Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Fehlman.
Hi Mark, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Mark Fehlman practiced as an architect for 35 years, as the design partner for the San Diego based firm Fehlman LaBarre Architects. Mark is equally comfortable in figurative and landscape subjects that feature strong composition, well defined value relationships and vibrant color. He has won numerous awards in various shows, including the “Grand Award” for the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association 2014 Best of Plein Air, First Place in the 2012 Borrego Springs Plein Air Festival, as well as many other awards and recognition.
His work has been included in the California Art Club Gold Medal show, the On Location in Malibu show at Pepperdine’s Weisman Museum, the Tejon Ranch show at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and the Maynard Dixon Country Show in Utah. He is an artist member of the California Art Club and Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.
Exhibitions
2011 California Art Club, Tejon Ranch exhibition @ Bakersfield Museum of Art
2012-20 California Art Club Gold Medal Show
2012 California Art Club, Malibu On-Location, at Pepperdine University
2014 LPAPA, Best of Plein Air, “Grand Prize Award”
2015 California Art Club, “Romance of Europe”
2015 California Art Club, “Landscapes of the West II”
2015 LPAPA “California Impressionism: Plein Air Painting Past & Present”
Events
Torrey Pines Plein Air Invitational, San Diego, Ca.
San Clemente Art Festival
Maynard Dixon Country Show
Borrego Plein Air Invitational
Laguna Invitational Plein Air
“Just Plein Fun” Invitational HuseSkelly Gallery
Maynard Dixon Camp Out
Forgotten Coast Plein Air
Maui Plein Air Invitational
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a “golden highway”. I have been very lucky. When I got out of school, I went to Europe for a year and there was a job waiting for me when I got back. Was mentored by one of the top architects in town, Hal Sadler.
After working for a couple of great firms, I went out on my own. We merged with Austin Hansen Fehlman and had a very large and reputable firm. My college friend asked me to join him after 10 years to form Fehlman LaBarre Architects.
There was a gallery two doors down from our office. After visiting the gallery two days each week, I started taking lessons there. Within 3 years, I left the firm to pain full time. That was 20 years ago.
I have had a wonderful career in art. I am a plein air painter which is a very communal profession. I have a tribe of artist friends and we travel around the world searching for beauty.
You can see my website at www.markfehlman.com
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For over thirty years, I practiced architectural design. Then plein air painting shifted everything. Brush in hand, I discovered a new passion. My architectural training taught my eye to capture the world’s beauty with structural understanding and compositional strength.
Based in San Diego, I travel constantly with fellow artists, creating small studies that preserve light, shape, and color in ways a camera cannot. These intimate paintings become the genesis for larger studio works.
When collectors welcome my art into their homes, I know this journey from architect to painter has found its true calling.
I get invited to about 5 Invitationals each year around the country. These are organized in locations by local art enthusiasts. They usual last 10 days and include many community events, lots of painting and a gala at the end of the week to sell the work that is done that week. Locations have included Florida, Virginia, Maryland, the Columbia River, Borrego Springs, Laguna Beach and Balboa Island.
My work is distinguished by strong design, vibrant color and a feeling of an impressionistic style. The paintings have recieved many awards and have found many homes from generous collectors around the world.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
You can find videos and links on my Facebook page and website. www.markfehlman.com
Favorite books Signature of All Things, Pillars of the Earth, Cutting for Stone
Podcasts How I Built This, The Rest is Politics US, People I Mostly Admire, The Economics of Everyday Things
Pricing:
- 9×12 $800
- 11×14 $1050
- 12×16 $1300
- 16×20 $2600
- 18×24 $3400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.markfehlman.com
- Instagram: @markfehlman
- Facebook: markfehlman
- LinkedIn: Mark fehlman
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mark+fehlman+artist
- Other: https://lpapa.org/fehlman/
