Capturing the highs and lows of life through a canvas and brush - Kilkenny Live

Edward Hopper once said, 'If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint it', and for one Kilkenny man, that message applies as he showcases his artistic talents to the world.

Paul Murphy, a teacher in Gowran National School and a native of Lisdowney, has given much to both communities over the past number of years. 

From training GAA teams to teaching the next generation, Murphy's contribution to education and sport can't be underestimated.
However, underneath a relatively normal lifestyle, lies an unmeasurable artistic talent, a trait which has seen his work skyrocket to national and international acclaim, catching the attention of Conor McGregor, members of the Kilkenny senior hurling team and thousands of followers via social media.

The self-taught artist’s love of the paintbrush and canvas was very much a family-affair, beginning at home from an early age.

"It came from my father (Liam), he'd be fairly artistically minded himself, he made lots of inventions over the years.

"I would have always looked at him making things in the workshop,” Murphy recalled, adding, “any help I would want he’d be there."

The local man's creative seeds were well and truly sewn from that point, despite not attending conventional art classes during his school days.

"I didn’t do art in school, it was always just sketching Pokemon and drawing bits and pieces but I didn’t do art in secondary school, if it didn’t interest me I didn’t want to do it," he said.

And although traditional art classes have proved highly successful for many local artists, Murphy believes the self-taught process is key to his artwork, allowing him ample time to experiment, admitting you often make a 'mess' before the project turns around in your favour.

The Lisdowney man began releasing his paintings via Instagram over three years ago and claims the creative process has at times created emotions of self-doubt and anxiousness, especially when painting in public settings, but despite those fears, he has urged aspiring artists to hold judgement on their work until a project is completed.

"When I'm teaching the children in school, I always try and tell them don't judge it until it’s finished. It all comes together, it could be the last 5% that could be the bit that brings it all together. You have your start, middle and the conclusion just wraps it up. You could have nothing until the last hour."

The journey from the starting point to the end point may not appear stress free to many, but for this Kilkenny artist, a weekend of painting can offer a period full of 'relaxation'.

"It's pure relaxing, I love listening to the radio sport, especially on a Saturday when I'm off and taking in who’s topical, it could be Katie Taylor or someone local and next thing I’ll see if I can find any good pictures. Mark Bergin for example, I painted a picture of Mark Bergin striking a free in a county final to win it and I’ve still got that picture at home," he said.

"So I listen out, see what’s topical and then see if I can find a good picture and paint that."

Since Paul began his endeavours, the Kilkenny community have lended great support including from his home club in Lisdowney.

The artist's fellow club members, Carmel and PJ Kenny, Chairperson of the Kilkenny Health & Wellbeing Committee and Chairman of the Kilkenny County Board respectively, gave the school teacher an opportunity to paint a mural on the blank wall outside UPMC Nowlan Park.

A challenge gratefully accepted, ultimately leading to a modest but striking image of all-time leading point scorer, TJ Reid, an exercise which created great pride for Paul and his family.

"I'd be embarrassed if someone gave me a compliment because I'd be always comparing it to someone else as I haven't gone to art college and I'm copying from pictures," stated Paul.

The painting paying homage to the Shamrocks Ballyhale midfielder is close to Paul’s heart but was by no means in isolation, with the display of a Brian Cody painting in the window of Brett’s Hardware a huge thrill in the lead up to the All-Ireland Final.

However, the turning point and most jaw dropping experience for the Kilkenny man transpired in Crumlin two years ago, when a chance encounter with Conor McGregor allowed one of Ireland’s most famous sportspeople to get a glimpse of himself on a canvas.

Murphy was teaching in the Dublin suburb at the time and one Sunday evening drove past McGregor's pub, the Black Forge Inn. Spotting McGregor's entourage, Paul took an opportunity, knowing a portrait of the MMA fighter was in the back of his car.

Initially denied access, it was second time lucky for the Lisdowney man who upon entry grasped the attention of the UFC star.

"I went in and Conor saw it, he was fierce nice to me. He took a picture and put it up on his socials and next thing I got 300/400 extra followers. He called up his family for a few pictures. It was all very quick, three four minutes max," Paul recounted.

The journey is just beginning though, with ideas swirling around. From the dream of completing a hurlers mural outside Nowlan Park, making his mark on more unpainted wall balls to dropping the brush and training underage teams, an exciting time lies ahead...

Check out this week's Kilkenny People newspaper to see a selection of Paul's paintings.