About the Artist
About Mark Farina
Mark Farina
Galleries
M. Farina Fine Art, Carmel, CA
Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
Tim Holton Studio Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Education: B.A. Degree, Florida State University, Art, Minor: Art History, two trimesters in Florence, Italy.
Mark attended to Florida State U. on a partial golf scholarship until he became interested in art which became his main interest for the remainder of my college education. After graduating from college, he made a livelihood in both golf and commercial art. He moved to the Monterey Peninsula in the early 80’s and freelanced as a graphic designer and illustrator. During this period, he was also painting in watercolor and oil. Inspired by the spectacular scenery of the Monterey Peninsula he started painting en plein air (outside on location). This became a passion and eventually fine art painting became his full-time vocation.
Mark’s interest in subject matter is not limited to just the landscape. He also paint still-life, architecture and figures.
Plein Air Events;
Carmel Art Festival, Sonoma Plein Air,
Plein Air Texas Richmond Plein Air
Telluride Plein Air . Plein Air Texas
Cape Anne Plein Air
His paintings have been juried into many national shows and have won awards across the country, including:
Oil Painters of America
California Art Club, Gold Medal Show
Butler Institute of American Art,
Allied Artist,
American Impressionist Society,
Watercolor West
California Watercolor Society
Hudson Valley Art Association
Memberships:
California Art Club, Artist Member
Carmel Art Association, Life Member
American Impressionist Society, Signature Member
Outdoor Painters Society, Signature Member
Oil Painter of America, Signature Member
Academic Artist Association, Artist Member
Watercolor West, Signature Member
Collections:
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Country Club
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Corral de Tierra Country Club, Salinas, CA
The Panetta Family
Awards (Partial List)
2022 - Plein Air Magazine Monthly Competition Best Sky/April
Plein Air Magazine Monthly Competition Best Floral/May
2021 - Plein Air Magazine Monthly Competition First Place Overall/April
2020 - National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Award of Excellence
Plein Air Magazine Monthly Competition Best Painting Age Category/Sept.
Plein Air Magazine Monthly Competition Best Outdoor Still Life/June
2019 - Outstanding Watercolor July Fine Art Studio Online Monthly Competition
2017 - Oil Painters of America National Exhibition - Honorable Mention for still-Life
2016 - Carmel Art Festival - Best Local Artist
Watercolor West - Award of Merit
2015 - Outdoor Painters Society Southwest Salon Honorable Mention
Big Blue Plein Air - Monterey Best of Show
Carmel Art Festival - Honorable Mention, Best Local Artist
2014 - Carmel Art Festival Honorable Mention
Outdoor Painters Society National Exhibition, Honorable Mention
2013 - Celebrating the Landscape in Nature, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History - 2nd Place
2010 - Carmel Plein Air Art Festival - Honorable Mention
Alameda Jewel-By-The-Bay Plein Air - Honorable Mention
2009 - Allied Artist Plein Air Peoples Choice Award
Academic Artist Association, Landscape Award
2008 - American Impressionist Society- Gallery B (of Knoxville, KY) Award -
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History Plein Air Affaire - Best of show
Academic Artist Association National Show - Honorable Mention
Carmel Art Festival - Honorable Mention
Santa Cruz Art League National Landscape Exhibit - 3rd
Place Oil Haggin Museum National Exhibit - Honorable Mention
Alameda Plein Air - Honorable Mention Red River Valley Museum Exhibit - Award of Merit
2007 - Carmel Plein Air Festival - Honorable Mention
Butler Institute of American Art Mid Year Exhibit - L. Paris Award –
Master Impressionist Society National Show - Honorable Mentions (2)-
Academic Artist Assoc. Nat. Exhibit - Armour Award for landscape
Redlands University Centennial Plein Air - Honorable Mention
2006 - Master Impressionists National Exhibit - Honorable Mention
San Clemente Plein Air Festival - Honorable Mention
Jewel By The Bay Plein Air, Alameda, CA - Honorable Mention
2005- Peoples' Choice Award - Carmel Plein Air Festival
California State Fair Plein Air Div.-Merit Award
Academic Artist Association, New England Heritage Award
2004 - Palm Springs Desert Museum National Exhibit Award of Excellence
2003 - Monterey County Fair - Best of Show
Major Juried Shows
2025 - 114th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
VEFA Gallery, Torrance, CA
2024 - 113th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. Orange, CA
2023 - 112th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition Bowers Museum, Santa Anna, CA
American Impressionist National Exhibition
2022 - 111th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition Bowers Museum, Santa Anna, CA
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition
American Impressionist National Exhibition
2021 - 110th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
Oil Painters of America Salon Exhibition & Sale
Academic Artist Association
2020 - 109th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society National Exhibition
American Impressionist Society National Exhibition
2019 - 108th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
