Information GERALD SHEPHERD

I started painting seriously in 1974 and by the late Seventies I had formulated my highly individual approach to art.  Painting for me is a means of generating or exploring ideas and extending my abilities as an artist.  I also believe that art is an act of meditation which can only be produced in isolation; in consequence I have tended to follow my own path, ahead of or behind the prevailing trends.

For convenience, I have divided my output into three categories, which can be further divided into various styles.  Not all of the latter are mentioned here.

IONIST ART:
Comprises of work which have some kind of theme and development format.  The elaboration of imagery can be sequential and controlled or diffusive with images emanating from the source material.  I have utilised processes derived from mathematics and sciences, such as physics and chemistry to provide controlling structures.  This was most evident in a series of large scale pencil IONIST ART works I produced in the middle Eighties.  I also borrow ideas and procedures from other disciplines such as music and theatre. 

MEDITATIVE ART: 
Comprises mainly of landscapes.  These works combine invention with observation to present a more holistic portrayal of the natural world and are often exhibited as MEDITATIVE LANDSCAPES.  They reflect my great passion for the environment and plants and animals.  I am very active as a naturalist and wildlife conservationist.

Included in this section are my MEDITATIVE FIELD PAINTINGS which utilise schematised landscapes for a controlling structure onto which I usually attach small images and diagrams to explore a theme.  Also included are my MEDITATIVE STILL LIFES that reduce real scenes to abstracted shapes and symbols.  Also here are other subject matter which is treated in a similar way.

MANFRED WING/PETERPANIC:
These are artistic alter egos.  Manfred Wing was invented in 1975 and Peter Panic first appeared in a work in 1984.  The former covers all my pre-Ionist Styles and the latter my original Ionist art, which I have returned to recently. Their output is further sub divided my media and outlook.

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I founded the IONIST ART GROUP in 1987 to collectively explore the links between visual art and other disciplines such as music, literature, theatre and all the sciences.  I published the Ion Exchange newsletter between 1989 and 1991 and arranged monthly Discussion Meetings in the London area between 1988 and 1992.  It is still active as an exhibiting group and new projects are being considered. 

I expanded my areas of interest in the early Nineties and began to create and stage events of all kinds to raise funds and campaign for charities.  Part of  this work was done under the name of ARTISTS FOR ANIMALS. New events are planned.

In 1994 I began a series of exhibitions under the name of MODERN WILTSHIRE ARTISTS with the aim of presenting and promoting Modern Art in my local area.  This project is still active.

I continue to experiment with my art work and also expand the ways of presenting my ideas to the public.  I am currently initiating ADVANCED ART RESEARCH project which experiments with all aspects of creativity.

I am an elected Fellow of the international Free Painters & Sculptors.

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I am interested in all aspects of science and technology, archeology, history and geography. 

I am also passionately concerned about wildlife and animal welfare.  I work on a voluntary basis for a number of wildlife conservation organisations in Wiltshire.  I am married to June, who shares my interest in plants and animals, and currently live and work in Andover, Hampshire. 

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