Susan Avis Murphy: Curriculum Vitae

CURRICULUM VITAE: Susan Avis Murphy

Education and employment history

  • 1967 summer: Jackson Laboratories Summer Student Program, Bar Harbor, Maine
  • 1968: Graduated from Rocky Hill High School, Rocky Hill, Connecticut
  • 1972: BS in Biology and BA in Anthropology, Syracuse University
  • 1972 summer: studied archaeology at Merton College, Oxford University, as participant in Association for Cultural Exchange program under Dr. Paul Mellars
  • 1972-1973: worked as research assistant at University of Connecticut Health Care Center, Farmington, CT and at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Institute, MA
  • 1973-1975: worked as research assistant in Dept. of Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
  • 1975: Certificate in Secondary Education, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
  • 1975-1979: taught Middle School Science at Fox Lane Middle School, Bedford, NY
  • 1976-1978: coursework in art at College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY; William Maxwell, printmaker
  • 1977: married Marco Colombini in Somers, NY
  • 1979: moved to Seabrook, Maryland and pursued career in art for 16 years
  • 1981: first son, Paul, is born
  • 1983: second son, Ben, is born
  • 1985: moved to current residence in Sandy Spring, MD
  • 1990: built large post-and-beam studio addition to house: formerly called Falling Acorns Studio, now called ARThouse
  • 1995-1997: took graduate courses in biology at University of Maryland and Montgomery College
  • 1997-2005: worked full time as research assistant in the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
  • 2005-present: full-time artist, teacher, and proprietor of ARThouse

Informal education in art

  • 1975: took watercolor classes with Barbara Nechis in Larchmont, NY
  • 1981-1995: took workshops with Frank Webb, Charles Reid, Al Brouillette, Carl Molno, Arne Lindmark, Maxine Masterfield, Marilyn Hughey Phyllis, Carlton Plummer, Nicholas Simmons

One and Two Person Shows

  • 1978: Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY) Forchheimer Gallery: One-person show “Water Images”
  • 1979: Hang It All Gallery, Somers, NY: One-person show “Country Scenes of Westchester”
  • 1979: The Silo Gallery, Mt. Kisco, NY: One-person show
  • 1979: The Scarborough Gallery, Chappaqua, NY: One-person show “Celebration of Spring”
  • 1981: The Capital Gallery, Landover, MD: One-person show “Artifacts”, paintings of old tools and utensils
  • 1982: The Carriage House Gallery, Laurel, MD: Two person show with Deborah Chapin
  • 1982: The Metro Gallery, George Mason University, Arlington, VA: One-person show
  • 1982: The Scarborough Gallery, Chappaqua, NY: One-person show
  • 1984: The Scarborough Gallery, Chappaqua, NY: One-person show
  • 1985: Capricorn Galleries, Bethesda, MD: One-person show “Construction Abstractions”
  • 1986: Falling Acorns Studio, Sandy Spring, MD: one-person studio show in February
  • 1986: Falling Acorns Studio: outdoor show with Marilyn Henry, titled “En Plein Air”
  • 1987: Falling Acorns Studio: outdoor show with Barbara Hails, titled “Printemps”
  • 1987: Falling Acorns Studio: outdoor show with Marilyn Henry, titled “En Plein Air” (October)
  • 1988: Capricorn Galleries, Bethesda, MD: One-person show ,“Foodscapes”
  • 1988: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, titled “Twice is Nice”
  • 1988: Miriam Perlman Gallery, Chicago, IL: Six-person show titled “Painting”
  • 1988: The Artist’s Magazine Annual Still Life Competition: finalist for three food paintings
  • 1988: Dundalk Gallery, Dundalk Community College, MD: Four-person invitational show “Watercolor”
  • 1989: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “A Winter Break”
  • 1990: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “New Studio—Come see!”
  • 1990: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Winter Light”,  and house tour sponsored by Gaywood Garden Club
  • 1991: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Recent Paintings”
  • 1992: Falling Acorns Studio: part of studio tour sponsored by Rockville Arts Place, “Open Studio, Spring ‘92”
  • 1992: Artshowcase Gallery, Baltimore, MD: Two-person show
  • 1992: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Holiday Open House”
  • 1993: Artshowcase Gallery, Baltimore, MD: One-person show “Watercolor Portraits”
  • 1993: Rockville Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, MD: Two-person show with Margaret Huddy
  • 1993: Frichtl-Sugar Gallery, Kensington, MD: One-person show “My Sons/My Self”
  • 1994: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Renewal—Spring ‘94”
  • 1994: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “5th Anniversary Celebration”
  • 1995: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “A Visit to Provence”
  • 1996: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Cosmic Balance”
  • 1997: The Atrium Gallery at Georgetown Univ. School of Medicine: One-person show “My Sons/My Self”
  • 1998: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Objets d’Art”
  • 2003: Falling Acorns Studio: one-person studio show, “Studio Show 2003”
  • 2006: Brooke Grove Retirement Village, Sandy Spring, MD “Art for Alzheimers” art auction fundraising event
  • 2007: Falling Acorns Studio: two-person studio show with Peggy Duke, “Studio Show 2007”
  • 2008: ARThouse: two-person show with Michaele Harrington, “Studio Show 2008”
  • 2009: The Lutheran Center, Baltimore, MD: One-person show “Back to Nature”

