Karla Murphy – Artist Statement
“ When I semi-retired in 2020, time finally loosened its grip, and I turned
toward a long-held artistic calling. I enrolled in a colored pencil class at the
Winthrop Public Library and felt the quiet thrill of discovery again, learning
new techniques, testing papers and pigments, and watching images slowly
emerge. Just as meaningful was the circle of artists around me, each with a
distinct voice, sharing, comparing, and kindly shaping one another’s work.
Each week at the library felt like a small gift.
Then, in March of 2020, the world went still. Doors closed. Classes
vanished. The familiar rhythms of work and gathering dissolved almost
overnight. Yet at my table, pencils and paper waited. I had gathered good
tools and been guided toward artists and tutorials online, and so I drew
every day. In the stillness, practice became ritual. Lines deepened, color
grew more confident, and time found a new shape.
I began sharing my work with family and friends, posting small milestones
as they appeared. When classes eventually resumed, both at the library
and elsewhere, the sense of momentum returned, brighter than before.
With full retirement came the freedom to devote myself more fully to art. I
joined the Winthrop Art Association and, this past year, was grateful to be
invited to serve on its board.
What began in isolation grew into connection. The pandemic, for all its
distance, opened unexpected doors. I learned to see more clearly the
beauty in different ways of rendering the world, and I came to cherish the
camaraderie and generosity of the Winthrop artistic community.
This exhibition reflects my enduring fascination with nature, animals, and
landscapes, and my love of moving between media, allowing each piece to
lead me somewhere new. The results are sometimes surprising, always
instructive, and deeply satisfying.
I look forward to continuing to stretch, experiment, and wander creatively.
And I hope these works encourage others to listen for their own quiet
impulses and give their creativity room to speak.”
