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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. |

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 |

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 |