This week's featured artist, Lorraine McFarland, is a gifted teacher who brings her joy for art, nature, heart and soul to her students. She is an award-winning pastel artist and instructor.
When it comes to McFarland's art, she says she is a late bloomer. She went to University of Missouri in Columbia to major in art. However, when she saw what the other students could do, she changed her major, thinking she was not artistically talented. She was 19 years old.
"Fast forward to my mid-40s after several other careers - some I enjoyed, some not so much. My father always told me I could learn everything I needed to know to be a good artist by reading, practice and watching master artists paint," she said. "Although our relationship was strained at best, I do remember feeling close to him when I sat by his side, watching him paint a mural on the wall of our living room, asking endless questions, and getting insightful answers that stuck in my mind. So, while I quit work to care for my mother-in-law in her twilight years, I took his advice to heart and started reading a lot about art history and techniques."
In 1997, McFarland pulled out the supplies he left her from their hiding place in the basement and began drawing and experimenting. She took some drawing classes and a watercolor class. When McFarland took a pastel class at the local vocational and technical school, she fell in love with the pastel medium. Over the years, she has studied with some of the finest pastel artists in the world including Richard McKinley, Maggie Price, Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Marsha Hamby Savage, Doug Dawson, Desmond O'Hagan and Alan Flattman. McFarland's work is now on display in many homes and corporate locations in the U.S., as well as Art House in Fulton and at Stone Soup Galleries in Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis.
McFarland also loves to share her experience through teaching. She has learned so much from her own teachers over the years. Now that she has achieved some of her goals she wants to give back.
"Watching a fellow artist or beginner work and achieve their artistic goals, no matter how small, is one of the greatest joys of my life," she said. "Not to mention, I learn something new each time I teach!"
For individuals interested in arranging a workshop, learning more about my pastel work or McFarland's accomplishments, visit her website at www.lorrainemcfarlandart.com. She is also the Jefferson City Art Club's featured artist from Monday through March 31, with her work featured at the club's website, www.jeffersoncityartclub-missouri.com.
Jefferson City Art Club, Capital Arts and Mid-Missouri art news
My friend and Jefferson City Art Club member Jerry Ricker, also known as Rick Jey, hosts "Spotlight on the Arts" and "Mid-Missouri Art News" on JCTV. These two informative documentary series highlight artists and artisans with regional, national and international scope. They are recorded at the JCTV studio on the Lincoln University campus. They are also broadcast on CenturyLink and Medical (check provider for times) and available on YouTube by visiting the "JCTVAccess" channel.
The "Show-Me Art" exhibit is on display at Capital Arts gallery now through March 12. The exhibit is structured around the concept that "art is in the eye of the beholder," but also that "art is in the eye of the artist." In addition, artists have also created pieces that reflect the spirit of Missouri. An exhibit reception will be 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24.
Village Art Studio, 1502 E. High St., Suites 40 and 60, offers children's art workshops, geared for ages 6 and older, with the next one coming up March 2. Children will create three art objects. Cost is $35 per child and can attend either a 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. session. For more information, call 573-230-1414.
The Columbia Art League will be hosting the "Truth(?)" exhibit through April 19. There are many faces to the truth, many disguises and veils. In this event, the artists are asked "what is the truth to you?" There will be a reception from 6-8 p.m. March 8. The gallery, 207 South Ninth St. in Columbia, is open from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 573-443-8838 or visit columbiaartleague.org.
The Mid-Missouri Arts Alliance of Ashland hosts one-day art workshops, "Missouri Sketchers," the first Wednesday each month. The next workshop features Marilyn Cummings, who will offer an urban sketching program at 7:30 p.m. March 6 at the organization's gallery and facility, 115 E. Broadway in Ashland. For more information, call 573-657-0711 or visit www.midmissouriartsalliance.com.
Interested in art or have a friend who is? Jefferson City Art Club meets the third Monday from September through May. The next meeting is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday at 409 Ellis Blvd. in the community room. Professional artist Peggy King, who works in fused glass, will give a presentation on "snow flake glass."
Professional artist Jimmy Mustion does club promotions and publicity for Jefferson City Art Club and Capital Arts.