Meet Clark Sheppard | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Clark Sheppard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Clark, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I didn’t begin painting until 1990, at age 45, when I signed up for an adult watercolor class at a local high school in New Jersey. At the time, I wasn’t chasing a career—I simply wanted to see if I had inherited any artistic ability from my father.
Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, my dad, Kip Sheppard, worked as a freelance commercial artist in his home studio. Like many kids of that time, I was expected to be seen and not heard. I watched him draw and paint, soaking in more than I realized, but he never directly taught me. Art was always around, but kept quiet. Over time, my art became a hobby, until 15 years later, when I retired and moved to Sedona, I decided to pursue it as a career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What makes my art unique is that I use fluorescent acrylics and have a distinctive style; anyone familiar with my work immediately recognizes it as mine. I’ve learned that selling art is not for the faint of heart. I’ve done countless tent shows all over the state, have shown my art in many different galleries, and still display in many venues. I never planned to become an artist, it started out as a hobby.

After moving to Sedona in 2004, I dreamed of selling my art, but life had other plans, and I failed miserably. To stay in Sedona, I did everything I could to make ends meet, and painted on the side. Over time, my passion faded, and I eventually stopped painting entirely from 2010 to 2015.

I overcame the challenges. At the end of 2015, a psychic reading changed everything. During a session with James Milanesa—who at the time believed I was a van driver and had no idea I had ever painted—James mentioned three times that I needed to paint again. When I asked why he was so insistent, he explained that whenever he said that, he had a vision that my spirit guide, a Navajo Indian, was standing behind me, nodding yes in agreement. Having never revealed that I used to paint, that experience was the push I needed to pick up my brushes again, and it grew into what it is today.

I enjoy mentoring other artists about marketing their art and advising them on their display and what needs to be done to build a successful online presence. In 2016, Warner Bros. licensed Creekside Cathedral for their media series “Snatchers.” In 2019, that original painting and eleven others were exhibited at the American Contemporary Art Show in Guangzhou, China, where the exhibition sold out to private collectors. That same year, an acrylic workshop at the Sedona Art Center helped me develop what I now call “Vivid Mystical Landscapes,” characterized by expansive space, patterned skies, and the use of fluorescent acrylics. My work has appeared in American Cowboy, Cowboys and Indians, Texas Monthly, Southwest Art, and True West magazines. President George W. Bush proudly owns my award-winning Patriot Longhorns, which I painted after 9/11 as a tribute to the American people. Looking back, I never followed a straight line into art—but each step led me exactly to where I was meant to be. And this—well, this is my story.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food is a big part of the experience. I’d definitely take them to Elote Cafe in Uptown—one of my absolute favorites. The Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill and the The Hudson both offer beautiful views of Sedona. Broome and Orchard Resturant offers a great view of Sedona’s famed Snoopy Rock. For a relaxed lunch, nothing beats Senior Bob’s Hot Dogs which is more than just hot dogs in West Sedona.
Sedona sunsets are truly special, so dedicating one evening to Airport Mesa is a great idea. From there, you can watch the sun set behind West Sedona, illuminating Thunder Mountain, Coffee Pot Rock, Wilson Mountain, and Steamboat Rock. While you’re up there, it’s also an excellent starting point for a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon—or just another chance to enjoy how breathtaking Sedona is on its own.
No trip is complete without visiting Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Sedona’s iconic arts and shopping hub designed like a charming Mexican village. It’s a place where you can wander, explore galleries, and relax.
And of course, I’d set aside a day for Cathedral Rock itself. It’s the most photographed red rock formation in Arizona and truly lives up to the hype. The hike is unforgettable, and the views from the saddle reveal the Village of Oak Creek, another beautiful part of Sedona. Cathedral Rock has inspired me so deeply that I created a Cathedral Series, painting it fourteen different ways—each one capturing a different mood of this iconic place.
Sedona has a way of lingering with you long after you leave. It’s not just the scenery — it’s the feeling of being surrounded by beauty, creativity, and quiet wonder every day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person who truly set me on my path was a tennis friend, Gordon Haas. Gordon became my first mentor after seeing my very first watercolor—something I didn’t recognize as having any merit at all. He encouraged me to keep going. Had he said, “This isn’t very good,” that likely would have been the end of my artistic journey. Instead, he patiently taught me fundamentals like perspective and composition, and more than 30 years later, he still offers thoughtful critiques of my work. His belief in me at the very beginning made all the difference.
Over time, my passion faded, and from 2010 to 2015, I stopped painting altogether.
In 2016, Warner Bros. licensed Creekside Cathedral for their media series “Snatchers.” In January of 2019, that original painting and eleven others were exhibited at the American Contemporary Art Show in Guangzhou, China, where the exhibition sold out to private collectors. Prompting my sponsor to offer me a painting gig in China for 3 months, to just paint. All expenses paid, but then COVID-19 hit, and that opportunity vanished.
Then came another turning point. In 2019, I attended an acrylic workshop at the Sedona Art Center led by Claudia Hartley. That experience reignited something deep inside me. It opened the door to a new way of working and led me toward a style that finally felt like my own—what I now call, “Vivid, Mystical Landscapes. ” During that workshop, I created the first painting in this emerging style, fittingly titled Inspired.

Website: https://sedonaartstudios.com/

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