My Story

David Neal McPhee - Independant Artist

In 2007 after two Army tours in Iraq and another seven years in Afghanistan working for US Agency for International Development projects, I began my journey painting in watercolor as a means of processing my experiences. I soon began gifting my artwork to friends and family. As I continued working to develop my skills drawing and painting, I opened an Etsy shop in 2013, and subsequent website in 2020 that can be found here at www.davidnealmcphee.com.

An Important Cause

I am strongly committed to supporting my fellow veterans and organizations that support veteran causes - especially addressing veteran homelessness and assisting veterans to receive the care assistance they have earned and deserve. As a means of assisting these worthy causes, I donate 10% of all gross revenue to these vital causes.

The Inspiration Behind my Art

My paintings are heavily inspired by growing up lobstering on the Maine coast. I strive to capture the personality and character of the working waterfront and the people and small communities who have lived there for generations. These people play a vital role in our nations character. I endeavor to bring that into each painting, whether it depicts boats in a harbor, a landscape, a seascape, or wildlife. That beautifully rough character of the sea and nature is imprinted on me and the artwork I love to create. This approach continues as I have also become inspired by the Florida working waterfront, sea, skies, and landscape.

An Authentic Approach to Art

I strive to capture the experience of the scenes in each piece of my artwork. By learning through painting outdoors, I continue to develop my palette and technique using pigments that mix colors that are true to that scene. Rather than abstracting my style, I focus on capturing my own interpretation of the authentic beauty of the people and places reflected in each painting.

From watercolor paintings of boats on the water to acrylic and oil prints of the night sky, I am working to build my own sense of an authentic style that captures my experience and perspective in that moment in time. I want people to see the beauty and the truth of a landscape or seascape. MY hope is that the viewer can experience that genuine feeling of the subject in that moment.