M Francis McCarthy

ARTIST STATEMENT

Over the years I have become most attracted to the beautiful in art, especially in landscape painting.  A painter cannot fake beauty. A painting can be clever or striking, but to be considered beautiful, it must be well crafted and work on sound artistic principles.  

The best paintings transmit the highest feelings that we are capable of.  Good landscape paintings evoke those feelings in the hearts of their viewers. I aim for that magic in my work, also for peace, thoughtfulness and repose.  Guided by this desire to convey the underlying moods of nature, I favor quieter, more intimate views, generally depicted at dawn or dusk. Landscapes that speak in a tranquil but consistent way of the beauty of nature. Scenes that convey that feeling of stillness just moments after the sun has passed over the horizon where we find ourselves deep in the timelessness of the gloaming.

I feel that every painting that I do should have a beautiful sky. The skies I paint contribute greatly to the emotion and impact of my paintings.  As an artist, one thing I love about New Zealand is the clean air and beautiful skies we have here. I never tire of looking up and being inspired by the differentiated clouds and striated patterns of our southern hemispheric skies.

BIO

M Francis McCarthy, an accomplished landscape painter and author of the book "Landscape Painting - The Tonalist Way," was born in California in 1965. From a young age, McCarthy was captivated by the natural beauty surrounding him, drawing inspiration from the golden hills, rugged coastlines, and lush forests of his home state. This deep connection to the land and the mystery of nature has remained a driving force throughout his artistic career.

Initially drawn to drawing and the works of pen and ink artists, architectural rendering, and the old Masters, McCarthy later discovered the potential of using computers to create art. Following a path of pure inspiration, he began crafting abstract digital art, achieving a high level of mastery in the digital medium.

From 1998 to 2010, McCarthy worked as an art director and in-house illustrator for a company that produced apparel and other items sold in department stores, zoos, national parks, and Starbucks coffee. During this time, he created art in various styles and mediums, further developing his keen eye for composition and color. However, it was his extensive love for art and painting that drove him to continually learn and excel in this vocation.

In 2006, McCarthy began painting landscapes on the computer, working with a Wacom tablet and stylus. He had developed several techniques as an illustrator that he wanted to apply to landscapes. Eventually, he abandoned digital painting in favor of working with oils on canvas. Later, in pursuit of a museum-like surface quality, he transitioned to painting directly on prepared wood panels.

McCarthy's art is greatly influenced by the Tonalism movement, which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, running concurrently with Impressionism. Tonalism is a poetic interpretation in paint of an emotive response to the landscape. When executed skillfully, it conveys emotion through the picture plane and into the mind and heart of the viewer. Tonalism goes beyond just a tone, color effect, or style; it expresses the reality just below the surface of life and nature, the emotive currents of a scene, with light, space, and colors fractured as brushed paint.

As a modern painter, McCarthy was intrigued by the focused use of intense contrasts between lights and darks in Tonalist paintings, which guide the viewer's eye to wander precisely where the artist intends. His attraction to this lost mode of expression came as a response to the work of the Tonalists.

Working primarily in oil, McCarthy's paintings are characterized by their rich, atmospheric qualities and a profound sense of light and shadow. His adept use of color and occasionaly texture conveys not only the physical appearance of a scene but also the deep emotional and spiritual aspects of the natural world. Drawing from the traditions of Tonalism and the Barbizon School, McCarthy's work transcends mere representation, inviting viewers to experience the landscape through his unique, introspective lens.

Over the years, McCarthy's work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums in New Zealand and the United States, earning him widespread recognition and acclaim. His paintings are highly sought after by collectors who appreciate his ability to evoke the beauty, mystery, and tranquility of the natural world.

Today, M Francis McCarthy continues to explore the landscapes that inspire him, constantly evolving his technique and pushing the boundaries of his art. With each new painting, he invites us to pause, reflect, and connect with the world around us, reminding us of the inherent beauty and power of nature. McCarthy now paints landscapes full-time, in his studio located at the Quarry Arts Center in Whangarei, New Zealand, where he has been a resident painter for over twelve years, enjoying the beauty of the place and the good company of his fellow artists.