Marc Hanson, 1955 | Moon Shadows

Having grown up in a military family, Marc’s youth was spent on the move.

He was born in Oxnard, California and spent some of his early school years there. But his geographical resume soon included Alaska, Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Norway.

After his father’s retirement from the Air Force, Marc’s family settled in the small northern California community of Loomis. Marc began college as a biology major, but soon applied to and was accepted into Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, majoring in illustration.

After Art Center and a brief stint as a staff illustrator in Sacramento, California, Marc moved to Minnesota where he lived for 33 years while raising a family and pursuing his art. Marc relocated to Colorado in the Fall of 2012.

“ I have pursued a career as a painter for many years now. Along the way my methods, materials and focus have evolved. A naturalist at heart, the landscape is the perfect vehicle for expressing the joy I have for the world that surrounds me. My real interest and challenge as a painter is how to best manipulate the core principles of painting into effective visual statements. I’m most successful when I’m able to communicate that joy to the viewers of my paintings".
Marc teaches landscape painting workshops in many locations nationally. "I love working with other painters in their pursuit to better their craft. My goal is not to have them assimilate my style and technique, but to teach them how to more closely exam- ine the subject and apply the principles that representational painters must follow to become effective visual communicators".
He has shown his work in galleries and museums nationally and internationally since the early 1980’s. He is a Signature Member of The Oil Painters of America (O.P.A.), Among his many awards, he’s placed four times in The Pastel Journal’s ‘Pastel 100’ competition, has won an Award of Excellence at the O.P.A. National Exhibit in 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. His work was selected as a Finalist in the International Artist’s Magazine’s Art Prize Challenge.
In 2011 Marc’s painting ‘Right or Left’ was awarded Bronze Medal for Painting at the OPA National Exhibition in Coeur d’Alene, ID.

Awards:

• Door County Plein Air Festival ~ Featured Artist of the Year 2011;
• Door County Plein Air Festival ~ Artist's Choice 2nd place, Juror's Award for best portfolio 2nd place ~ 2010;
• Canvoo Bold Brush Competition, 2nd Place 2009, 2010 Finalist Oils, Finalist Pastel;
• John Marion Pardy Landscape Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of Americas 19th Annual National Juried Exhibition~Legacy Gallery~Scottsdale, AZ 2010;
• Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of Americas 18th Annual National Juried Exhibition~Sage Creek Gallery~ Santa Fe, NM 2009;
• Presidents Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America National Exhibition ~ Whistle Pik Gallery ~ Fredericksburg, Texas 2007;
• Phipps Center for the Arts ~ 2006 Members Exhibition ~ Award of Distinction;
• International Artist ~ 2006 Landscape Challenge ~ Finalist;
• Pastel Journal ~ 2004 PASTELS 100 ~ Honorable Mention Award, Landscape;
• Pastel Journal ~ 2003 PASTELS 100 ~ Fifth Place Landscape ~ Two Honorable;
• Mention Awards, Landscape;
• Pastel Journal ~ 2002 PASTELS 100 ~ Second Place Landscape;
• Awarded Signature Status, Oil Painters of America ( O.P.A.) 2001;
• Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America National Exhibit ~ Gallery Ameri-
• cana ~ Carmel, California 2000;
• Par Excellence Award, EAA Aviation Art Exhibit ~ Oshkosh, Wisconsin 1999.