9.4.18 Brian Murphy – at Montreat | Asheville Plein Air Painters

Brian Murphy believes in the basics.

Sandy Moore’s comment “Thanks for sharing your unique way of painting with us. The simplicity of your set up is amazing.”

He feels that you don’t have to have the fanciest equipment to produce great paintings … and he proves it! A cigar-box easel, gator board backing for his canvas, inexpensive brushes and a very minimum pallet! He also knows how to pick his scenes! A great paint-out at Montreat, North Carolina.

Brian Murphy • Oils

Brian Murphy received formal training in Fine Art and Illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design. While there he gained experience in oil painting and found direction for his impressionistic landscapes . After graduating, in 1995, painting outdoors became his true passion. Murphy’s oil paintings are done on location, working from direct observation, in true plein air fashion. He has lived and painted in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where Murphy is represented my Mango Tango Art Gallery. In addition to his annual exhibits at Mango Tango, Murphy has shown work in Anguilla, BVI and in 2002 took 3rd place, in the oil painting category, at the 14th annual Caribbean Color Exhibit. In 2004 he took a workshop with past president of The Plein Air Painters of America, George Strickland. After moving to the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC in 2014, Brian continues his love for plein air painting.

“Ever since a young child I have always had an interest in art. I remember looking at the works of artists like Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer and Norman Rockwell and being fascinated by their beauty. Growing up I was always drawing. In high school I took after school art classes, where I was introduced to different mediums like pastel, water colors and oils. While taking art history classes at Savannah College of Art and Design I fell in love with the impressionist art movement and plein air painting.
Painting outdoors has many challenges but can be very rewarding. When choosing a scene I look for beauty in the ordinary. I focus on finding a good composition and interesting light and the shadows on objects, rather than the objects themselves.”

See more of Brian Murphy’s work at:
Recent works can be seen online at flickr.com/photos/murphy_finearttravelingartista.com