About the Artist

     

Shawn Vales is an American painter trained in the Boston School tradition, where direct observation, unity of impression, and refined craftsmanship uphold the visual aesthetic.

He holds an MFA in Painting and spent five years studying privately with Paul Ingbretson, whose mentorship grounded his practice in disciplined seeing, thoughtful design, and the pursuit of beauty.

Shawn works primarily in oil and charcoal, creating still-lifes, landscapes, and drawings from life that explore light, atmosphere, and the quiet poetry of ordinary subjects. His limited-edition photography echoes the same sensitivity with a contemporary edge.  Reminiscent of his earlier abstract works these photographs are composed with a painter’s eye for color, balance, and mood.

He has taught drawing and painting at Ridgewood Art Institute, Richmond Art Center, Ichen Art Academy, and to private students sharing the principles that define his work: clarity, patience, and truthful seeing.

Shawn creates for collectors who value refinement, authenticity, and the enduring pursuit of beauty.