These paintings are a sample of the focus of my work over the last several years. The landscape of America's northeast offers an abundance of subject matter. Along with the continually changing conditions of seasons, weather and light, I'm never at a loss for inspiration and challenges. Unlike the scale of my larger murals, these paintings reflect a more intimate interpretation of the views I've chosen.

Sea Cliff artist, Mark Fay has been a teaching artist for more than 50 years. After earning his BFA in Art Education from Pratt Institute in 1972 and his Masters in painting from C.W. Post in 1980, he taught art throughout the Port Washington school district from 1973 to 1985 and the Manhasset school district from 1985 till his retirement in 2014. Since 1999 he continues as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University in both the Education and Art Education Departments.

Throughout his long teaching career, Mark has actively pursued his passion for painting. Proficient in all drawing and painting media, he constantly returns to the landscape as the inexhaustible source of inspiration for his work. Whether as small plein air studies, studio works or large scale murals, the changing light, shadows and colors provide recuring themes. His deep love for the medium of pastel, combining the best elements of drawing and painting offers a versatility not found in other media. Since 2013 Mark has been a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.

Beginning in 1990, Mark has completed numerous residential, commercial and public mural commissions ranging in scale from 27 to more than 1400 square feet. The mural in Sea Cliff Village Hall was donated by Mark to the village in 1993 as was the restoration completed in 2019. Mark's exhibitions and awards have included the New York State Senate office building in Washington D.C., the Heckscher Museum, IBM Corporation, Long Island Art Teachers Association, the Port Washington and Sea Cliff Public Libraries and the Manhasset Art Teachers exhibition. His work and commissions are part of numerous private collections.

Many artists have influenced his work, but none was more important than his grandfather, the noted Norwegian muralist and master pastelist, Charles Gulbrandsen. He was a gifted painter who, through his own work, taught so many to see and be moved by the beauty that surrounds us.