Charles Murphy grew up in southern Minnesota and remembers always wanting to be a painter. His grandfather, who was fluent with a pencil, served as his earliest inspiration.
Graduating from Minnesota State University with his BFA in Studio Art, he set off for Cape Cod to immerse himself in a community of artisits. After his first taste of apinting and exhibiting on the East Coast, he settled in the Grand Traverse Bay area of northern Michigan where he again found himself in a large community of artists. For several years, Murphy exhibited in art fairs around the state, garnering award and a large audience of collectors. With additional assistance from galleries and dealers who represented him, his work found its way into many large corporate collections such as Kraft, General Motors, Prudential, Mead Corporation, International Harvestor, Us Gypsum and Joh Hancock.
While his career as a painter took form he supplemented his income through another of his interests, woodworking. Murphy spent a number of years designing furniture and cabinet making for shops in the Grand Traverse region. Seeking greater fulfillment from his painting, he set the woodworking aside and began teaching painting classes and workships at regional art centers. Expanding on this experience he has undertaken more travel for his own painting as well as the opportunity to teach in a variety of environments. These pursuits have taken him around the US , France, Spain, Italy, Nova Scotia, Hawaii and the Caribbean.
A couple of excursions into illustration have resulted in two books. The first book, the award-winning "Reach for the Moon" was a collaboration with a young learning disabled writer. The second bood, a children's book titled "Smokey the Raccoon", published by PF Publishing. In 2002 Charles was flatter to have his work selected for publication in Artists' Magazine's 2002 limited edition calendar. The calendar features 13 artists juried from a field of 13,000.
Charles Murphy curently teaches painting programs at the Grand Traverse Art Center in Traverse City, Michigan. His works are in the 143rd Annual International Traveling Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society.
June 11-13, 2010-Reception and Exhibit
Meet the artists and view a mixed media presentation of a lifetime collection of original artwork in oils and watercolor. Join us for the opening reception on Friday, June 11 from 5 to 8 pm. The exhibit continues Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 12 to 4 pm.
June 24 & August 9-Intensive All Day Workshops
This workshop is designed to engage the student watercolorist in a wide variety of watercolor applications. Woven into these exercises will be sound principles of “picture making” including formats, value pattern schemes and organized color palette use. Class size limited, registration required. 10 am – 4 pm. $25
July 12-Lecture and Demonstration
Charles will give a presentation on the history and development of the watercolor medium. The paint and its behavioral properties will be clearly laid out. Paired with this discussion will be active demonstrations to illustrate the examples. 1 – 4 pm. $10
