* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
Michael Shapcott was born on June 6, 1982 and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. He studied Illustration for two years before switching to Fine Arts for the remainder of his studies at Paier College of Art in Hamden. Still in Connecticut, he has made a name for himself as a portrait painter.
Shapcott also produces videos documenting his process. He starts with highly detailed graphite drawing and then covers it bold washes of oil and acrylic. Being self-taught by experimentation also bolstered his confidence, says Shapcott, who credits his basic technique to his BFA studies but found he had to break away from these traditional methods to find a unique voice and style—one he continues to develops today.
