erald Murai, a Hilo native, is a multi-award winning artist with collectors across the United States and Europe. Passionate about art since childhood, when he began to draw, he has now been painting for more than 35 years. Working primarily with oils, which he describes as the most sensuous medium, he excels at painting plein airs, portraits, and still lifes, often with a distinctly Hawaiian flavor. Likening himself to a musician, Murai states that oils give him the ability to mix tones, portraying light and dark, warm and cool, creating a kind of symphony of color. He has studied art at the University of Hawaii, the Art Center in Los Angeles, and under the renowned Russian impressionist artist Sergei Bongart, the major influence of his artistic style today. Other influential artists include Diego Velasquez, John Singer Sergeant, Joaquin Sorolla and Pierre Bonnard. He has been featured in shows at the East Hawaii Cultural Center. He won best of show at the All Hawaii Juried Art Show for the water color painting "Ewalina," won a first place and an honorable mention at the Hawaii State Art exhibition, and was featured in the prestigious Schafer Portrait Challenge at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in 2006. Murai was honored when the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts selected his painting "Opelu," a 46x46 inch oil, to be a permanent part of the state art collection in 2002. Currently, Murai teaches classes in acrylic painting and oil painting through the Parks and Recreation program in Hilo. When he is not painting or sketching, he enjoys spear fishing and cooking.