Ward Shipman’s gift is expressed, not only in his consistently impressive output of personal and commissioned work, but also in his dedicated career as art educator. He is a teacher of many years for Hamilton’s high schools, Mohawk College, and Dundas Valley School of Art. As the best example for his students’ to model after, Shipman engages in his passion for art in all its facets. Along with solo and group exhibitions of his work, Shipman is featured in interviews and publishes in books, magazines, and art cards. He has won awards in art competitions worldwide. Spectrum Publication, Prix de Paris photo competition, and Photo-Ed Magazine are a few of the places where you can follow Ward Shipman’s artistic progress.

The artist’s drawings, paintings and photography reflect deep understanding of classical art and history. While his technical proficiency is evidence of serious discipline, Shipman’s art embodies a very contemporary feel and approach. His more privately inspired pieces are freely experimental using a combination of digital and photoshop to great effect.

A love of the south-western Canadian landscape, his home for many years, is expressed in his numerous interpretative paintings. Conservations, waterfalls, mist laden woods and hills of Ontario are some of the artist’s favourite motifs. Frequently used imageries are of mirrored reflections in ponds and northern skies.

Commissions as well as personal portraitures in oil, acrylic, and photography show Shipman is keenly insightful of his models. His clever use of chiaroscuro lighting and heavy cast shadows powerfully reveal hidden characteristics. Finished portraits are painterly and full of drama.

The artist’s fine art photography is personal in nature. They tell stories of solitary people in imaginative realms. They are in flight, are born from the elements, something magical. Like actors in half dreamlike half wakeful states, their existence are totally dependent on Shipman’s constructed world of ember light.