About the Artist
Jeff Fahey
Jeff Fahey is a pastel artist and plein air painter residing in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Originally from Long Island, NY, his work is influenced by the ocean and the coastal marshes and bays of the East Coast. He is a member of the Pastel Society of America, the Pastel Society of North Carolina and the Coastal Carolina Pastel Painters Society. He attended The Art Students League studying under Jean Liberte, studied Advertising and Design at SUNY Farmingdale, completed 3 yrs. of study in Painting & Illustration at The School of Visual Arts in NYC and received his BS in Professional Studies in 1997.
Recently he studied pastels with Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Lyn Asselta, Elizabeth Mowry and Albert Handell. In September 2017 he held his 1st one-man show in Summerville, SC and currently exhibits his work throughout the Southeast.
Previously, Jeff had a successful career touring the US performing as a lead singer and guitarist for over 20 years. He returned to his commercial art career as a Graphic Designer and Art Director for corporations based in NY and CA. His most recent project can be seen at connienumbers.com.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I’ve always found myself drawn to places that seem quite ordinary - places that people pass everyday, places with untold stories and places where I’m able to lose myself in the surrounding nature. I’ve found that many times, my most successful work happens when I forget who I am and what I am doing, losing myself and allowing the work to flow through me."
“Pastel is a perfect medium for my landscapes as it allows me to hold pigment in my hand and apply it in a loose, vibrant and expressive manner and capture the essence of my subject. In my work, I’m always striving to reproduce the quality of light and color that drew me to the scene initially and to invite viewers into my paintings so they can experience what I see both emotionally and spiritually. I am blessed to be gifted with the desire and ability to communicate through my art.”
AWARDS / EXHIBITIONS
2020 – South West Florida Pastel Society, "Valued Strokes" 2020 Online Exhibition
2020 – Waterway Art Assoc. 29th Annual Juried Art Show; Benefactor Award: "Change is Coming"
2020 – Wilmington Art Association, 38th Annual Juried Spring Show
2020 – Art Association of Southport Juried Spring Show
2020 – 8th Annual Juried NC Statewide Exhibition, "Pastel Paintings from the Mountains to the Sea," Charlotte, NC;
2019 – 3rd Annual Sunset Vision Art Show and Sale, Sunset Beach, NC
2019 – Waterway Art Assoc. 28th Annual Juried Spring Show; First Place: "Charleston Golden Glow"
2019 – Wilmington Art Association, 37th Annual Juried Spring Show
2019 – Art Association of Southport Juried Spring Show
2018 – 7th Annual Juried NC Statewide Exhibition, "Pastel Paintings from the Mountains to the Sea," Greensboro, NC;
Award of Excellence: "Charleston Golden Glow"
2018 – Waterway Art Assoc. 27th Annual Juried Spring Show; Brunswick Arts Council Award of Excellence: "God's Reflection"
2018 – Art Association of Southport Juried Spring Show; Honorable Mention: “A River Runs Through It”
2018 – Wilmington Art Association, 36th Annual Juried Spring Show
2017 – Solo Exhibition: Recent Works - sponsored by Century 21 Properties Plus @ 2017 Art Night, Summerville, SC
2017 – Dakota Art Pastels, Juried Exhibition, "Pochade Voyage: Travel Impressions," Mount Vernon, WA
2017 – Arkansas Pastel Society, 6th National Juried Exhibition, "Reflections in Pastel," Little Rock, AR
2017 – PSNC International Juried Exhibition, "Pure Color," Greensboro, NC
2017 – 6th Annual N.C. Statewide Juried Pastel Exhibition, "Pastel Paintings from the Mountains to the Sea," Charlotte, NC
