About Sandy Farley

Artists' brains are like Magic 8 Balls: you never know what will float to the top!

Primarily self-taught, I've been an artist in one form or another all my life. Although a profligate doodler from my first grasp on a crayon, I began painting in oils at age 11, and was a salaried and freelance professional graphic designer, writer and editor for several decades. My paintings are in collections worldwide, and my commissioned works are permanently displayed in public federal government buildings. Although I still work with midsized canvases, small format artwork is an area new to me, and quite fun to work with. I paint and draw in several mediums to help support my family and because art -- simply put -- is fun, and very, very good for the soul.

I was asked by a writer recently about my creative process. At the risk of sounding a bit nutty, I explained that there’s a parade of images constantly moving across my mind’s eye.   Occasionally, one floats to the surface and demands to be expressed on paper or canvas.  Then the fun begins. 

Many of my drawings and paintings feature critters of all sorts. Animals have very rich social and emotional lives.  Their capacity for empathy, their delight in play: these are the very things that we first seek out in them when we wish to bond with or understand them.  I often take my artwork to middle ground between animal and human — a place where characteristics of both are blended, and perhaps a bit of humor is added to sweeten the mix.  My human and animal portraits share these traits.

My heartfelt thanks to you for spending a moment of your busy day with me. If my artwork speaks to you, I hope you'll consider bringing one or more pieces into your home, or sharing them as gifts with someone you love.

Current Work