Dennis Sheehan (American, b.1950) is a painter known for his work executed in the style of the great masters of the Barbizon School and the American Tonalists. Born in Boston, Sheehan received his artistic training at the Vesper George School of Art and the Montserrat School of Visual Art. He also studied with two of R.H. Gammell’s former students, Robert Cormier and Richard Whitney.
Sheehan employs the dark palette and thickly pigmented surfaces of the French Barbizon School, eschewing picturesque scenery in the interest of evoking atmospherics. Much like the great 19th-century artist George Inness, Sheehan’s paintings are produced in the studio from his imagination. His pastoral paintings evoke the moody beauty and deep peace of nature, with the goal of creating paintings that emanate light.
Sheehan recently had a one man exhibition at the Whistler House Museum, in Lowell, MA, and the Guild of Boston Artists, where he is a member. He has taught at St. John’s Prep School in Danvers, MA, and currently teaches in his studio in Manchester, NH, and at Village Arts of Putney. In addition, he has works in major public and private collections, including the White House. His work has been featured in many publications, including on the cover of American Artist magazine.