Meet the Artist
Behind the Art
I grew up in Edison, New Jersey, during the ’50s and ’60s. My mother was a true trailblazer—she took on everything from being the first female school bus driver in New Jersey to selling real estate. My father, Kip Sheppard, worked as a freelance commercial artist from our home studio. Back then, kids were seen and not heard, and while I’d watch him work, he never formally taught me to draw or paint. He studied at the Art Students League of New York, where he met Max Fleischer, creator of “Betty Boop.” Dad even worked alongside him on early animations using the revolutionary “rotoscope” technique.
How I started painting
In 1990, at age 45, I decided to test my own creative potential and signed up for an adult art class at a N.J. local high school. I figured watercolor would be easy—after all, it’s just mixing pigment with water, right? Well, I quickly learned it was actually one of the most challenging mediums.
My First Watercolor Painting
Being a tennis player, I met Gordon Haas who became my first mentor on the tennis court. I showed Gordon what I had done in my adult evening education class, I called “Morning Glories and Butterfly”. Without Gordon’s encouragement, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. When I painted this first watercolor, you see here, Gordon saw something in it that I certainly didn’t. I have to admit, it wasn’t anything special, and honestly, it could have gone the other way. But thankfully, Gordon chose to see a spark of talent.
Morning Glories and Butterfly
Christmas Eve
My second watercolor painting
Gordon told me when I wanted to start my next painting to bring him the reference I wanted to use. I brought him “Christmas Eve” by Thomas McKnight, which I found on the back of Reader’s Digest. Gordon asked, do you want to put this into perspective, I replied, what’s perspective? That is how little I knew about drawing or painting. He then took me under his wing and gave me instructions when I needed them, which was most of the time. His support truly set me on this artistic path. 34 years later, Gordon still critiques my art today.
I’m not an Artist
I’m not what most people would call an artist. I’m not someone who can just look at something and sketch, draw, or paint just because it’s in front of me. There’s a reason why I don’t do portraits and focus on Southwest landscapes. For me, it’s all about interpretation—whether it’s yours or mine. If I did a portrait of you, it would probably look more like a caricature! Desert landscapes, on the other hand, allow me to interpret and express something beyond what’s in front of me.
I’m mostly self-taught. I haven’t had any formal training like attending the Rhode Island School of Design; my “degree” came from flying by the seat of my pants. Over the years, I’ve done a dozen or so workshops, mostly in watercolor, which helped me explore and refine my technique for creating Southwest vibrant, nature-inspired pieces.
The Story Behind McShep
Inspired by McKnight’s bold use of color, I created my artist name, “McShep,” blending the “Mc” from McKnight with my old Army nickname, “Shep.” It’s how I’ve signed my art ever since.
Journey of a Southwest Dreamer
What started as simple curiosity evolved into a passionate journey. While residing in New Jersey, my fascination with Southwest art grew steadily, inspiring me to capture its unique beauty through watercolor. Between 1990 and 2004, I poured my heart into creating over 80 colorful artworks, each painting bringing me closer to the spirit of the Southwest. ‘Coyote Moon’ you see here was created in New Jersey in ’93, is a testament to my enduring love for the Southwest landscapes and my dedication to capturing their mystical allure
A New Chapter in Sedona
When I retired and moved to Sedona in 2004, I dreamed of selling my art. But life had other plans. To stay here, I took on a job and painted on the side. Over time, my passion faded, and I eventually stopped painting altogether from 2010 to 2015. Even as the Membership Chair of the Sedona Visual Artists Coalition, I felt my own creative spark dimming.
Rekindling My Art
In 2015, a psychic reading changed everything. During a session with James Milanesa, he mentioned three times that I needed to paint again. I finally asked him why he was so insistent. He explained that my spirit guide, a Navajo Indian, was standing behind me in agreement. That experience was the push I needed to pick up my brushes again.
Finding a Studio
Creekside Cathedral
In need of a studio, I reached out to fellow SVAC members and soon found a small, closet-sized space with a window. In this cozy nook, I completed “Sailing Sedona’s Sky” and “Creekside Cathedral,” reigniting my passion for creating Southwest art landscapes inspired by Sedona’s captivating scenery.
Sailing Sedona’s Sky
A Milestone with Warner Bros.
In 2016, Warner Bros. licensed “Creekside Cathedral” for their media series Snatchers, a major milestone in my journey. Then, in 2019, the original piece, along with 11 other artworks, was showcased at the American Contemporary Art Show in Guangzhou, China. The exhibit sold out, with private collectors acquiring my Sedona-inspired art.
A New Beginning in Art
My journey into painting took an inspiring turn in 2019 when I attended an acrylic workshop at the Sedona Art Center led by Claudia Hartley. This experience reignited my artistic drive, sparking a new approach and guiding me toward a style uniquely my own. “Distinctly Patterned Sky’s” During this period, I created my first painting in this emerging style, which I fittingly titled “Inspired,” as seen here.
This piece marked a pivotal discovery in my art, establishing what I now call “Vivid Mystical Landscapes”.
In my “Vivid Mystical Landscapes”, I blend vast space, a sense of freedom, and abstract skies that carry a distinct vibrancy. Each brushstroke and color choice in these Southwest landscapes tells a story of exploration and creative renewal. Since then, I’ve embraced fluorescent acrylics, crafting artwork with POP”, that feels unmistakably mine, yet resonates with others in its mystical, spacious beauty.
In my “Vivid Mystical Landscapes,” I blend vast space, a sense of freedom, and abstract skies that carry a distinct vibrancy. Each brushstroke and color choice in these Southwest art landscapes tells a story of exploration and creative renewal. Since then, I’ve embraced fluorescent acrylics, crafting artwork with a “POP” that feels unmistakably mine, yet resonates with others in its mystical, spacious beauty. These vibrant, mystical landscapes have become my signature, capturing the expansive beauty of Sedona and the Southwest.
Claudia Hartley
Notable Milestones
My journey as an artist has led me to share my Southwest landscape artwork in local Sedona galleries, including the Village Gallery and the Sedona Artist Market & Gallery. I am honored that my pieces are part of collections around the world, including Warner Bros., the private collection of President George W. Bush, and various fellow artists. President Bush, himself a painter known for his series Portraits of Courage, proudly owns my Patriotic Longhorns, which I created to honor those who perished on 9/11. My watercolor Goulding’s Stagecoach also has a home at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley, UT. Additionally, my work has been featured in publications such as Southwest Art Magazine, Cowboys & Indians, American Cowboy, Texas Monthly, Sedona Monthly, and True West.
Life Reflections
Life has an amazing way of unfolding when we release expectations. Art has taught me to live fully, and I’m grateful for every step of this journey. And this—well, this is my story.
