The Fine Art of Michael McFarland



	Michael McFarland was born and raised in central Pennsylvania and continues to live and paint there today. His paintings are inspired by a love of the outdoors and the new ideas which develop over the course of frequent hiking and kayaking trips throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the surrounding region. The goal of his work is to go beyond the simple construction of appealing landscapes or records of travel encounters, with each painting offering another, far more subtle level of meaning. Michael’s paintings utilize elements which explore the emotions and issues which we all encounter in our lives … love, joy, fear, anticipation, disappointment, regret, change, hope, and renewal. The images are derived from a combination of sketches from life, reference photos, memory, and imagination.
Even casual observers notice that Michael’s watercolors are far from typical in style and appearance, an intentional effect which results from pushing the medium by adding large amounts of pigment to create strong darks. Many of the paintings portray scenes of night and fading light, a fascinating time of day that often ads a certain element of mystery and melancholy. Of course, liberties must be taken with the light when painting subjects in this manner. Michael sees the natural world as an active entity which is constantly changing and renewing itself. While it may seem quiet and beautiful at times, it is also a world of uncertainty and underlying danger. He enjoys showing the haunting and somewhat lonely side of nature viewed through the cycles of day and night, the changing seasons, and life and death. The subjects symbolize the contrasts between safety and vulnerability, love and loss, and the disappointment of missed opportunities versus the promise of those yet to come.


1972 – Born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. 1995 – BFA, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 1996 – Artist in Residency in Printmaking, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania


2006 Art Association of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA, “Four Artist Invitational Exhibition” Jumpstreet, Harrisburg, PA, “ARTiculture Trees: Planting the Seeds of Creativity” 2000 Louie’s, Baltimore, MD 1998 Mill River Gallery, Ellicott City, MD, “Landscape: The Tradition and Beyond” Art Association of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA, “Four Artist Invitational Exhibition” 1995 Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA, “The Presidents’ Choices: Art from the Universities”


2007 Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, North Bethesda, MD Northern Colorado Artist Association 16th National Art Exhibition and Sale, Fort Collins, CO – Irving Shapiro Memorial Watercolor Award Arts in Harmony ’07, Elk River, MN – *Award for Best Nature Representation, Purchase Award* Mid America Pastel Society’s 2007 National Pastel Exhibition, St. Joseph, MO Keystone National 2007 Juried Watermedia Exhibition, Mechanicsburg, PA Maryland Pastel Society “Shades of Pastel” National Juried Show, North Bethesda, MD 2006 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 27th Annual International Exhibition, Scranton, PA Aqueous Open 2006: Pittsburgh Watercolor Society 60th Annual International Exhibition, Sewickley, PA Art Center School and Galleries Regional Juried Exhibition, Mechanicsburg, PA – *Sakura of America and Dakota Art Pastels Award* Yorkfest Juried Exhibition, York, PA Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania 2006 Juried Show, Lamont, PA – First Place York Art Association 36th Annual Open Juried Exhibit, York, PA 2005 Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 26h Annual International Exhibition, Loretto, PA Baltimore Watercolor Society 2005 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition, North Bethesda, MD Images 2005, State College, PA – Award of Merit 2004 Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2004, Harrisburg, PA – Second Place, Works on Paper Pennsylvania Watercolor Society 25th Annual International Exhibition, New Castle, PA Lebanon Valley College 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Annville, PA Images 2004, State College, PA Susquehanna Art Society 14th Biennial Regional Art Exhibit, Selinsgrove, PA Small Works, York, PA 2003 Lebanon Valley College 32nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Annville, PA York Art Association 33rd Annual Open Juried Exhibit, York, PA – Second Place, Watercolor; Third Place, Pastel Images 2003, State College, PA – Gold Sable Award for Excellence in Watercolor 2002 Miniature Art 2002, Chambersburg, PA – Merit Award Images 2002, State College, PA 2001 Aqueous Open: Pittsburgh Watercolor Society 55th Annual International Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA Images 2001, State College, PA – Honorable Mention 1999The Festival at Little Buffalo Juried Exhibition, Harrisburg, PA – Second Place Bald Eagle Art League Regional Art Exhibition, Williamsport, PA – Kalish Finest Brushes Award 1998 The Festival at Little Buffalo Juried Exhibition, Harrisburg, PA – Best of Show, Purchase Award Riverwalk Arts Festival Juried Exhibition, York, PA 1997 Images ’97, State College, PA – Gold Sable Award for Excellence in Watercolor 1996 Art Association of Harrisburg 68th Annual Juried Exhibition, Harrisburg, PA – Second Place, Watercolor Images ’96, State College, PA – Gold Sable Award for Excellence in Watercolor Riverwalk Arts Festival Juried Exhibition, York, PA – Best of Show 1995 Evan Summer Award for Outstanding Achievement in Printmaking, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania


Baltimore Watercolor Society, Signature Member Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Signature Member Art Association of Harrisburg Perry County Council of the Arts


Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown, PA Perry County Council of the Arts, Newport, PA Sherburne County Government Center, Elk River, MN Numerous private collections

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