Group Exhibitions and Awards

  • 1978: Albert Einstein College of Medicine Annual Art Exhibit (Bronx, NY): Second prize and honorable mention
  • 1980: Miriam Perlman Gallery, Lake Point Tower, Chicago, Illinois: Group show “Landscapes are Better than Ever”
  • 1985: Maryland-National Capital Commission show: annual show of Prince George’s County artists
  • 1985: Dundalk Gallery, Dundalk Community College, “Women and Watercolor” curated by Janet Anderson
  • 1986: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: “enlightened Bricks” $150 award
  • 1986: Dundalk Gallery, Dundalk Community College, “Double Elephant Plus” curated by Janet Anderson
  • 1986: Foundry Street Gallery, Savage, MD: 6-person invitational show
  • 1987: Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio: “The Philip Desind Collection”
  • 1991: Linda Roberts Gallery, Clarksville, MD: Group show
  • 1991: Gurmukh Gallery, Aspen Hill, MD: Group show “Artists and Educators”
  • 1991: Artshowcase Gallery, Baltimore, MD: Group show of the Baltimore Watercolor Society
  • 1993: Artshowcase Gallery, Baltimore, MD: Group show
  • 1994: Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Rockville, MD: six-person group invitational show, “Watercolor”
  • 1995: Friends of the Brookeville Academy Art Show Fundraiser, “Celebration of Excellence in Art”, Brookeville Inn, Brookeville, MD—invitational group show featuring 12 area artists
  • 1995: Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Rockville, MD, “The Cat Show”: group show juried by Frank Wright
  • 1995: “Dining with the Arts” sponsored by the Arts Council of Montgomery County, MD: special dinner event held at Falling Acorns Studio with invited patrons of the Arts
  • 2008: ARThouse: group show with gallery artists, “Flowers for Mother”
  • 2008: ARThouse: group show for ARThouse watercolor students, “ARThouse Atelier Show 2008”
  • 2008: ARThouse: group show, “Holiday Open House”; also House Tour in conjunction with the Gaywood Garden Club, Silver Spring, MD
  • 2009: ARThouse: group show for gallery artists, “Spring Show 2009”
  • 2009: “Plein Air Olney”, sponsored by Olney Farmers and Artists Market: outdoor painting event culminating in auction at Sandy Spring Museum, Sandy Spring, MD
  • 2009: ARThouse student show “The Art of Watercolor”, students of Susan Avis Murphy

