Mr. Murphy owned the farm next door — 34″ X 46″ Oil and charcoal on stretched canvas

Description

2024 Oil and charcoal on canvas, mid-century style. Growing up in Indiana, farm culture still prevailed in the late 60’s and early 70’s. This is my best friend, Lloyd’s dad, Mr. Murphy. As a 6-8 year-old, I would walk out the back door of our house, over a large hill, through a gravel pit, across an old road and a corn field to Lloyd’s house. About a mile journey to play with Lloyd. When Mr. Murphy was around the house and barn, he would stop by and talk with Lloyd and I and make sure we were alright. I remember he always kept a fork in his shirt pocket. I asked him about it and he told me that when he’s out about his farm, many of the women in the bordering houses would bake pies and he would have his fork on the ready for a taste.