My Story
David Neal McPhee - Painting Where Land Meets Sea
I grew up on the coast of Maine, where the ocean was part of everyday life. I spent my early years lobstering, learning firsthand that the sea can be as unforgiving as it is beautiful. Working on the water taught me to respect its power, its unpredictability, and the people who make their living from it. Those experiences shaped how I see the world, and they continue to influence what I paint today.
My journey into art wasn't a traditional one. I served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army and later spent seven years working on USAID projects in Afghanistan. I began painting in 2007, and over time, watercolor became something much more meaningful than a creative pursuit. It became a form of therapy—a way to process my experiences overseas, find moments of peace, and reconnect with parts of myself that had been overshadowed by those experiences.
What began as a personal outlet gradually grew into a passion. Painting gave me a way to slow down, pay attention to the world around me, and find beauty in places and objects that others might overlook. I believe art has a remarkable ability to help us navigate difficult experiences, and I hope that connection resonates with others who have faced challenges of their own.
Today, I paint from my studio in Melbourne, Florida. My work has received recognition through juried exhibitions, and I'm a member of the American Watercolor Society, Florida Watercolor Society, North American Watercolor Society, and Brevard Watercolor Society.
An Important Cause
My commitment to supporting fellow veterans is deeply personal. Having served overseas, I understand that the challenges of military service don't always end when someone returns home.
I believe veterans deserve stability, dignity, and access to the care they've earned. That's why I donate 10% of my gross art revenue to organizations working to address veteran homelessness and help veterans access the services and support they need.
Every purchase of my artwork helps make that commitment possible. I'm grateful to the collectors who not only bring my paintings into their homes but also help me give something back to those who have served.
Recognition & Exhibitions
I've been fortunate to have my paintings accepted into juried exhibitions throughout Florida's Space Coast. In 2024, I received the Best Live Demonstration Award at the Eau Gallie Arts Festival.
In 2025, I was awarded Third Place for my work at the Sebastian Fine Arts Show.
In 2026, On Watch, a watercolor painted on a six-foot surfboard, received an Award for Excellence at the 41st Annual Melbourne Fine Art Festival.
That same year, I held my first solo exhibition, Time and Tide, at Starry Night Gallery in Daytona Beach. It was an opportunity to bring together paintings that reflect my connection to the coast and the stories I hope to tell through my work. Several of those paintings remain on display at the gallery.
An Unconventional Approach to Watercolor
I've always been drawn to watercolor for its transparency, unpredictability, and the way pigments interact with water. There's a balance between guiding the paint and allowing it to do what it naturally wants to do. Even after years of painting, that process continues to challenge and fascinate me.
Much of my work begins long before the first brushstroke. I prepare canvas and other surfaces with multiple layers of gesso and watercolor ground, carefully sanding between applications. This allows me to work with watercolor in ways that differ from traditional painting on paper, building depth through transparent washes, glazing, lifting, and layers of texture. I also paint on archival cotton paper, sometimes mounting the finished work to panels, and occasionally explore unconventional surfaces such as reclaimed surfboards.
The Inspiration Behind my Art
I've always loved being on the water. There's something about the ocean, the boats, the changing light, and the everyday activity along the waterfront that I've always felt connected to. The smell of saltwater and pine trees, the sound of boats in the harbor, and the colors of the water are all familiar things that bring me a sense of peace and belonging.
I think a lot of that connection finds its way into my paintings.
I'm drawn to the character of working boats, old buildings, fishing gear, and other things that have spent years exposed to the elements. I appreciate the details that develop over time—the worn paint on a wooden hull, the rust on an old anchor, or the way a length of rope has weathered from years of use. These are ordinary things, but I find them interesting and beautiful. They remind me of the people who have used them, the work they've done, and the places they've been.
But it's not always about boats or the working waterfront. Sometimes it's the way sunlight filters through the water, the movement of a bird along the shoreline, or a quiet afternoon at the beach. I enjoy finding beauty in these everyday moments, particularly the things we sometimes overlook because they're so familiar.
When I paint, I try to capture whatever it was that made me stop and look in the first place. Sometimes that's the light, the color, or an interesting texture. Other times it's the feeling a particular scene brings back. I don't always know exactly what a painting will become when I begin, and I enjoy discovering that as I work.
I work primarily in transparent watercolor on prepared canvas and archival cotton paper. I love the way watercolor moves, how colors blend and interact, and how layers of paint can gradually build depth and texture. It's a medium that requires patience but also a willingness to let things happen naturally. That balance is one of the things I enjoy most about painting.
One of my favorite parts of sharing my artwork is hearing the stories people tell me. Someone might recognize a boat similar to one they worked on, remember summers spent along the coast, or see something that reminds them of home. It's always interesting to discover how differently people can connect with the same painting.
I don't believe art needs a complicated explanation to have meaning. I hope my paintings give people an opportunity to slow down, appreciate something familiar in a different way, or reconnect with a place or memory that's important to them.
For me, that's what makes painting and sharing my work so rewarding.