ABOUT MARK

Nationally recognized artist Mark E. Mehaffey is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society; DF, Transparent Watercolor Society of America; Signature Life member-Master Status, Watercolor West and the Rocky Mountain Watermedia Society, and Louisiana Watercolor Society Signature Life Member.

Mehaffey has won major awards in juried exhibitions across the country including the Beverly Green Memorial Purchase Award from the National Watercolor Society, the Silver Medal of Honor and the Arches Paper Co Award from American Watercolor Society, the M. Grumbacher Gold Medal from Allied Artists of America, and the Skyledge Award from the Midwest Watercolor Society. Mehaffey's work has appeared in many publications; most recently in The Best of Watercolor, Splash 5-The Glory of Color, Splash 10-Passionate Brush Strokes, Splash 11, Places in Watercolor and as a featured artist in a step by step guide and showcase, Creative Watercolor, Rockport publisher.

Mehaffey's paintings are included in corporate, public and private collections including Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Arches Paper Co. USA and the permanent collections of transparent watercolors at the Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin and the Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan. Mark has been a committed public school art instructor who believes our art future is with the young and is dedicated to building that vision. A popular juror, Mark is a popular juror, workshop instructor and lecturer around the country and is listed in "Who's Who Among Americas Teachers" and "Who's Who in America".

Statement | Résume | China

ARTIST STATEMENT

During the time I have been painting (over fifty years) my interest in the act of painting has never waned. However, the content of my work and my technical abilities are constantly evolving. This state of change is something that all artists embrace. It is through challenge that growth occurs. To be timid, safe, complacent or overly satisfied does not push the boundaries of creativity.

As tangents occur in my life, they also occur in my work. I allow myself the freedom to follow my tangents. I find myself dreaming of mists, clouds, rain and water. My brush seems to take on a life of its own as I express the feeling of a summer storm or fishing in the shallows. In my non objective work, I work to evoke strong feelings from a viewer by manipulating the elements of composition. Can line, color, shape and value be juxtaposed to have the same emotional impact as a thunder storm?

Art is a communication - a dialogue between artist and viewer. It is my hope to open and maintain that dialog. And I hope the viewer will be as involved as I am.

RÉSUME

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS

• Best of Show, San Diego International
• 2010, Invited, Shanghai Zhujiajiao Watercolor Biennial Exhibition Award
• Holbein Merchandise Award (one of the top three awards), International Society of Acrylic Painters-International Exhibit 2009
• Watercolor West National Exhibition, 3rd place award.
• Allied Artist of America, M. Grumbacher Gold Medal Award.       
• Louisiana Watercolor Society International Exhibition, Corporate Purchase Award, Arches Paper Co.
• TWSA, Skyledge Award (top award).
• Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolor, Ruth Rosenau Silver Medallion.
• American Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, Arches Paper Co. Award, 2008 Silver Medal of Honor.
• National Watercolor Society, Beverly Green Memorial Purchase Award with Silver Star.
• Invitational Exhibit, "Watercolor" Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan.
• Watercolor Society of Houston International Exhibition of Watercolor, Shirley Sterling Award.
• San Diego Watercolor Society 26th Annual International Exhibition, Green Flash Photo Merchandise award.
• International Society of Acrylic Painters Annual, M. Graham Merchandise Award.
• Watercolor U.S.A., The Springfield Art Museum, Springfield Missouri.
• Birds In Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.
• National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, Inc. 55th Annual Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NY, NY, Arches Paper Company Award.

MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

• Signature Member, Dolphin Fellow, American Watercolor Society
• Signature Member, National Watercolor Society
  
• Signature Member, Rocky Mountain Water Media Society
• Signature Life Member, Transparent Watercolor Society of America-Master Status
• Signature Life Member, Louisiana Watercolor Society
• Signature Member, Watercolor West, California
• Signature Member, ISAP, International Society of Acrylic Painters
• Board of Directors, Lansing Art Gallery, 1992-1996
• WHS Watercolor Honor Society 2009
  

JUROR

• Elected, Juror of Selection, 2010 American Watercolor Society
• Elected, Juror of Selection, 2010 National Watercolor Society
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Florida Watercolor Society 32nd annual exhibition, 2003.
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Watercolor Society of Oregon, annual transparent watercolor exhibition, 2003.
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Southport National Exhibition, Southport North Carolina, 2004.
• Juror of Selection and awards, Watercolor Society of Houston, membership show, 2004.
• Juror of Selection and awards, Southwest Watercolor Society Annual National
  exhibition, Dallas Texas, 2006.
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Miami Watercolor Society, March, 2008.
• Juror of Selection and Awards, South Carolina Water Media Society, October, 2008.
• Juror of Selection and Awards, Colorado Watercolor Society, April, 2009.
  

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors, 1973, Michigan State University.
Art instructor with the Lansing Public Schools from 1974, retired 2002.
Water media instructor, juror, demonstrator and lecturer offering workshops and classes.
Author, “Creative Watercolor Workshop” North Light Publisher, 2005.

SHANGHAI, CHINA

Blue Monolith 4 (above) | Monolith Series

John Salminen, Mark Mehaffey & Alvero Casagnet

Mark Mehaffey was honored to be an award winner in the Shanghai Zhujiajiao Watercolor Biennial 2010. This year is the first time this Watercolor Biennial has been opened to entries from OUTSIDE China. This exhibition is billed as the largest Watercolor exhibit of its kind in the world and was curated to coincide with the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
Artists are held in very high esteem in China. This show was government supported and the Governor of the region gave the welcoming speech at the Banquet. Approximately 2.8 million Dollars were spent to put this exhibit together.

There were over 230 total paintings included in the Biennial from all over the world, 24 of the Artists represented the United States. Fifteen equal awards were given by the awards jury. Those awards included a monetary prize plus the organizers covered all hotel, food and travel costs to China for the opening festivities. Of the 24 American Artists represented, Mark Mehaffey and John Salminen received awards and traveled to China to receive their awards in person.
Local travel and Chinese travel companions/interpreters were provided to the artists, resulting in a local flavor and unique opportunity to experience Chinese culture.

NOTES ON SHANGHAI

• Shanghai is the financial capitol of China with a population of over 30 million people.
• It is so crowded with people and cars/buses/bicycles/scooters that is costs 6,000 dollars to register for a license to drive a car and it's done by lottery. Driving in Shanghai by foreigners is "not permitted" and well so, as it is borderline traffic anarchy.
• Shanghai is coming to grips with saving the best of their ancient culture while promoting change for their common good. Everyone was working and working very hard. Most kids go to school 6 or 7 days a week and Sunday is not a day off. The entire city was working 24/7 to make sure they are ready for the opening of the World Expo, May 1st, 2010.
• When I asked about the lack of graffiti, I was told it is allowed in the Art Gallery district only. I asked what would happen if someone spray-painted somewhere else, the reply was, "no one would." And they didn't.
• Everyone we met, the artists, the government officials, the organizers, and the workers on the street, the folks that live in the neighborhoods at all socio-economic levels were very kind and helpful, always.
• In one solid week of travel and exploration we never had a bad meal. We ate some things that were not identifiable but everything was fresh and tasty.
  Almost everyone under the age of 25 speaks some English. They learn it starting in elementary school.
• They were proud of their city and their country and loved Americans.