About The Artist
"Something For Your Soul is my reflection of my culture and an expression of my faith."
~James E. Murphy Jr.
For me, wanting to be an Artist was easy, but becoming an Artist was not. I recall it was the week before I was to graduate from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Visual Communications, that my father presented me with a list of alternative Career choices ranging from our local Police and Fire Departments, to even our hometown baseball team; the Baltimore Orioles! My dad did not understand that I did not choose my Art, my Art chose me. I knew this with certainty ever since my 4th year of grade school during which time my excitement for Art increased as on art class days, I was always 1st in line for Art period and the last one in line to leave afterward. Art's call on me was unmistakable.
Academically speaking, I was prepared for my studies at MICA during my high school years at The Baltimore School For The Arts, where I was exposed to a well rounded art foundation. After college, I began my art career as a freelance illustrator by completing illustrations and designs for various clients including Physical Therapy Today and Umoja Children greeting cards. A few years later I had an opportunity to work with a well established Artist, an experience that redirected my artistic path. So in addition to freelance illustrations and design, I began to focus more on my fine art portfolio of drawings and paintings. As a freelance Artist, I loved that my clients trusted me with the responsibility of bringing their visions and concepts to life, but I found that there was such an indescribable freedom of expression for me as I began to develop a body of personalized artwork. Art through which I could express my own values, my culture and my faith. Art through which I could minister, motivate, and encourage. Today my art has been featured in numerous art exhibitions and displayed at an array of local and national art shows and festivals.
I summarize my artwork by simply stating: I am a husband, a father, a man of faith, as well as a man of color; it is these various aspects that I seek to explore and express through my Art.