Juried Shows

  • 1977: Hudson Valley Art Association, White Plains, NY: “Stream on Sawmill Parkway”
  • 1978: Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Annual Juried Show: Gold medal for “Washington Square North”; show held at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park, NY
  • 1979: Knickerbocher Artists National Juried Show, National Arts Club, New York, NY: “The Falls at Old Mill Farm” accepted
  • 1980: Louisiana Watercolor Society 11th International Exhibition:”Boatyard Rubble” accepted by juror Al Brouillette
  • 1980: Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD: Honorable mention for watercolor “Assemblage in Space” awarded by juror David Tannous
  • 1980: Salmagundi Club National Juried Show, New York, NY
  • 1981: Salmagundi Club National Juried Show, New York, NY
  • 1981: Laurel Art Guild Annual Juried Show, Laurel, MD: Third prize for “Entropy” awarded by juror Frank Wright
  • 1981: West Texas Watercolor Society National Juried Show: Honorable mention for “Unhinged” awarded by juror Ted Rose
  • 1981: Southern Watercolor Society 5th Annual Juried Show at Louisiana Tech University: $100 award for “Boatyard Rubble”
  • 1981: Allied Artists of America 68th Annual Exhibition at the National Arts Club, New York, NY
  • 1981: Prince George’s Artists Association: First prize for “16th Notes” awarded by Richard Harryman
  • 1982: Terrance Gallery National On-Paper Show (Palenville, NY): Certificate of Merit for “Entropy”
  • 1982: Allied Artists of America 69th Annual Exhibition at the National Arts Club, New York, NY: $500 award for “Arbitrary Order” (rubble)
  • 1982: Butler Institute of American Art Midyear Show, Youngstown, Ohio: “Abstract Concrete” accepted
  • 1982: American Watercolor Society 112th Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, NY: “Boatyard Rubble” accepted into Traveling Show
  • 1982: San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition: “Entropy” accepted
  • 1983: Butler Institute of American Art Midyear Show, Youngstown, Ohio: “Arbitrary Order” accepted
  • 1983: Art of Paper Juried Show, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD: Award of Merit for “Marco”
  • 1983: Midwest Watercolor Society National Juried Show, Davenport, Iowa: “Paul’s Mother” accepted
  • 1983: San Diego Watercolor Society National Juried Show
  • 1983: Potomac Valley Watercolorists Regional Juried Show: Honorable mention for “Anticipation” awarded by John Winslow
  • 1983: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: The Abstract Award for “Sunkissed” awarded by Barbara Nechis
  • 1983: Maryland Artists Exhibition, Community College of Baltimore: “Expectation” accepted
  • 1984: Pittsburgh Watercolor Society 39th Aqueous Open: “Sunkissed” accepted by juror Maxine Masterfield
  • 1985: Southern Watercolor Society 9th Exhibition: “Support System” accepted by juror Glenn Bradshaw
  • 1985: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: Gold medal for “Construction Abstraction”
  • 1986: Southern Watercolor Society 10th Exhbition: “Sun-baked Cinderblocks” accepted by juror Gerald Brommer
  • 1986: Butler Institute of American Art 50th Midyear Show, Youngstown, Ohio; “Support System” accepted
  • 1987: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: $200 award for “America Loves Freedom”
  • 1988: Butler Institute of American Art 52nd Midyear Show, Youngstown, Ohio: “Bagel at the Beach” accepted
  • 1988: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins; “Chinese Take-out” accepted
  • 1988: Strathmore Arts Center, Rockville, MD: group show “Urban Landscape”
  • 1988: Watercolor West National Juried Show, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA: “Broken Beauties” accepted by juror William D. Gorman
  • 1990: Southern Watercolor Society Annual Show, Art Museum of the South, Mobile, AL: $200 award
  • 1990: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: “Lady in Black” $150 award from Stephen Doherty
  • 1991: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: “Egg Benediction” accepted by Juror Carole Barnes
  • 1991: Strathmore Hall Foundation, Rockville, MD: Group show “Art ’91, Juried Visual Arts Exhibition”
  • 1992: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: “Paul and Smokey” accepted by juror Alex Powers
  • 1992: Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis MD: “Art on Paper” national juried show: “Family Ties” selected by Stephen Doherty
  • 1992: Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Rockville, MD “16th Annual Montgomery County Juried Art Show” selected by Helen Frederick
  • 1992: Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Rockville, MD “Artist Membership Juried Exhibition”
  • 1993: Southern Watercolor Society 16th Annual Exhibition at Strathmore Hall, Rockville, MD: First Award for “Chair Composition Opus No. 6”, awarded by Stephen Doherty, editor of “American Artist” magazine
  • 1994: Strathmore Hall Arts Center, Rockville, MD “Artist Membership 4th Annual Exhibition” selected by John Winslow: won Best in Show for “Boy of Summer” (portrait of Ben)
  • 1994: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Johns Hopkins: “Ben and Smkey” accepted by juror Dean Mitchell
  • 2009: Allied Artists of American 96th Annual Exhibition: “The Toolmaker” accepted     
  • 2010: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Exhibition, Rockville, MD: “Palmina” selected by juror Jean Uhl Spicer and wins Bendann Gallery Award
  • 2010: Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors: “Beach Boys” accepted by juror Carole Pickle
  • 2010: Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition: “Palmina” accepted by juror Judy Morris
  • 2010: Pennsylvania Watercolor Society: “The Retired Toolmaker” accepted by juror Nicholas Simmons and wins Jack Richeson award
  • 2010: Allied Artists of America, NYC: “America Loves Freedom” accepted
  • 2011: Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Show, Strathmore Mansion, Rockville, "The Latte Effect" accepted by juror John Salminen
  • 2011: American Watercolor Society 144th International Exhibition, New York, NY, "America Loves Freedom" accepted by committee
  • 2011: Adirondack Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY, "The Latte Effect" accepted by Juror Steven Quiller
  • 2011: Philadelphia Watercolor Society International Exhibition of Works on Paper, Wallingford, PA, “America Loves Freedom” accepted by juror Judy Morris and receives award
  • 2011: American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National Exhibition, New York, NY, “The Latte Effect” accepted by committee
  • 2011: Art Space Herndon “Expressions” Portrait Competition, Herndon, VA, “Looking Forward” accepted       

