The Artist

Name:  Tanya McFarland
Born:  Fall of '85
Specialties:  Traditional art and digital photography

General Summary
     So what to know about me?  Most importantly would be that I'm a devote wife, a trying mother (it's harder than it looks), a reliable daughter, a caring sister and a loyal friend.  I love my family and try to keep in touch with them as much as possible.  They've kept my path straight and true and without my husband, my art probably would have never seen the sunlight nor reached the quality it has today.  He has been a guiding light for me, pushing me beyond my artistic limits to become far more than I was.  I am who I am because of the people in my life.  I can say that I don't think I would change it or have it any other way. 

     I love animals but most especially horses and dogs.  I've loved horses since we moved to the country and my dad bought a mistreated pony who was running around the highway after jumping a fence.  She was supposed to be a birthday present for my mom but she soon turned into my best friend.  After that, my life was forever changed.  I don't feel complete unless I have a horse in my life.  Sadly, most of the horses I've had in my past never got to be with me longer than a few years due to life complications and circumstances.  But I remember each and everyone of them vividly and will never forget what they've taught me.  I somewhat fancy myself a horse trainer because I've taken several unhandled -- some were abused and neglected-- horses and turned them into the gems that they could be.  I get such a thrill from training those magnificent beasts!  My husband and I have hopes in the future of being able to own a house with some land so I can feel whole again.  I long for the days of windswept hair, the sweet smell of hay and the sound of whinnies singing nearby.

     My current critters are an English Bulldog (Kaylee), a crested gecko (Ludo, named for my favorite band) and a hermit crab (Jay).  I adore my critters!  Kaylee has been a wonderful addition to my life and has been the best dog I've ever owned.  I've finally found the breed of dog for me!  You will be seeing lots of her photos in my photography section as she grows.  She's highly photogenic and super adorable!  All my pets mean so much to me and are part of the family.

Artistic Summary
     For as long as I can remember I've always dabbled here and there with drawing.  My mom said I always colored on coloring books, created rather in depth school projects that far exceeded the criteria and always seemed to have a pencil or other drawing utensil in my hand but it wasn't until after I got into high school that I felt compelled to make art into something more than just a past time to stem off the boredom of youth.   I quickly got excepted into the advanced art classes and went to district art shows.  Unfortunately, I never saw a ribbon but I did get several honorable mentions.  High school drudged on and I became bored with the same old subjects and applications.  I became apathetic and lost interest in art almost entirely.  My life was rough in my high school years, mostly emotional dealings with peer pressure and the like so art took a back seat to everything else.  Eventually, I met my husband who finally began molding my talents into something productive and enjoyable. 

     I mostly started drawing just as a hobby but then I had several requests from people which spurred me into the idea of taking commissions.  The art world is definitely a hard one to get started in but it's a wonderful world all the same.  Somewhat of a rogue artist, I've never really seemed to follow what everyone else does.  Many artists like to be technical; using grids and light boxes to ensure maximum detail but I prefer to just draw what I see and give the drawing a piece of myself.  My drawings possess a style only I have, making it truly one of a kind.  Some artists will tell you the better the materials, the better the piece.  I must disagree.  I've used the same Bic mechanical pencil for the past 7 years and I honestly can not stand any other pencils when it comes to my graphite art.  I do however use high end paper, Strathmore Bristol Board Smooth or Card Stock.  I erase a lot, and I do mean a lot, so I need a sturdy product to hold up to my abuse. 

See WIPs and more in my Blog. 

Photography Summary
     Photography is a brand new skill I've been developing for only a couple of years now but I must say my improvements have been major and gratifying!  My husband has definitely been instrumental in my photography skills thanks to him buying my Canon XTi which I absolutely love!  I will admit, I love photography slightly more than actually drawing.  There's something completely calming about running away and taking candid photographs of my surroundings.