Recent developments in John Murphy’s life have allowed him the time to devote to his long time passion, painting. His newest works represent the places, scenes and emotions of trips in Europe, living and working in Costa Rica, and enjoying the scenes of his home base Cape Cod. Though primarily self-taught, John attributes his ability to working with and learning from some of America’s most talented artists.

John attended the Butera School of Art in Boston where he connected with Professor, and later personal mentor and friend, Robert Hunter. Bob has helped to shape a lot of John’s vision and direction in painting. The two often still paint and show together.

In 1969 John opened The Land Ho restaurant in Orleans. Realizing that a restaurant was probably going to pay the bills for the time being, John’s paintings were few and far between during this period. His restaurant was to become his artistic creation and has been the source for many of his paintings.

John connected with former Hunter student and world recognized master, Neil Drevitson in 1984. Neil and John began painting together during Neil’s frequent trips to the Cape. Neil helped to revitalize and critique John’s work and was instrumental in his current development and renewed passion for painting.

John has been fortunate to have had a supportive family and talented peers enabling him to focus more and more on his painting. His studios on Cape Cod and in Costa Rica have seen quite a lot of activity over the past few years as John has been showing at the VRG Gallery in Paris and at AddisonArtGallery. He also found the time to paint the honorary Town of Orleans Pops in the Park Festival painting for 2005, an honor he has been chosen for twice over the years.