James McFarland
James McFarland lived in East Lansing for most of his life and was a graduate of Michigan State University. He loved his daughters, his music, and his Japanese soaking tubs. He loved to paint, finding solace in the action of putting color to blank canvas. He also painted on pieces of wood, on foam board and on the side of his commercial building on Michigan Avenue in Lansing.
He was always a creative person interested in building and creating sculpture. He was influenced by Dr. Bob Weil, a professor of art at MSU and his good friend, mentor and artist, Julian van Dyke. Julian encouraged him in his exploration and expression through paint and canvas.
His artwork expresses his love for nature. He painted what he saw on his adventures in Colorado, his time spent scuba diving in Bonaire, and the beautiful vibrant colors of Jamaica. It is a reflection of the hours spent flying in his red and blue airplane at sunset.
During the course of ten years, he painted over 350 paintings on a variety of surfaces but mostly canvas. He used brilliant colors, scraping tools and brushes to mix, combine, and spread acrylic paint. His artwork has been displayed in a variety of locations and galleries around the greater Lansing area. His work is displayed at the Fledge, the Allen Street Center and Urban Cup located in Lansing, Michigan. James passed away unexpectedly on June 6, 2017 and was 69 years old. He is sorely missed by his family, his friends, and his community.