David Shevlino

From a humble birth and with Italian blood running through his veins, at the age of 14, he began to wander around the MET, being fascinated by the great masters. He graduated three years later, and his interest naturally moved between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. He was not very interested in the modern painting by that time, and his work was still very contained.

But something clicked and began to fiddle with surrealism while becoming increasingly disinterested in the restrictions of the classical method. He began to feel attracted by discomfort and personal commitment, to follow his instinct, and to accept that mistakes were part of the process.

He does not deny his traditional training, because he believes it is essential to know the trade. It’s a toolbox he uses to express his vision: “with enough technique and an open mind, you are only limited by your imagination,” he says.

Now –more than 25 years later– his experiment is still ongoing. Heading towards a deeper personal exploration, led by the emotional impact through movement and spontaneity.

Warm and unpretentious, his constant search has led him to find the balance between figuration and abstraction. Between the contemplative and the dynamic; between careful observation and the madness of the fleeting instant.

David Shevlino is like a jazz musician who takes an old standard as a starting point, using his subjects as a riff for visual improvisation.

Fortunately for us, David Shevlino combines his work for art galleries with teaching, giving sporadically workshops like this one.