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”


2013 Aqueous Open 2013: Pittsburgh Watercolor Society 72nd Annual International Exhibition Carnegie, PA Lebanon Valley College 42nd Annual Juried Exhibition Annville, PA *Fourth Place* 2011 The 30th Annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors Old Forge, NY Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2011 Harrisburg, PA *The State Museum Purchase Award* Georgia Watercolor Society 2011 National Exhibition Carrollton, GA Art Alliance of Central PA Annual Juried Exhibition Lemont, PA *First Place* Lebanon Valley College 40th Annual Juried Exhibition Annville, PA *Fourth Place* 2010 Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibition North Bethesda, MD *Winsor and Newton Award* 2008 Solo Exhibition “Recent Watercolors and Pastels by Michael McFarland” Rehoboth Art League Rehoboth Beach, DE Arts in Harmony '08 Elk River, MN Honorable Mention 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 1999 The 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 The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA Numerous private collections

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