Ouellette Series & The Last of the Legend Series

"Joey waits thru the cold winter, pining for spring. He is anxious to check the winter wheat and to start his crops for the new year. He glows as he speaks of his farm, his crops, and his animals.. such pride. Joey, Zoe' and Daniel's happiness was simple; taking care of their own with their own hands, was their joy. They lived in peace and contentment, close to the earth and to God." -'

"I remember travl'n down that forgotten lane next to the old Belle River.. the scent of evergreens which lined the pathway that led up to his old log home... Inside, the smell of burning wood drifting throughout the cabin.. and in that familiar corner, Joseph sitting quietly next to the wood stove, mending harnesses and sewing patches on anything that needed repair. You always knew when March thaw was close by, those seed catalogues would appear, and if you'd ask 'when are you going to plant your fields?' his eyes would look out the window onto his land, and with a quarter smile, he'd softly reply 'Well, it's almost spring!' ~ Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 selling Range: $200.00 - $350.00

Baking Flour: “Very often I like to do a painting where the portrait alone represents not only the personality but the activity of the subject in their environment, even though the actual elements involved are not visible in the painting itself. Looking at Zoé with flour on her forehead, the tiny wisps of hairs from her chin, the white in her eyes and the natural glow of her features, all served as a tribute to her age and the weariness that accompanied those many years of her life.” 1884-1984: “A man’s supposed to live to be 100.” Joey Ouellette “I knew Joey was dying when I started the preliminary studies for this piece. He never said anything, but you could feel it somehow. I think that in the last few months before someone dies there is a difference about them which is reflected in this portrait. Joey never tried to make me feel uncomfortable, but I sensed then that he was waiting to die, and it was a strange sensation for me to experience. I wanted to focus on his eyes and face because, in them I felt what his mood was projecting….of the life he had lived and the death that would claim him.” Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Range: $1,600.00 - $2,200.00

"Joey was a very private person, quiet and shy with people, always polite and warm. His warmth is evident in the natural grace of his profile, which encourages a desire to know and understand him." Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $2,800.00 - $3,600.00

Available in Gallery Wrap - no frame needed or Framed - Designed by Paul Murray

“Joseph was a very private person; quiet and shy with people, always polite and warm. He never said a lot, but that wasn’t because he didn’t have a lot to say. He was well spoken, but never went looking for conversation. When he did speak, you knew he was telling you something important. This portrait illustrates that bashfulness and without the quality of his eyes meeting yours, there is a sense of mystery about what he is looking at and thinking about. His warmth is evident in the natural grace of his profile, which encourages a desire to know and understand him. Daniel was a mystery to everyone for decades. He was always there on the farm working the horse and living among his secrets, shrouded in mystery. He wore old engineer caps and rumpled blue denim overalls. I’d marvel at his hair and beard, long, wispy and white. His face was weathered by the elements and deepened by the weight of his years. Although they both died some years ago, I have not forgotten the many things about them that have enriched by life.”...........................Paul Murray

An exclusive edition an unfinished award winning oil that is nearly done. Chosen by thousands of people as one of the top painting amongst almost 2000. Paul Murray was able to let the viewer understand the process and work involved in the old world style way painting realism. Look to the far right of the picture; the rope on the horse is mostly only 30% done, with the rough dark lines and harsh highlights, only the underwashes showing. Yet look to the top of the horses collar and see the near finished rope. Look to the bottom of the horses collar; see the roughed in blue and white boxes in the material padding, square and bold, again these are just started with under- washes. Follow the padding up the side of the leather collar and see the padding become aged, worn and torn. Joey the old gentleman has a left hand that is this same undone stage, while his right hand is almost complete. See if you can pick out the details that show as unfinished. This technique was practiced by masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, even Andrew Wyeth. Paul Murray is remembering a story of a dream Joey told him about, "I was floating in the clouds" Paul has painted out the corn stalks, below Joey's waiste and half of the horse - Clyde's body. This negative space and the way it is presented gives it that floating quality. See more in the story below...

“The old soul had been a mystery to everyone for decades. He was always there on the farm, working his horse and living among his secrets, shrouded in mystery. He wore old engineer caps and rumpled blue denim overalls. I’d marvel at his hair and beard, long wispy and white, his face was weathered by the elements and deepened by the weight of his years. Although he died some years ago, I have never forgotten the many things about him that have enriched my life. So here it is , my first major work of Joseph Ouellette’s brother, entitled “Daniel” -Paul Murray Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Range: $4,800.00 - $5,200.00

"I remember how they would share the harness of the work mare using her reins to guide her slowly through the pasture toward the warmth of the barn beyond... and how they exuded a shyness that was end, when he did it was with a soft careful calmness that made the listener sense an importance in his every word. These are just a few of the many memories that are in my mind as I complete this glimpse of the past'"

Ask about our in store frame sales on this set

JOSEPH Joey was a very private person, quiet and shy with people, always polite and warm. He never said a lot, but that wasn’t because he didn’t have a lot to say. He was well spoken, but never went looking for conversation. When he did speak, you knew he was telling you something important. This portrait illustrates that bashfulness and without the quality of his eyes meeting yours, there is a sense of mystery about what he is looking at and thinking about. His warmth is evident in the natural grace of his profile, which encourages a desire to know and understand him. -PM-

The old soul had been a mystery to everyone for decades. He was always there on the farm working the hoe and living among his secrets, shrouded in mystery. He wore old engineer caps and rumpled blue denim overalls. I’d marvelled at his hair and beard, long wispy and white, his face was weathered by the elements and deepened by the weight of his years. Although he died some years ago, I have not forgotten many things about him that have enriched my life. So here it is, my first major work of Joseph Ouellette’s brother, entitled “Daniel”. - PAUL MURRAY- Daniel Ouellette is the younger brother of Joseph. He was the family’s horse trader and trainer. One of Paul's fondest memories is of him wearing his engineering cap and overalls; crawling under the legs of His horses showing off the relationship & trust between man and horse. Daniel past away when Paul was still in his early teens. Very few sketches of Daniel were ever done due to lack of time together and research material such as photographs or sketches.

Evergreen The air was redolent with the scent of evergreens that lined the path to Joey’s old log home. Joseph sitting next to the old wood stove, mending harnesses and sewing patches on anything that needed repair. He glows when he speaks of his farm, his crops and his animals....such pride - they lived in peace and contentment, close to the earth and to God." Murray would sometimes get caught at the homestead late at night. So as not to impose he would leave, and take a place up in the warm hay loft that would do for the evening. He saw Joey this night come with the last bucket of water for his horses. The moonlight on the snow gave a purple glow, the trees cold and still. This was a painting from memory, not a detailed watercolor, but a meaningful one. What a gift in this cold & silent moment! Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Range: $3,600.00 - $4,300.00