Paul Murray Works
If you’ve seen my work, you will know that light, more importantly, the color & quality of light is an important part of the paintings I do. To help understand this fascination, let me explain some things about light. Light is the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is, except for it’s wavelength, identical to x-rays & radio waves. Light begins with infrared & ends with ultraviolet. To understand the primacy of light, we need only go back to the first chapters of Genesis. After the heavens & earth, the next thing created was light. Akhnaton, an Egyptian pharoah, who ruled 13 centuries before Christ, was the first to create a religion based on light. He chose the sun as its symbol. Perhaps it is on our self-esteem that light should have its greatest impact. Consider this: In hydrogen furnaces scattered throughout the universe - what we call the sun & stars - wonderful things happen. These sources of light have created a stunning legacy. In the explosive aftermath of a star’s death, elements are released, carbon, oxygen - all the things that we are. This star residue formed earth. Coalescing & combining it evolved into oceans & continents, plants & animals, you & me. It is no wonder that we are so enchanted with light. We are its offspring. Our distant relatives are the stars.
HONORS
Artist in Residence, Grand Canyon National Park, 2010
Elected Master Pastelist, 2009, Pastel Society of America
Landscape Juror, Pastel Journal Top 100 Competition, 2009/10
Outstanding Achievement Award, Masterworks of NM, 2008
Museum of Albuquerque Miniatures Invitational Exhibition, 2009, 08, 07
University of New Mexico Homecoming Poster Artist, 2006
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, “Selections from the Pastel Society of America Exhibition” 2009, 06
Judge, NM State Fair Fine Arts, 2006
Poster Artist, Weems Artfest, 2005
Judge for Miniatures, Masterworks of New Mexico, 2005
Juror for the Rio Grande Artists Association Annual Exhibit, 2005
Poster Artist, New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair, 2004
Signature Memberships: Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of New Mexico, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico
COLLECTIONS
US State Department, Permanent collection
Sun Health Care, Corporate collection
NM State Fair Fine Arts Gallery, Permanent collection
City of Albuquerque, Public Art collection
Endura Associates, Corporate collection
Miller, Stratvert, Torgerson, PA
University of New Mexico
RECENT NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Pastel Journal Top 100: Honorable Mention, Landscape 2009, 2008, First Place, Landscape, 2007; Best of Show, Third Place, Landscape, Honorable Mention, Landscape, 2006. Honorable Mention, Landscape, 2006, 2004, Three honorable mentions, 2002.
Miniature Arts Society of Florida, International Show, Second Place, Acrylic, 2007; Third Place Landscape, 2005; Second Place, Exterior/Architectural, 2004.
Pastel Society of America International Exhibit; Professional Artists of America Award, 2006, Ridgeway Art Institute Award, 1999.
Artists Magazine Annual Competition Finalist, 2009, 05,03, Honorable Mention & Published Image, 2003.
Arts for the Parks, Mini 100 & Top 200, 2006; Mini 100, 2005; Mini 100, Top 200, 2004; Top 100, Top 200, Mini 100, 2002.
International Association of Pastel Societies, Grand Prix ‘d Pastel, Best of Show, 2001.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Artist Magazine, The Music of Light, October 2007
Pastel Journal, Article on Skies, Afterword Column on final page, Oct 2005
American Artist Magazine, six page article, January 2003
International Artist Magazine, 10 page article, January 2002
HONORS
Artist in Residence, Grand Canyon National Park, 2010
Elected Master Pastelist, 2009, Pastel Society of America
Landscape Juror, Pastel Journal Top 100 Competition, 2009/10
Outstanding Achievement Award, Masterworks of NM, 2008
Museum of Albuquerque Miniatures Invitational Exhibition, 2009, 08, 07
University of New Mexico Homecoming Poster Artist, 2006
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, “Selections from the Pastel Society of America Exhibition” 2009, 06
Judge, NM State Fair Fine Arts, 2006
Poster Artist, Weems Artfest, 2005
Judge for Miniatures, Masterworks of New Mexico, 2005
Juror for the Rio Grande Artists Association Annual Exhibit, 2005
Poster Artist, New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair, 2004
Signature Memberships: Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of New Mexico, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico
COLLECTIONS
US State Department, Permanent collection
Sun Health Care, Corporate collection
NM State Fair Fine Arts Gallery, Permanent collection
City of Albuquerque, Public Art collection
Endura Associates, Corporate collection
Miller, Stratvert, Torgerson, PA
University of New Mexico
RECENT NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Pastel Journal Top 100: Honorable Mention, Landscape 2009, 2008, First Place, Landscape, 2007; Best of Show, Third Place, Landscape, Honorable Mention, Landscape, 2006. Honorable Mention, Landscape, 2006, 2004, Three honorable mentions, 2002.
Miniature Arts Society of Florida, International Show, Second Place, Acrylic, 2007; Third Place Landscape, 2005; Second Place, Exterior/Architectural, 2004.
Pastel Society of America International Exhibit; Professional Artists of America Award, 2006, Ridgeway Art Institute Award, 1999.
Artists Magazine Annual Competition Finalist, 2009, 05,03, Honorable Mention & Published Image, 2003.
Arts for the Parks, Mini 100 & Top 200, 2006; Mini 100, 2005; Mini 100, Top 200, 2004; Top 100, Top 200, Mini 100, 2002.
International Association of Pastel Societies, Grand Prix ‘d Pastel, Best of Show, 2001.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Artist Magazine, The Music of Light, October 2007
Pastel Journal, Article on Skies, Afterword Column on final page, Oct 2005
American Artist Magazine, six page article, January 2003
International Artist Magazine, 10 page article, January 2002