Artist Statement

My art has developed along an unstructured path. Over the years I have studied with many artists in their studios. Through this education, I have come to see the world differently. Reality to me has more to do with impression than fact.

My representational work in oil, as in the "Rest & Renewal" or "Horizonless" series, is not meant to be seen as realistic. My style is based on impressionism – "a prolonged and concerted attempt to paint objects not the colour that we know them to be, but the colour that we see them." (Mark Powell Jones, Impressionism)

The goal and continued challenge is to accomplish this effect with the fewest number of strokes necessary. Sand with other mixed media is my experiment into the world of abstract art.

I paint because it is the one thing I do in my life that enables me to feel totally alone. This solitude brings me closer to my essence than any other personal act.



Victoria-Lee-Shepard-photo.jpg (800x600), by Victoria Lee Shepard

Victoria with oil painting Some Shells

Some-Shells-by-VLee.jpg (300x226), by Victoria Lee Shepard

Artist Bio

Victoria Lee Shepard works with oil, acrylic, and most recently has added mixed media sand painting. Her specialty is expressing both abstract and representational styles within one painting.

In 2016, her work Navigating was chosen as the premier marketing piece for Beaverton Art Mix. In 2015, Victoria earned a merit award in the Emerald Art Center national juried show for her mixed media work The Richness of Life. Her works
Did they know each other? (2015) )and Descending (2013) )were adopted by the City of Hillsboro public art collection. In 2011, she was one of the key contributing artists for the Hillsboro community mosaic mural project. She earned The Council of Presidents' Award in the 2010 Beaverton Showcase for her oil painting Some Shells.

Victoria attended Hillsboro, Oregon schools and graduated from Portland State University with a B.A. in English and a secondary teaching certificate. She has spent most of her adult life working for nonprofit organizations. One of the founding members of Sequoia Gallery + Studios, she dedicated three years as President. Prior to that her focus was working ten years on the board of Hillsboro Community Arts.

Victoria is married with three adult children and two grandchildren. She has a studio at 9th Street Village Griffin Hall in Bend.