Published Art

  • 1979: Historic Cars Unlimited published two limited edition photolithographs of Corvair car scenes
  • 1991: Front Line Graphics, San Diego, CA: published two large posters and four small of flower still lifes, to be sold and distributed world-wide
  • 1994: Van Cortlandt Press published 4 calendars with my art, which won awards at the 1994 national “Excellence in Print” competition
  • 2007: created holiday card for Brooke Grove Retirement Village, Sandy Spring, MD

Galleries

  • Hang It All Gallery, Somers, NY: 1975-1979
  • Scarborough Gallery, Chappaqua, NY: 1976-1982
  • Gallery-Go-Round Cooperative, Laurel, MD: 1982-1985 (manager)
  • Miriam Perlman Gallery, Chicago, IL: 1982-1990
  • Purnell Galleries, Baltimore, MD: 1982-1988
  • Capricorn Galleries, Bethesda, MD: 1982-1991
  • Artshowcase, Baltimore, MD: 1992-1994
  • Linda Roberts Gallery, Clarksville, MD: 1990-1993
  • Les Yeux du Monde, Charlottesville, VA:  2011-present
  • ARThouse, Sandy Spring, MD 1985-present, owner and operator

Memberships and Listings

  • Laurel Art Guild, 1980-1985: newsletter editor, president
  • Baltimore Watercolor Society, 1982-1997 and 2009-present
  • Potomac Valley Watercolorists: 1982-1990
  • Southern Watercolor Society: 1986-2000
  • Portrait Society of America 2010
  • Who’s Who in American Art
  • Who’s Who in the East 21st Edition
  • Who’s Who of American Women
  • World Who’s Who of Women
  • Artists of the Mid-Atlantic: a compendium

