Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Murphy.
Leslie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born, raised and still reside in Atlanta, GA (well, Metro Atlanta) and have been an artist for as long as I can remember. Growing up shy and awkward, making art was always a comfort. By the time I was eight I knew I only wanted to be an artist when I grew up. That didn’t change a bit by the time I graduated from high school.
I attended the Atlanta College of Art, where I earned my Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree, majoring in illustration with a concentration in painting. I worked my tail off and graduated with Suma Cum Laude honors. My time at ACA was wonderful. I regard those years as some of my happiest. Post art school my life has been a joyous, but hectic blur of teaching fine art, painting for pleasure, creating custom art and illustration, and spending my days with the people I love.
I should mention that from age 15 onward, I have had an outstanding man by my side, showering me with love and support. In 2008, my high school sweetheart and I got married, nine months later we became the proud parents of an amazing little girl, and our life entered a new chapter. Six years later we welcomed a baby boy to our family. My husband and my children are at the center of my world, providing me with endless love and inspiration. I continue to teach in addition to working as a freelance illustrator and portrait artist. I enjoy using a variety of media and techniques both traditional and digital. Life is good.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have found my biggest challenge to be managing a healthy balance between career and family. Since I became a mom, my children have been my first priority. Their childhood years are so special and so fleeting, and making sure they are happy, healthy, and learning core values is far more important than any career… However, being a successful working artist has been my dream for as long as I can remember. Maintaining a creative career, while being financially secure is an elusive goal, to say the least, and many times I have found myself on the cusp of achieving that goal. But of course, life happens and my priorities shift again to focusing on family. Finding the time to focus on my art career has been (and continues to be) incredibly difficult. I don’t give up easily though, and I have made working on my art for at least a couple hours each day a priority. I have to remind myself that once my youngest is in school, I will be able to shift gears to work toward achieving my art career goals.
Please tell us about Leslie Murphy Arts.
I am the sole employee of Leslie Murphy Arts, and I specialize in portraits, illustration, and teaching oil and acrylic painting classes. I am probably most well known for my painting classes and my portrait work. As a painting teacher, I take great pride in watching my students develop and grow as artists. However, I am most proud of my current series of word portrait drawings that memorialize victims of gun violence. I began creating this series of drawings as a way to give back to the community and to speak out against gun violence. I am reaching out to families who have lost loved ones to gun violence and am making portraits drawn entirely with words describing that person.
Descriptions are provided by the victim’s families. The idea is to bring people together to remember those lost, and to bring humanity back into the discussion about guns. I hope to show that each individual lost to gun violence was special and worthy of true remembrance, and not just becoming another sad statistic. I am doing these pro-bono to spread love and kindness in response to the gun violence epidemic in this country. I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to empathize and relate with my students and clients, and my ability to collaborate with others to create unique, custom artwork.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think that luck has played a significant role in my life, both personally and professionally. I always wanted to work for myself, and I think that the luckiest event that helped to facilitate this was the birth of my daughter. When she came into my life, I was forced to find a way to earn a living and to care for her at the same time. Thus, I began working from home, and my freelance career was born! Much to my surprise becoming a mother while presenting many challenges as a new mom and an emerging artist, actually opened more doors than it closed. Working for myself also gave me the nerve to take risks, and to take control of my professional life in a more deliberate way.
While I still have a long way to go and much to learn in order to reach all of my professional goals, I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to be in a position to be available for my kids and to make work that is creatively fulfilling (most of the time!). I was also lucky to have gotten together with my husband, who has always showered me with love and support when we were just freshmen in high school. I have been fortunate to grow up with him and to watch our life and family evolve over the years.
Contact Info:
- Website: LeslieMurphyArts.com
- Email: Lm@lesliemurphyarts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmurphyarts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieMurphyArts
Image Credit:
Leslie Murphy
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