American Impressionist Society National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club
American Impressionist Small Works Exhibition
Virtuosos of the Oil Painters of America
Watercolor West 51st Annual Juried Exhibition
Hudson Valley Art Association National Exhibition
2018 - 107th California Gold Medal Exhibition
American Impressionist Small Works Exhibition
2017- Southwest Salon - Outdoor Painters Society
106th California Art Club - Gold Medal Show, Autry Center for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Oil Painters of America National Exhibition - Elise Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2016 - 105th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
Southwest Salon - Outdoor Painters Society
Hudson Valley Art Association - Salmagundi Club, NYC
2015- 104th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
American Impressionist Society National Exhibition
Southwest Salon - Outdoor Painters Society. Dallas, Texas
Virtuosos of the Oil Painters of America - Salmagundi Club, NYC
Oil Painters of America Salon, McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2014 - Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Mountain-song Gallery, Carmel, CA
American Impressionist Society 15th Annual Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO
Outdoor Painters Society 2014 Salon, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, Texas
California Art Club Gold Medal Show, Autry National Center Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Transparent Watercolor Society 38th Annual Exhibit, Kenosha Public Museum, WI
2013 - Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Insight Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas
American Impressionist Society National Exhibit, Mountain Song Gallery, Carmel, California
Outdoor Painters Society National Exhibit, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
Salon International, Green House Gallery San Antonio, Texas
Richmond Plein Air, Blazier Gallery Richmond, Virginia
2012 - California Art Club Gold Medal Show - Autry National Center Museum, Los Angeles
Saving Paradise LA County Municipal Art Museum
Salon International - Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, Texas
2011 - Finalist AMERICA CHINA OIL PAINTING ARTISTS LEAGUE juried competition
American Impressionist National Exhibit, - Mountain Song Gallery, Carmel, CA
A Century of California Landscape - California Art Club at the California Historical Society, San Francisco, CA
2010 - California Art Club Gold Medal Show, Pasadena Art Museum
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit
Butler Institute of American Art Mid Year Exhibit
American Impressionist Society National Exhibit
2009 - Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
Academic Artist Association National Exhibit, Springfield, Mass.
10th Annual American Impressionist Exhibit.
2008 - Oil Painters of America National Show, Dana Gallery, Missoula, Montanalon
International - Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX (2 paintings)
9th Annual American Impressionist Exhibit
Academic Artist Association, Springfield, Mass.
2007 - Oil Painters of America National Show, Whistle Pik Galleries, Fredericksburg, TX
Butler American Institute Of American Art Midyear Exhibit
Napa Valley Museum – Northern Views Plein Air J. Richeson Still Life 75 National Show
Academic Artist Association National Show
Best of Plein Air – Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc.
Masters of Impressionist Society National Show
2006 - Laguna Plein Air Painters- Best of Plein Air
Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
American Impressionist National Exhibit, Fredericksburg, TX
2005 -Plein Air New Mexico Invitational, Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, Ill..
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Small Painting Exhibit, Santa Barbara, Ca
Watercolor West 37th Annual Exhibit, Riverside, CA
Salon International Exhibit, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
Academic Artist National Exhibition, Springfield, Mass
2004 - Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Lawrence Gallery, Portland, OR
Butler Institute Nation Mid-year Exhibit - Youngstown, Ohio
California Watercolor Society National Exhibit- Charles Reid, Juror
Academic Artist National Exhibition - Springfield, Mass.
2003 - Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Nichols Gallery, - Taos, NM
Monterey Museum Bi-Annual Exhibit
Laguna Plein Air Painting Assoc.- Artist Members Exhibition
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Small Painting Show - Santa Barbara CA
2002 - California Watercolor Association National Exhibition- San Francisco
2001 - Splish Splash - National Watercolor Exhibit, St. Louis, MO
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Salon, Springfield Museum, UT.
2000 - Audubon Artist of America National Juried Show,
1999 - Valley Art Association 68th Annual, Hastings on the Hudson, Salmagundi Club, NYC
Monterey Museum of Art - Biannual Exhibition
Published
Painting California; Of The California Art Club
California Light: 100 Years of Landscape Paintings from the California Art Club
100 Ways To Paint Landscapes, Vol 1, 2004, by International Artist Magazine
Plein Air New Mexico – published by J. Richeson Company
Artist Magazine – “Instructors and Star Students” March 2006
The Art Collection of the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula - 2009
