Gentle Wave, Framed 24″ x 36″
We are moved by the beautiful oil paintings of Karen Murphy. Her coastal inspired landscapes have the ability to connect us with those things that are important: nature, calm, serenity, and through those, ourselves. Surrounding yourself with things you love is a hallmark of every modern cottage.
Dawn at the Marsh; Framed 24″ x 48″
Summer Song: Framed 24″ x 48″
Summer Sunset, Framed 24″ x 36″
Magnificence, Framed 30″ x 40″
Snowy Egret, Framed 24″ x 48″
Karen’s paintings showcase the vast power of nature, while at the same time accentuating its beauty and gentleness. Powerful waves crash the shore, but do so with the grace of gentle curves and wisps of foam and spray. Landscapes of tidal marshes indicate how nature has created its form throughout the years, but with a care and gentleness only mother nature could provide. Karen uses this dichotomy, the simultaneous power and gentleness of nature, to represent the balance of life. It is with this balance in our lives that we can find peace and serenity.
ABOUT Karen Murphy
I try to find quiet spots that give me a feeling of calm and peace – a salt marsh or a secluded beach. Those are the subjects that connect me to the landscape and drive me to create a painting. I am most inspired by American tonalist painters of the 19th century, and it’s evident in much of my work. My paintings have muted colors and soft contours that evoke a quiet contemplative mood. My goal is to awaken feelings of nostalgia, and to harmonize nature and man.
My approach to oil painting reflects a combination of formal art instruction, study of art history, and the years of experience gained behind the easel making my own discoveries. My working process is a simple one. I start on location, either sketching or painting small studies. Then, back in the studio, I use the visual information I collected, along with my feelings and memories, to create a painted transcription of my response to nature. The result is not a detailed rendering of the location, but a more generalized scene that allows for a greater scope of the imagination.
All Photos Courtesy of Karen Murphy
