About the work

An original watercolor by J. Craig Sheppard (1913-1978) titled “Old Friends.” The artist’s studio stamp is verso and includes his Reno address. Condition is exceptionally fine with no indication it was ever framed/hung since painted by Sheppard in 1974.

Housed under museum-grade acrylic (anti-reflective, scratch resistant, UV protection). The original price is listed verso, which in 1974 was equivalent to approximately 2,000 in today’s dollars. Interestingly, a pencil inscription on reverse indicates Sheppard was willing to sell the reproduction rights to the image for 100 dollars, a seemingly small amount even for the day.

About the artist…

Craig Sheppard was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1913. His connection to Nevada began in 1947 when he arrived in Reno to serve as chair of the University of Nevada’s art department. His career-long appreciation for cowboy life was deeply rooted in his own experience as a rodeo rider in the arenas of Oklahoma.

Over the course of his life, Sheppard’s work strayed into a variety of  styles and themes, including abstraction. But his signature work—and the subject he is most remembered for—is represented by depictions of cowboys and horses, of which “Old Friends” is a particularly fine example. Sheppard’s works are rarely seen in the art market.

Packaging and Shipping

Shipping quotes upon request.

Sales tax

Items shipped or delivered to a Nevada address will include applicable sales tax on the purchase invoice.