Michael J. Harrell was born in Tallahassee, Florida in 1964. He earned a B.F.A. from the University of Georgia in 1988, majoring in graphic design. Harrell then went on to complete hundreds of watercolor illustrations for corporate clients before pursuing fine art full-time in the early nineties.

Harrell is a self-taught painter. His work has been the subject of articles in "American Artist", "Watercolor Magazine" (Winter 2000), "Artist Sketchbook" (Fall 2001) and "The Artist's Magazine" (June 2002; August 2003).

EXHIBITIONS:
Settlers West, Tucson, AZ, American Miniatures, Group Show, February, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003
Philadelphia Watercolor Club, Philadelphia, PA
National Park Academy of the Arts, Jackson Hole, WY, 1992, 1993, 1995
American Artists Professional League, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
Society of Illustrators, Museum of American Illustration, New York, NY
Poudre Valley Art League Thirty-Third Exhibition, Ft. Collins, CO

HONORS & AWARDS:
2002 Featured Artist, The Artist's Magazine, "Down by the Sea," June 2002
2001 Featured Artist, Artist Sketchbook, Fall 2001
2000 American Art Classic, Houston, TX
2000 Featured Artist, American Artist Watercolor Magazine, Winter 2000
1999 State of Florida Governor's Office, Solo exhibit
1998 American Miniatures Invitational Show: Settlers West, Tucson, AZ
1997 American Miniatures Invitational Show: Settlers West Gallery
1996 Painting appears in "The Truman Show" courtesy Paramount Pictures
1995 Arts for the Parks, Top 100
1994 Poudre Valley Art League, Honorable Mention
1993 Arts for the Parks, Top 100
1992 Florida Wildlife Turkey Stamp Competition, First Prize and Third Prize
1992 Arts for the Parks, Top 100
1992 Arts for the Parks, Grand Canyon 75th Anniversary, Top 20
1991 North American Marine Arts Society, Award of Excellence
1990 Tallahassee City Hall, Solo Exhibition
1989 Florida Wildlife Magazine, Featured Artist Profile
1989 Images of Nature, City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, First Prize
1988 Images of Nature, City Hall, Tallahassee, FL, Second Prize
1987 Second Annual North Florida Juried Competition, First Prize


SELECTED COLLECTIONS:
American Express
Arthur Blank, Home Depot Founder
BASF
Dean Witter Reynolds
Diplomat Resort
Ducks Unlimited
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Education Association
Katherine Harris, U.S. Congresswoman
Hale & Dorr, Boston
Homebanc
MasterCard Corp.
Nordstrom
Ogilvy & Mather
Seaside Development Corp.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Tallahassee Memorial Medical Center
Walt Disney
Wilderness Graphics

Florida native Michael Harrell received his BFA in graphic design from the University of Georgia. Following graduation, he was a freelance illustrator for MasterCard, American Express and Paramount Pictures and exhibited with the Society of Illustrators at the Museum of American Illustration in New York.

By the early 1990s, Harrell was devoting his full attention to fine art and exhibiting his work with the Salmagundi Club of New York, the Philadelphia Watercolor Club, and the North American Marine Arts Society in Gloucester, Massachusetts. His paintings have also been the subject of feature articles in American Artist Watercolor Magazine, Artists Sketchbook and The Artist's Magazine.

From Nantucket, Massachusetts to the far reaches of the Florida panhandle and the Bahamas, Michael Harrell is almost always close to the water. Observing from shore, sailing on the bay or deep in the marshes at low tide with a third generation oysterman, Harrell moves quietly among the timeless moods of coastal living, recording real people in real environments with a depth of perception well beyond his years.

Michael Harrell, a native Floridian, is a master photorealist painter with work reminiscent of American realists such as Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer. He is well known for his remarkable ability to capture the luminous effects of light. It is with an acute eye and dynamic sense of proportion that Michael senses his surroundings.

His oils and watercolors have won numerous awards and can be found in corporate and private collections around the country, including MasterCard and American Express. His work is also displayed in the State of Florida Governor's Office as well as the Secretary of State's Office.