Through the pandemic, Will Shepherd has been using art to express himself. On June 25, Will held an exhibition to display his art and to give people the opportunity to buy his work to display in their homes. He also very kindly decided to donate 20% of each sale to the Down’s Syndrome Association.
We were lucky enough to ask Will some questions to learn more about him and his art. With some assistance, Will sent the below back:
How would you describe yourself?
I am a happy person usually, but I can get anxious when I don’t exactly understand something, or when things don’t happen on the time I expect. I think I am happiest when the sun shines and I am with the people I love and when I can paint and paint and then relax.
Why do you love art and painting?
Because it’s my way of speaking how I feel. I can’t hear properly, and I can’t say long sentences, but I understand so much. I can communicate using words and sign language. But by painting, I can say so much more. The colours I use for each painting are the colours of my mood and like words that I can’t say. Flowers and trees show me their feelings through their colours too.
You started creating your pieces for the exhibition during the pandemic – what inspired you?
My Zoom classes each day and all my family encouraged and inspired me. I wanted to protect everyone from the virus. I listened to the news and watched the Prime Minister talking about the virus and saw people getting ill and the hospitals so busy. It made me worried – I’ve been very ill in hospital before and it’s scary and I didn’t want that to happen again to me or anyone else – so I decided to make a special piece each week. I cut out bits of news I thought was important for that week (I looked at the paper each day) and then made it all into a collage/painting and then I made magic with it by doing a performance with the painting each Thursday night. My mum and dad and neighbours watch me too. I think it helps them feel safe.
You sold out at your exhibition – AMAZING. How does that make you feel?
Wonderful! I love seeing my paintings on the wall and to know people like them. They tell me they like the way I paint.
What is your favourite style of art to create and why?
I like making dots with my colours of paint. Sometimes, they join to make a lot of different colours. Sometimes, they just dot in a storyline like I’m thinking. I look at Matisse, Van Gogh and Aborigine art and I look at other books that my art teacher has shown me. All these different styles give me different ways for me to express myself. That’s why I like them. And most of all, I love really looking at things around me, like flowers and trees. I spend a long time looking. Then I often do a small drawing. Then I put it on a canvas and then I choose the paint I know that feels right. I know exactly which colour paint I need to use!
How does it feel that your art is hanging up in people’s homes?
Yes, I feel really good because now I can see that people really do like them!
What advice would you give to people who want to start painting?
Paint your feelings and paint what you see. I see so much through looking and it’s like the things I paint talk to me too.
Do you have any other hobbies?
I love tap dancing. I have special shoes and I watch Fred Astaire dance. I want to dance like him. I think I do!
I love going to the theatre to see musicals and operas. Phantom of the Opera is my favourite. But I love Pavarotti singing opera too. I like to buy all the Blu-rays of musicals and singing I go to.
I also like watching James Bond movies. And watching The Bill and Baywatch. And The Muppets on Blu-ray or DVDs. And I love listening to Eros Ramazzotti’s CDs.
Anything else you would like to add?
I hope the virus goes away and no one else is sick.