| | Featured Artist: Conor MurphyAugust 09th, 2011 11:37 AM  Conor was born in Cork Ireland in 1955 but immigrated to the U S in 1986 with his wife Betty and son Graham. Growing up in Ireland with the rich texture of its people and landscape, Conor did not have to travel far to experience the rugged and wild landscape that he paints. His use of the palette knife and the impasto work also reflects the rich texture of the Irish landscape. Conor studied for a short while at the school of Art in Cork City.
What does being an artist mean to you? One can express ones feelings better with a palette knife or brush than anything else. How did you get into art? I loved it all my life, far back as I can remember. What is the hardest thing about making a living as an artist? Everything, very few make it to the top, competition is the biggest one especially now with the internet. What advice would you give to new artists trying to break into the art world? Get on a good site where a lot of people visit, mark your price right and have a good product. Were there any major changes in your life that impacted the direction of your work? I think moving to the US in 86 helped me to appreciate the country I left behind. I go back every year to recharge my imagination. Can you tell us a bit about the development of your work? I use the palette knife more now than ever, it gives that texture that a brush cannot. I think I will still paint the Irish land and Seascape as this gives the greatest pleasure and that is what it is all about. What are your future career goals as an artist? To paint the best paintings an artist can do and to have fun doing it. What different media have you worked with and which one do you prefer? I have worked with them all, but I prefer oil as this is the most forgiving. What message would you like to convey with your art? That nature is all around us, stop and look. What or who inspires your art? The land and sea of Ireland. What do you want your work to communicate to the viewers? I want the viewer to say, WoW, I would love to go there and see that. What can you say about your work that might not be evident to a viewer? That besides a lot of oil paint going into one of my paintings, passion is the second one. What is your personal definition of art? Your soul being spread on canvas. How has your life as an artist affected your life? I think I am a better person because of art;I am a better observer to nature, spends more time looking at things, meeting other artist and creating something out of nothing except the view in your mind or what is in front of you.
"Flush of Colour" by Conor Murphy
Article Source: Art Online |
