Artist: R Ward Shipman
Medium: Acrylic
Dimensions: 18'' x 36''
​​​​​​​Location: Loft

Bidding on this artwork will take place at the Live Auction event, Friday, April 14. Tickets available at the link at dvsa.ca. Absentee bids can also be placed in advance – request a form at the school office or email bid@dvsa.ca. Limited phone bidding options also available.  

About This Work
“The title ‘Maxfield's Cove’ is an homage to one of my favorite artists, Maxfield Parrish. In this painting, I purposely used a colour scheme that I'm not used to or even comfortable with in order to push myself artistically. I was done with the painting and brought it in to show my landscape painting class and to submit it to this auction. I looked at it in the new environment of the classroom and knew I could strengthen the composition. Back to the studio it went, and after many, many more layers of scumbling and glazing, the painting is now in its current state. Someone important (perhaps, Leonardo?) said, "Paintings are never finished, just abandoned." 
So here is the painting ‘Maxfield's Cove ‘... finished... I think.”

Biography
R. Ward Shipman is an established Canadian artist with work exhibited and sold nationally and stateside. His art is romantically lyrical and masterfully crafted.  It presents a beautiful use of colour palette similar to Pre-Raphaelite and Baroque paintings. His landscape paintings are featured in many private collections. 
 
A colourist with influences by such skilled masters as Corot and Russian artist Shishkin, Shipman’s canvases project light and atmosphere. Through the use of selected palette and abstract composition, he refers to field notes and a vast knowledge of landscape tradition to compose his final work. 
 
The artist’s drawings, paintings and photography reflect deep understanding of classical art and history.  Educated in Canada’s McMaster University, University of Toronto and OCAD, Shipman had formal training from esteemed artists that included Alan J. Scott and George Wallace.
 
A love of the southwestern Canadian landscape, his home for many years, is expressed in his numerous interpretative paintings.  Conservations, waterfalls, mist laden woods and hills of Ontario are some of the artist’s favourite motifs. Frequently used imageries are of mirrored reflections in ponds and northern skies.