Horses
Dog/Cat
Landscapes
Wooden Boats
Ranch Life
Carol Murphy
Carol studied art at the University of Idaho where she graduated in 1982 with a B.S. in Clothing, Textile Design and Art. She then interned at W.S.U.’s Museum of Art . Her work was accepted and exhibited in the Undergraduate show at W.S.U. She has now been exhibited in many juried shows and won an Honorary Mention at the Ocean Shores Show in 2004.
Carol’s love of animals is expressed in her art. She paints the modern day horse show world focusing on behind the scene shots. She paints the wooden boats of the Washington Coast and landscapes of Eastern Washington.
Carol also does commissions. Her work has been sold to collectors in many different countries including Korea, Germany, England, Canada and Japan.
Special Notes
The history of Carol Murphy's family is rich in art, ranch and education. Her great grand father drove cattle up the 101 from Salinas. Her great Grandmother rode the stage from the Oregon territory (Allen, WA) to where the train line started to get her education degree in San Jose in the 1890's. The Arts were a priority to her and she educated all her children in both art and music.
Born in Saratoga, California, she was a typical horse crazy youngster. Carol grew up on the back of a pony riding in the orchards of the Santa Cruz Mountains. She also showed signs of becoming an artist. She was encouraged to paint by her family, teachers and classmates. "I attribute a lot of my painting to having lived in areas where we had no T.V. reception, so I entertained myself painting. It helped that my Grandmother and Mom painted as well, so it was modeled for me at an early age." At age ten her family moved to Colville, WA where she grew up on a working cattle ranch.
"I was blessed to grow up with the horses and painting. In my teen years I spent about eight hours a day in the saddle during the summers. I trained horses through college. Like many artists I love all breeds but I bred and raised Arabians."
Indeed her business logo sports her mare Firenza.
Carol studied watercolor off and on for the last twenty years with Stan Miller. Carol's studio is located on the edge of the Ranch that she grew up on and she is surrounded by wild life that is drawn to the creek that runs below her house. When not teaching or painting she helps out on the ranch.