Magazines, Newspaper Articles, and Television

  • 1979: article in newspaper The Reporter Dispatch, Westchester Co., NY, about upcoming show at Scarborough Gallery in Chappaqua, NY
  • 1982: article and picture in The Laurel Leader newspaper, Laurel, NY, about opening of gallery
  • 1982: feature article in “American Artist” magazine, self-authored for The Watercolor Page
  • 1983: article and picture in The Laurel Leader newspaper, Laurel, MD, titled “Art Guild President Wins $500 Prize”
  • 1983: article in The Montgomery Journal newspaper titled “Susan Murphy: Summer Season Shines in Shapes”
  • 1986: feature article in The Olney Courier-Gazette newspaper titled “National Reputation: Olney artist Murphy leaving “rubble” phase”
  • 1986: article in The Laurel Leader newspaper titled “Artists Exhibit ‘en plein air’”
  • 1987: article in The Howard County Times newspaper titled “Color them lovely Falling Acorns are framed by tall oaks”
  • 1990: feature article in The Olney Courier-Gazette titled “Falling Acorns Studio Becomes Gallery”
  • 1991 May: feature article in “American Artist” magazine titled “Artist in Residence”; Stephen Doherty, author
  • 1993 September: “The Artist’s Magazine” brief write-up in On the Watercolor Front about SW prize
  • 1993 April: review of my  work in The Gazette newspaper: “Watercolors Abound at Strathmore Hall”
  • 1995 November: review of my work in The Gazette newspaper: “Perfectly Purr-fect at Strathmore”
  • 1998 August: featured artist on “Art Strokes”, thirty minute program of Montgomery Community Television, Rockville, MD
  • 2005 June: feature article in newspaper The Gazette, “Susan Murphy Talks about Watercolor”
  • 2009 May: feature article in newspaper The Gazette, “Artist-entrepreneur Realizes What’s in a Name”

Volunteer Activities

  • 1983: painted a large acrylic landscape for Spring Grove Hospital in Catonsville, MD
  • 1985: Prince George’s County Commission for Women, special commendation for contribution of Maryland women in the arts
  • 1995: donated painting to “Drawing for Art” fundraiser for Strathmore Hall, Rockville, MD
  • 2008: Brooke Grove Retirement Village: co-organizer of “Art for Alzheimers” art auction and dinner fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association
  • 1985-present: donated many original paintings and reproductions to fundraising events
  • 2010-present: board member of Baltimore Watercolor Society and workshop co-chairman

Speaking Engagements and Jurying

  • 1986: Annapolis Watercolor Club speaker and demonstrator for monthly meeting
  • 1991: Montgomery County Art Association monthly meeting: “How to Design a Studio”
  • 1992: juror for Youth Art Program, Maryland Federation of Women’s Clubs
  • 1993: juror for Laurel Art Guild Annual Juried Show, Laurel, MD
  • 1993: gave talk and made video in conjunction with Rockville Mansion Art Gallery, Rockville, MD: Two-person show with Margaret Huddy
  • 1993: gave talk to Gaithersburg Fine Art Association monthly meeting on “Marketing Your Art”
    • 1993: gave demonstration at Autumn Art Retreat, Harper’s Ferry, MD for the Germantown Art League
    • 1995: juror for Montgomery County Art Association Annual Juried Show, Gaithersburg, MD
    • 1995: gave talk to Rockville Art League, Rockville, MD, on “The Psychology of Selling Art”
    • 2011: gave demonstration on figure painting to Olney Art Association
    • 2011: gave talk on “The Contemporary Watercolor Scene in America” to International Society of Appraisers, Washington DC chapter
    • 2011: gave talk on “The Characteristics of an Excellent Juried Show Painting” to  the Senior Artists Alliance
    • 2011: gave talk on “Entering Juried Shows” to the Maryland Art League
    • 2011: gave talk on “The Business Side of Art and Picture Framing” to the Baltimore Watercolor Society
    • 2011: gave demonstration on painting a statue in watercolor to the Montgomery County Art Association
    • 2011: juror of awards for a Potomac Valley Watercolorists members show

Corporate Collections

  • Quaker Oats, Kresge Foundation, Michigan Bell, International Harvester, U. S. Gypsum, Blake Construction, Kora and Williams, Beatrice, Detroit Edison, FDIC, General Motors, Illinois Bell, Heritage Builders, Dataprompt, Maryland Development, Brooke Grove Foundation

Teaching

  • 1985-1993: taught watercolor classes to adults at my studio, Falling Acorns Studio
  • 2007-present: taught watercolor classes to adults at my studio, now called ARThouse
  • 2011: short workshop on picture framing for the Baltimore Watercolor Society