early years and they remain guides today joined by Bonnard, Matisse, Cezanne 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 crowned "The Best"; everyone has a piece of the puzzle. But
you should keep an inventory of those who speak to you most clearly. Those are
your mentors. There are those we love and those we respect. Keep clear which
is a personal affection 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, the framing and support for whatever follows. There is always the artist curiosity about new ways with new and old mediums. Within the classical construct of narrative/figurative art and that love of story, there is play and 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.
