More than art

Gary grew up in Salinas, CA and is a self-taught artist.  His interest in comics and art first began at a young age, while in the sixth grade.  Gary first created the independently produced comic book series Pakkins' Land in 1995, plotting out the stories and scripting, lettering, penciling, and inking the illustrations for the series.  Pakkins’ Land tells the adventuresome and engaging tale of Paul, a young boy who finds himself in a magical world filled with talking animals, mystery and excitement.  Pakkins’ Land has been heralded for excellence by both critics and peers alike, accumulating an international following and numerous award nominations.
Certain characters in the Pakkins' Land stories are named after the Shipman's children.
Gary resides in Illinois with his family and, at times, makes appearances as a guest artist at comic conventions in the region.
Gary has struggled with dyslexia all his life and has shared about coping with it, at times, on his youtube live streams.
In late 2013, a 46-page color collection of his artistry: The Gary Shipman Sketchbook Volume #1, ISBN 1600392016 was published by Lamp Post, Inc., released as both a perfect-bound paperback edition and also as a Kindle e-book.
In 2016, the Gary Shipman Sketchbook 2016, a 45-page paperback collection of Shipman's artwork, was self-published and offered online.
In late 2018, Gary Shipman 2018 Sketchbook, A full-color 70 page collection of his art, was crowdfunded in an Indiegogo campaign.  The campaign offered incentives such as original art, a republished Pakkins Land issue 1 & 2, and collectible Pakkins Land trading cards.

Project:

  • Fleer Retro: DC | Upper Deck 2026 

  • Marvel Comics Chrome | Topps 2026

  • Fantastic Four 65th | Topps Finest 2026

  • Star Wars Masterworks | Topps 2026

  • Marvel The Collector | Topps 2025

  • Star Wars Hyperspace | Topps 2025

  • 2025 Topps Chrome SpongeBob 25th Anniversary 2025

  • Topps Finest X-Men ‘97 | Disney | Marvel 2025

  • Scooby-Doo FLEER | Upper Deck | WB 2025 

  • DC Annual | Upper Deck 2025

  • Skybox Metal Universe Batman Sketch Card Series | Upper Deck 2025

  • Marvel Beginnings Vol 2: Series 2 Upper Deck 2024

  • Marvel Beginnings Vol 2: Series 1 Upper Deck 2023

  • Allegiance: Avengers vs. X-Men Sketch Card Series | Upper Deck 2023

  • Upper Deck Marvel Annual 2023

  • Upper Deck Marvel Flair 2023

  • WandaVision | Upper Deck | Marvel 2022

  • Marvel Premier Upper Deck 2021

  • Marvel Black Diamond Sketch Card Series | Upper Deck 2020

  • Halo Legacy Collection

  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | SONY | Marvel

  • Marvel Ages | Upper Deck 2020

  • Marvel Anime Vol. 2 Upper Deck 

  • Marvel Masterpieces Upper Deck 2020

  • Marvel Midnight Sons Upper Deck

  • Monster Masterpieces | Universal | Upper Deck

  • Adventure Time | Cryptozoic Entertainment 2014

  • Rick and Morty Season 3 | Cryptozoic Entertainment

  • DC Comics Batman the Legend  | Cryptozoic Entertainment

  • DC Comics Superman the Legend  | Cryptozoic Entertainment

  • Spider-Man Limited Edition Lithigraph | Disney/Marvel

  • Hulk Limited Edition Lithigraph | Disney/Marvel

  • Captain America Limited Edition Lithigraph | Disney/Marvel

  • Beauty & the Best Limited Edition Lithigraph | Disney

  • Indiana Jones Limited Edition Lithigraph | Lucasfilm

  • DC Comics Vinyl Figures | Cryptozoic Entertainment

  • How To Train Your Dragon Limited Edition | DreamWorks

  • Star Trek Fun With Kirk & Spock | Paramount

  • TITAN Mouse of Might (graphic novels)

  • Pakkins Land (graphic novels)

  • Meow Meow Jones (graphic novel)

  • Kingdoms (graphic novels) | Zondervan​​​

  • Upper Deck Marvel Beginnings Vol 2: Series 2 2024

    Awards received:

  • 2024 HEROIC Award Finalist

  • 1998 Eisner Award nominee in the category of “Title Most Deserving of Recognition”

  • 1997 Russ Manning Award nominee in the category of “Most Promising Newcomer”

  • 1997 Harvey Award nominee in the category of “Best New Talent”

  • “Teacher’s Choice Award” by Learning Magazine