The International Guild of Realism

The International Guild of Realism
For the advancement of Realism in Fine Art

Don Clapper

Artists's Work Samples:


Ernest which Stamp is real?	Queen of Hearts	Fine Wine


The Bachelor's Chest	Getaway Money	Literature Laced with Music

Artist's Biography:

Although Donald Clapper grew up in the Northeast, home of many great American Still Life and Trompe l'Oeil Masters, this coincidence did not influence his attraction to the world of art. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a B.A. Degree in 1983, Clapper began a successful real estate career in Florida and his hobby interests at that time were in competitive golf and skiing. Unbeknownst to him, an unplanned stop to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia in the late 1980's became the momentum that drew him to Trompe l'Oeil and Classic Realism after he saw an original William Harnett painting. He marveled at Harnett's ability to create both unbelievable detail and illusionary dimension and began a personal study on the Old Masters Dutch still life painters and shortly thereafter, focused on the American Trompe l'Oeil School of painters of the late 1800's, specifically, William M. Harnett, John Haberle and John Peto. Clapper's painting developed during the 1980-90's while he lived and worked in Gainesville, Florida at which time he also married and started a family. Due to the busyness of the daytime, he pursued his artwork during the quiet evening and predawn hours. It was during this season, he developed his own techniques and proficiency as he applied the Old Masters' methods of indirect lighting, shadowing, glazing and multi dimensional affects to the canvas. After a period of painting still life's, Clapper completed Tribute to William Harnett, a trompe l'oeil that not only pays homage to his first "silent mentor" what's more, it eludes the viewer to believe it may have been painted from the studio of none other than John Peto, Harnett's student and friend. In 1994, he relocated to Arizona where he still abides and works in his Scottsdale studio. Clapper's study focused once again to the genre of trompe l'oeil including this time some modern day masters, namely Ken Davies, Gary Erbe and David Brega. Clapper's work has received national as well as regional recognition. He has received numerous articles in such publications as International Artist Magazine, American Art Review and Art News. His award winning oil paintings are currently available at the Willow Gallery in the downtown art district of Scottsdale and the Eleanor Ettinger Gallery in New York City. His work has been featured in many museums across the country including The Phoenix Art Museum, The Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin and The Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He paints almost exclusively trompe l'Oeil these days, except for some personally commissioned tabletop still life's. In April of 2002, Clapper co-founded the Trompe l'Oeil Society of Artists, an exclusive group of today's finest artists dedicated to the genre of trompe l'oeil. The group was formed for the purpose of promoting and advancing the visibility of trompe l'oeil on a national level. In a short two years, the Society has organized major Gallery shows in the major art markets of New York City, Santa Fe and Scottsdale.

Artist's Statement:

"At the expense of rejection, I expose my passion with paint for it is with this strength I spotlight the vulnerable part of me; without that element, my paintings would be void of feeling. Trompe l'oeil leaves no room for shyness or timidity, because it dares to defy reality. I paint with passion and uncompromising detail to captivate my viewers with the intrigue of Trompe l'Oeil. The deceptive depth perception, shadows, unseen light source, and artistically replicated composition render the illusion. The best analogy I can express is likened to reading a good novel or watching a good movie. The viewer is drawn in, becomes part of the story, or even becomes the character. I am a gift giver and when I create a work, it is not only the gift of the painting, it is the ribbons and bows, suspense and surprise, memories and emotion I bestow, because it contains part of myself. I intend my painting to remain forever a pleasure and fountain of joy and interaction to the viewer and owner."

Artist's Coordinates:

Email: ClapperArt@cox.net Website: http://www.clapperart.com