Artist/goldsmith Mark L. Farr was born in Spokane, Washington. A multi-media artist, Mark creates fine jewelry and is an accomplished potter and sculptor. His interest in art started at an early age. " I remember being about 10 years old digging in the clay-rich soil around our cabin and creating little creatures out of it, my great start at sculpting!" By high school he had become an accomplished potter. "I love to throw on the wheel. There is something about taking a piece of clay and shaping it into a beautiful work of art". That interest led to Mark taking a jewelry design class . As a senior he was awarded the "National Gold Key Award" in jewelry design. "I learned the fasinating art of 'lost wax' casting - carving rings out of wax to be cast."  An art major in college he continued to excel in art, but at that time decided to pursue his passion for jewelry design. As an apprentice  in Spokane he learned the trade of goldsmith /diamond setter. For the following  30 years, Mark practiced his trade of becoming a master-goldsmith. Presently Mark and his wife Mary Ellen own and operate "Finest Jewelry By Farr" doing custom design and repair. Their shop is located at Martin's Jewelers in Walla Walla, Wa. Mark manufactures a line of Christian jewelry for "Covenant Ring". " Covenant ring has been a wonderful business to be associated with,enabling me to glorify God through this wonderful gift He has given me."

Mark's experience as a potter,together with his ability to carve intricate waxes for jewelry, has enabled him to make the natural transition to larger bronze sculpting with excellent detail. Years spent at his favorite pastime of fishing and his love of the outdoors has given Mark his greatest inspiration. Mark accepts commissioned work and some of his work can be seen at the WSU alumni center and Walla Walla University's Teri Kuhlman Fitness Center.

I want my work to glorify God. Whenever I start on a piece I ask God to work through me, through my hands, for it is only through Him that I am able to do the things that I do. The wondrous beauty that He has created in this world is endless, be it in the landscape or in animals, fish, birds, insects, and human beings.  Just as wondrous to me (or maybe more) is the character and personality that each exhibit. In my sculpting I try to show that character and personality.

I feel blessed to have artistic ability and to be able to take the materials that God has created (gold, silver, bronze, gemstones, diamonds, clay and glaze) to create beautiful and pleasing pieces of art. Creating art is very theraputic to me. "Time truly becomes meaningless in the face of creativity" throughout the process of creating art.

Working in clay was my first love as I was beginning my journey as an artist, and has always been at the core of my being as an artist. I have come to embrace the journey,as it takes me through different phases and different media. At this time I feel the Lord pulling me toward my sculpting and pottery. I love to work in gold and silver to create fine jewelry and always will, yet am intrigued by the thought of being able to combine all three mediums as an artist, trying to always embrace the journey and to always Glorify God through the process.