John C Murray

Montpelier, Maryland, USA

Artist: John C Murray

In his early twenties, a generous artist in New Bedford, Massachusetts taught John how to do Scrimshaw, engraving picture on ivory. His fascination with this art form continued for many years until ivory fell out of favor as a desired medium, and became impossible to obtain.

Some thirty years later he began printmaking after a career working with fiber optics, data, radio and TV as a regional technical support employee and delivering technical training in the private industry.

He became a full time artist as a resident printmaker at Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, Maryland, translating his early artistic ability into working with copper rather than ivory. Here he developed further skills in various techniques including aquatint, sugar-lift, acrylic photopolymer film, silkscreen, engraving, and stippling.

Working for many hours each day for those five years resulted in polished competence and one of the foremost intaglio printmakers in Maryland. He is second to none in mezzotint, which creates the deepest, richest, most delicious black values found in any printmaking technique and the imagery is noted for its photograph-like appearance in its rendering due to the infinite set of gray values available under the hand of the experienced artist.

He joined and then later became President of the Maryland Printmakers, Inc. In this successful non-profit organization he produced shows in high-profile gallery venues and made it necessary to participate in the promotion of printmaking.

For further information: www.johncmurray.com