Graphic Artist / Muralist / Sign Painter
James Shepard was born in 1950 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He began drawing at the age of five, copying cartoons from the newspaper. Encouraged early on by supportive teachers like Mr. Hadley at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High where he received an artist of the year award, presented by Gilbert Wilson, who created the murals in the entry stairwell there. He was also influenced byJerome Evans, art teacher at Wiley High School, James developed a passion and talent for art that would shape his life's work. With the help of a Tri Kappa Scholarship, he earned a full art scholarship to Indiana State University, where he majored in art and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1972.
At the age of fifteen, James drew a portrait of his idol, Walt Disney, and wrote to him expressing a desire to work for the company. In a remarkable moment, Disney wrote back encouraging him to continue his studies and pursuehis dreams. That dream came true in 1993 when James became a pictorial artist in the Animation Department at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. For fifteen years, he painted animatronic figures for attractions—from pirates to dinosaurs—contributing to themagic of Disney in a hands-on, creative role alongside many talented artists. Throughout his 50+ year career, James has specialized in portraiture,wildlife art, sign painting, and large-scale murals. He has completed works across at east ten states and continues to create fine art today.After three decades in Southern California,James returned to his hometown of Terre Haute, where his artwork is now a visible and lasting part of the cityscape.
Notable Clients & Projects
1. Wild West Stores – Interior murals for retail chain, California
2. Crazy Horse Saloon – Interior murals and celebrity showcards, Orange County, CA
3. Pasta Bravo – Restaurant interior graphics, California
4. Trinity Broadcasting Network – Television show backdrops
5. Boyd Coddington – Murals and signs for the famed hot rod builder
6. California Institute of Technology – Interior graphics
7. Adventure City Theme Park – Signs and murals, Anaheim, CA
8. Toledo Zoo – Murals, Toledo, OH
9. Family Classic Cars – Murals, San Juan Capistrano, CA
10. 500 Museum of Wheels – Murals, Terre Haute, IN
11. National Guard – Murals, Terre Haute, IN
12. Baesler’s Markets – Signs and murals, Terre Haute, IN
13. Farm Service Group – Graphics and silo signage across multiple states
14. Greek’s Pizza – Wall mural, Terre Haute, IN
15. Veterans Memorial Museum – Murals, Terre Haute, IN
16. Astro Burgers – Exterior wall mural, Santa Monica, CA
17. Hot Rods and Hand Guns – Interior murals, Huntington Beach, CA
18. North Central High School – Signs and murals, Farmersburg, IN
19. Swope Art Museum – Exterior mural, Terre Haute, IN
20. Universal Studios – Artwork for the King Kong exhibit
Professional Experience
Signarts, Santa Ana, CA – Sign
Painter/Designer (1976–1978, 1982–1984)
Self-Employed, Terre Haute, IN – Sign
Maker (1978–1982)
Promotional Signs, Lake Forest, CA – Sign
Painter/Graphics (1985–1993)
Disneyland, Anaheim, CA – Pictorial
Artist, Animation Department (1993–
2008)
Self-Employed – Mural Painter, Graphics,
Portrait Artist (1978–Present)
Specialties
Large-Scale Murals
Hand-Painted Signage
Portrait Commissions
Themed Environments
Interior and Exterior Graphics
