Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Murphy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I got started as a child, I discovered drawing at a very young age. My dad was an artist and I think watching him sparked my passion. I was very horse obsessed back then and our horses were my first models. I started oil painting around the age of thirteen and was immediately hooked. I loved being outdoors and especially painting outside and the landscape took over horses as my muse.
Although painting was one of my biggest passions in life, I didn’t think it was a viable career path. I ended up working in the corporate world and only painting part-time. I painted whenever I had time, but it was never enough. I used to say that my day job enabled me to have the best supplies and studio space, but also kept me away from them.
I lived like that for decades until I met my husband. He is a fiction writer and understood the strife of trying to balance a career and your true passion in life. Shortly after we were married, Tom suggested that maybe I should try painting full-time. After much giving it a lot of thought, I decided to go for it. It was something I had always dreamed of, although I never thought it would be possible. I figured I’d rather try it and fail, than not try it at all.
In April of 2015 I gave notice at my day job and started oil painting full-time. Starting a new career in my forties was the most difficult thing I have ever done. It is also the best thing I have ever done, I have no regrets.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
While I was working another career, it was a struggle to find the time and energy to paint. I don’t think I was ever able to find a balance. Thankfully I enjoyed painting outside (plein air) so I was able to combine painting with my hiking and recreational time. I was as active as I could be in a local art guild, I worked on commission paintings when I could, and I made time to take classes and workshops. There was never enough time, but I made it work the best I could.
Making the transition to painting full-time was also very difficult. I never needed to sell my work for income and I had limited experience working with galleries and doing shows. I also underestimated the business skills that would be required, or the amount of time I would need to spend on administrative tasks. There were some very steep learning curves to overcome the first couple of years.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am primarily a landscape painter, working in oils. I have always had a very strong connection to nature and I want that to come across in my work. My intent is to capture the feeling and mood of a place and not to create an exact rendering of a location. Most of my paintings are created in my studio from my imagination and sketches, although there are occasional exceptions. I favor painting the transitional times of day, because I feel they are the most peaceful. But I am also influenced by the calm before an approaching storm, strong sunlight with long dark shadows, or foggy days with veiled details. My paintings have muted colors, soft contours and an overall tone that evokes a quiet, contemplative feeling. I want the viewer to walk through the scene as they would in nature, always discovering something new.
I frequent the beaches and salt marshes where inspiration is all around. I feel very content in those places and enjoy exploring them further with my creative journey. It is the best feeling in the world when viewers of my work feel the same connection I have. That’s what makes me feel like I am doing something meaningful with my life.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts, and I think I said earlier that I was horse obsessed. I was also art obsessed. I loved the beach, and especially riding my horse on the beach. I spent a lot of time on Cape Cod, and also camping and hiking in New Hampshire. I was also pretty interested in science and thought I would become a veterinarian throughout my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.karenmurphyfineart.com
- Email: karen@karenmurphyfineart.com
- Instagram: @karenamurphy
- Facebook: /karenmurphyfineart
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