Artist Statement
CVDavid Shevlino was born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1962. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania, he also studied at the Art Students League in New York. Growing up near New York City, Shevlino was exposed to art as a teenager. He began making trips to art museums at age 15 and developed a love of traditional figurative painting. During this time, he found himself especially drawn to the old masters; his interest in modern art was cultivated considerably later. Those early museum visits provided a sense of the origins and history of painting, and instilled a love of drawing and the creative process. In Shevlino’s current work, the canvas has increasingly become a place to experiment with different techniques of paint application. He is particularly interested in exploring the line between the traditional representation of the figure and the abstraction of it, and his paintings reflect his simultaneous use of both approaches. There is a spontaneous, gestural quality to David’s technique. His paintings are characterized by broad brushstrokes, a sensuous application of paint, and an obvious feel for tonal harmonies. At the same time, the artist demonstrates a firm sense of control, tightening up the composition through his deft modeling of the human form. David Shevlino has exhibited work nationally in both solo and group shows over the past two decades, and currently lives in Wilmington, DE.