Ouellette Series & The Last of the Legend Series

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

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

"Joseph lived with his nine brothers and sisters on the family homestead. They lived self sufficiently in their ramshackle log cabin, built by their father in the turn of the century." Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Range: $3,000.00 - $3,900.00

Zoe' would work in the small gardens on the farm with Betty, growing vegetables, herbs 'n such. She always kept an ice cold bucket of water in the shade. In this bucket was a well used dipper. I tried to capture the pure sparkling water, her well earned wrinkled hands and her always happy mood. But I ended up giving you a close up to her steady sweet demeaner."Publisher Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $500.00 - $850.00

"There were many days when I travelled to the farm at dawn to try to capture Joey in his world. I wanted the pieces to be simple & basic and the opportunity arrived on a drizzly, misty, winter morning in 1982. Joey was looking up at the clouds, so natural to the slow pace he kept. His hands showed strength not only from hard labour, but from the care he took in his work. The old workhorse, with burrs and braids in its mane, nudging Joey impatiently. They were a team, those two, both very slow & wise." PM Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $4,800.00 - $5,450.00

Looking back through the window of Joseph Ouellett's world and reflecting on the essence of the bond created there, Murray finds a certain comfort that his paintings allow others the same gifts of knowledge given him by "Joey" , in the preservation of their history and in the rich, untouched tradition that persisted through a century of change." PM Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $450.00 - $650.00

"As Joey worked, he noticed a kitten playing under the horse, he picked it up, put it inside his old denim jacket. He turned towards me and he had a strange look in his eyes - of secrets, of hidden things." PM Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $4,600.00 - $5,850.00

"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, and how they exuded an endearing shyness." PM “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 -“ . . . Sleigh Bells is a powerful part of The Last of the Legend Series a touching series that captures the few remaining images from Paul Murray’s boyhood friendship with this centuries old pioneering family. Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Range: $4,800.00 - $5,800.00

" I always did my sketches of Joey in the morning and I would see him many times coming and going from the barn with a pail or lantern in his hand, walking hunched over. This winter day though, it was getting dark and I saw Joey coming out of the barn through the snow flurries. The animals seemed frozen there, profiling him in the cold, huddled together. I used to sketch Joey like this all the time. It was a typical scene on the farm. The day after Christmas in 1984, I was painting this final piece and my brother John walked in and told me Joey had passed away. I went to the funeral. I didn't go back to the painting until the holiday season was over. I just picked it up and took it to the attic where it remains to this day. A few years ago, I released this study for The Final Piece, but the original stays where it is, incomplete. I have quite a memory of this painting. It is mystical and I can feel Christmas and the peace and solitude it brings. Every now and again I work with the original and see the straw as it lays over the barn, the touch of evergreen in the background, all the bits of wood under the snow. The day he died, this is how his world looked. I knew that world so well." PM ~ SOLD OUT Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $600.00 - $950.00

"She wore crooked spectacles. Her white hair jutted askew from beneath her muddled & illustriously knitted hat...layers of mismatched clothes...yet, it was her sweet, gentle manner that always brought me tranquillity. A simple day that left great memories of a wonderful world lived in the past...never to be seen again. I miss my friend Zoé." PM

"I wanted to sketch Joey waiting pleasantly for the warmth in the cold of winter. As I sketched, his sisters Betty and Zoé came in and sat next to him and they became a part of the portrait as well." PM ~ SOLD OUT Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: Range: $1,000.00 - $1,800.00

"While I was sketching Joey, he was chewing a bitter weed called wormwood, that was prescribed for him by a doctor after he nearly died as a child from drinking bad water." PM Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $4,200 - $4,900.00

"I loved her dirty glasses with their blue-grey film. Her looks were classic, because it was what she was , and it was real. It was exciting when people saw her portrait and wondered if she was Joey's sister."PM ~ ~ Publisher SOLD OUT. Some may be available from collectors. Call for availability! 1-800-567-3220 Selling Range: $2,400.00 - $2,900.00