Roy Murray
Painter of the Hills

At the advanced age of five years, I was vacationing with my parents at the old Tarpon Inn in Port Aransas, Texas, where an older, very kind, gentleman in overalls was on hands and knees painting the floor on the porch. The view from behind of him on his knees somehow struck my young mind as worthy of drawing, so I took the pencil from the desk drawer in the room and a piece of their letterhead and did my first drawing. On showing it to him, he paid me a nickel for it and, unknowlingly, determined my life's pathway. I was hooked!

As life usually does, it arranged for me to have many deviations from this pathway, including careers as attorney and real estate broker. However, circumstances and an understanding wife have allowed me to resume my preferred direction and find again my pathway.

Inspired by a love of nature acquired on a family ranch near Johnson City, Texas, much of my work has been detailed wildlife studies done in my studio. However, after years of painting feathers and fur, I realized I liked painting outdoors and the sensual pleasure of pushing paint around, so my path has, for years, assumed the straight and narrow direction of plein air oil painting.

I have studied watercolor under long-time friend and mentor, Clay McGaughy, and plein air painting under the masterful tutelages of George Strickland, Bob Rohm, and John Budicin.

My wife, Cynthia, and I split our time between our houses in San Antonio, Texas, and the beautiful Hill Country town of Leakey, Texas.


JURIED SHOWS

Southwest Watercolor Society Annual Show, Houston, Texas (honorable Mention)

Laguna Gloria Art Museum Fiesta Art Show, Austin, Texas

Rockport Art Society 4th of July Show, Rockport, Texas

New Braunfels Art League, New Braunfels, Texas

San Antonio Art League, 75th Annual San Antonio Artists Exhibition

San Antonio Art League, 76th Annual San Antonio  Artists Exhibition,Contributors Prize

 Plein Air Texas, 2006, Dallas, Texas. Gallery: Victorian Gallery  

Plein Air Texas, 2007, Dallas, Texas. Gallery:  Southwest Art Gallery

Arts for the Parks 2007 Mini 100 Winner.



PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Outdoor Painters Society

Coppini Academy of Fine Art, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio Art League, San Antonio, Texas

New Braunfels Art League, New Braunfels, Texas