Troy McFarland is a fine artist based in Encinitas, California, where the dramatic landscapes and shimmering coastlines of his home state have shaped his lifelong creative vision. From a young age, Troy showed a natural talent for painting—winning art competitions in elementary school and even having his work used as a benchmark by teachers for the rest of the class. While high school was dominated by competitive sports, his early love for art never fully faded.
After bouncing between majors at the University of Arizona and Cal State San Marcos, Troy realized he was investing more in tuition than in his actual future. With his student loan balance nearing the national debt, he made a bold (and financially strategic) pivot: he enrolled at the Laguna College of Art and Design. There, while studying entertainment illustration, he reconnected with his true calling—fine art—and finally found an academic environment where his passion could thrive.
Since then, Troy has built a versatile career as a freelance illustrator for a range of industries, all while steadily developing a fine art portfolio focused on landscapes and seascapes. His paintings aim to capture not just what a place looks like, but how it feels—evoking the moods, memories, and natural beauty that make each scene uniquely Californian.
Long before digital art became as simple as the click of a button, Troy was deeply immersed in the world of digital art. He dedicated countless hours to creating stunning seascapes on his drawing tablet.
Troy's oil paintings are an invitation to pause and reflect. Inspired by the quiet power of the natural world, Troy captures landscapes that evoke a deep sense of peace and timeless beauty. Whether it's the sweeping lines of distant hills or the delicate play of light across a field, each scene is an attempt to translate the serenity he finds in nature onto his canvas. His goal is to create work that not only reflects the world around us but also invites the viewer to slow down and experience it in a deeper, more personal way.
Troy McFarland specializes in custom landscape and seascape paintings that turn meaningful memories into lasting works of art. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to reflect the beauty, mood, and personal significance of a place, making it ideal for home décor or heartfelt gifts.
He also offers “Sip and Paint” events and private painting parties. Guests enjoy a fun, guided painting experience while sipping wine and creating their own masterpiece in a relaxed, social setting.
For those drawn to the beauty and movement of the sea, “Water Waves and Skies” offers a focused exploration of seascape painting, with special attention to capturing the dynamic interplay of water, waves, and skies. This course moves beyond surface-level techniques, encouraging students to think critically and creatively about how to portray atmosphere, depth, and light through a conceptual lens. By learning to harness composition and color theory in flexible, individualized ways, you’ll gain the tools to paint seascapes that feel alive, expressive, and true to your artistic vision.
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