Galleries

Each one unique with hand coloring & drawing, must be sold framed. "Remember when your mind was so free, you would find the simplest things to entertain yourself? Remember when the biggest decision you had to make was do you want ice-cream with that? ... yes! ...no! ... well, maybe!!"

Each one unique with hand coloring & drawing, must be sold framed. "Remember when your mind was so free, you would find the simplest things to entertain yourself? Remember when the biggest decision you had to make was do you want ice-cream with that? ... yes! ...no! ... well, maybe!!"

All Growd Up

Aunt Emily had never been more than 6 miles from home. The same as her mother and mother's mother; imagine the pure history we are talking about when we visit her. The roughness of the mountains and briar kept many from going too far; even still today, Paul passes greeting on to siblings or family, for folks as he visits the area. When you can make almost everything you need, there’s not much need to travel! Paul Murray has been researching the last of the pioneers’ lifestyles in the isolated hollows of the Appalachian Mountains for more than 40 years, and he has helped raise over $1.6 million for charitable causes in the Appalachians and elsewhere. Like the movie “Song Catcher,” Paul Murray is the Soul Catcher of this pioneer spirit.

"A place where beauty abounds, where innocence and wisdom are mixed like good cornmeal. A place where a window to the past still exists. L'il Fannie was born from a long line of mountain people. She shares the shyness and fierce pride of her forefathers. In a few isolated hills and hollows of east Tennessee, the window is still open."

Her big beautiful eyes bring you into her world. Paul’s intimate and powerful talent brings you so close to her, you could almost know what she is thinking and what she is doing or what is in her world. She lives in coal mining country deep in the woods of the Appalachian Mountains; the only girl in a long row of boys. She will break the tradition of five generations of coal miners. She’ll not be going down below with that deadly black dust.

Delta Rose

"Grandpa's old hound dog, Blue, passed on this year and his new Christmas puppy has disappeared - vanished... hmmmmm! Hidden and cuddled in her arms... "I won't give him up", she says, "he's mine.. I'm keepin' him forever & ever."

Original Canvas Giclée: Each one is unique with extra one of a kind original painting done by the artist, must be sold framed. Due to this original work, allow extra time for delivery. All of these images are sold framed due to the original painting. These are the few remaining images of Paul's special friendship with a centuries old pioneer family. Paul was one of a few invited into the inner sanctum of Joey's rustic life; spent together with siblings. There was a wisdom and yet an innocence, a cherished bond between them, their animals and God. Their every day a happy one; no matter what trials came their way. Enjoy this painting that took many years to come to fruition. The washes shown at the bottom are what starts the painting, the pencil sketch of the hands and the slow build up of layers. The layers or "glazing" of many different colors show the painstaking effort to create each color. There is much suffering by Paul to capture the soul and essence of Joey. Look up close to the overalls unfinished at the bottom. There is red, brown and purple stripes under the final blue we see. From reading books as a child, these techniques were all learned by Paul Murray, from the 16th century masters...Enjoy this painting in your home....it'll feel like your hiding an artist in the backroom and he's working on it just for you. Paul Murray

Paul felt a great peace in her heart and a pure wonder of the world and simple things. Zoé stole his heart away and so it began, a whole series of just things she happened to do. Paul's strength is in capturing the moment and the intense peaceful soul of a child.

A child’s prayer: " God pray for Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa and I hope the whole world is happy and safe." Does she have a greater connection to God? Some think so. If she knew a friend that wasn’t well, she would pray, "Please make her better so she can play with me." Life seems so simple at this age, is it? Could prayer, and each of us looking out for each other, bring happiness, wellness..... Do the children of our world have the idea if each of us prayed, or helped each other a little more, just maybe we could make the connection and make a difference in the life of someone who really needs it.

sold framed "Such innocence, Zoé had never heard a frog before. She is intensely looking for where that arrrrubit' sound came from. Did she go catching frogs after with her Aunt? Or did she just keep playing dress up and lookin' pretty?"