Hello, my name is Susan McFarlane

I am inspired by moments that give me peace and serenity. Especially those times when I have been stopped in my day by a play of colors, a blend of textures, or a juxtaposition of natural forms. Watercolor is my preferred medium because I enjoy the movement of pigments in the water and how that mirrors the movement of color through air.

I was born and raised in Massachusetts where I was constantly drawing, painting, and making things. For many years I lived in Utah, Oregon, New Jersey, and Virginia before moving back to Massachusetts and most recently back to Utah. I've earned a B.S. in Design from Brigham Young University, a Post Baccalaureate Certificate from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and a Museum Studies Master’s Degree from Harvard Extension. I am also a Certified Zentangle® Teacher. My artwork has been shown in Utah, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. I am an experienced teacher and watercolor painter. I especially enjoy experimenting with texture and “playing in the water.”

Teaching, and sharing techniques through workshops and demos is very rewarding for me. It's wonderful to see the joy and excitement students experience when we "play in the water" while experimenting with texture, learning traditional and new approaches to painting. I see the same joy in students learning Zentangle as they create new pieces "one stroke at a time."

Awards

2024 AAUW Utah Women Artists Juried Exhibition

2022 Nathalie Nordstrand Award, Reading Art Association

2022 Jurors Selection Award, Natural Visions, LexArt

2020 Prize for Excellence in Abstract Painting

2019 Reading Art Association Third Place Watercolor

2019 George Shedd Prize for Excellence in Watercolor

2017 Woburn Guild of Artists First Place Watercolor

2016 Woburn Guild of Artists Best in Show

2016 Reading Art Association Best in Show

Smithville NJ Center for the Arts in So. NJ Juried Exhibition

Burlington County NJ Juried Exhibition

Juried Student Show PAFA

CoSIDA Excellence in Publications “Best in the District” Award

CoSIDA Excellence in Publications “Third in the District” Award (2)

Juried Illustrators Club Exhibition

Printing in Excellence Award of Merit (2)

Bronze National CASE Award

Mid Oregon Ad Club, Award of Merit

Mid Oregon Ad Club, Silver Award (2)