Michael J. Harrell was born in Tallahassee, Florida. He earned a B.F.A. from the University of Georgia with a degree in graphic design. Michael then went on to complete hundreds of watercolor illustrations for corporate clients before pursuing fine art full-time in the early nineties. Michael is a self-taught painter and his work has been the subject of articles in "American Artist", Watercolor Magazine", "Artist Sketchbook" and "The Artist's Magazine".