Ron Artis, a North Shore musician and artist who painted more than 900 murals on Oahu, died yesterday of an apparent heart attack in his sleep, his family said. He was 61.

He appeared to be in good health and the attack came as a surprise, his wife Victoria said.

Artis painted murals around Oahu and inside Navy vessels, starting in 1994. Later, his murals in Wahiawa were part of a community beautification project spearheaded by police officer Jerry Scoville in hopes of covering graffiti. The project culminated in 2008 with 25 murals around the town.

Among his most recent works are a mural honoring world champion surfer Andy Irons, on display at Ron Artis Studio Gallery in Haleiwa, and a mural at the Silver Dolphin Bistro at Pearl Harbor.

Artis could almost always be found painting or teaching his 11 children to be in tune with their creative outlets. He would let them tag along to help paint murals and they all performed in the Artis Family Band.

"He was a great father and a man of God," said his son Ron "Ronnie" Artis II. "His favorite thing to do was preach and take care of his family. He built a powerful legacy.

"He played with lots of musicians in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, like Michael Jackson, Van Halen and Stevie Wonder. He gave up all of that to come to Hawaii and raise us kids," he said.

Artis and his wife home-schooled their children, ages 5 to 25, and taught them how to play multiple instruments.

The family performs regularly at Resurrection City, where battered surfboards tossed aside on the beach are resurrected into art, in Haleiwa. Victoria Artis said the family plans to continue performing, as her husband would have wanted.

Born in Texas on Nov. 20, 1949, Artis was a chaplain’s assistant at Arlington National Cemetery during a stint in the Navy in the 1970s.

He moved with his family to Kailua, where his early murals caused a small controversy among residents split between fans and critics.

After his first mural at Pali Lanes, which he did for free, more murals followed. Some accused Artis of self-promotion or criticized the quality of his work. But an area legislator said a survey showed more than half of respondents appreciated his artwork.

Artis and his family moved to the North Shore early this decade after he was hurt in a burn accident. He had a vision to help revive the North Shore, his wife said.

Artis began painting murals in Haleiwa, Wahiawa and Waialua. His artwork included horses and pictures with patriotic themes.

In 2008, he received a letter of appreciation from the Honolulu Police Department for painting murals over graffiti-ridden walls in Waialua and Wahiawa.

In Haleiwa, he finally felt he found a home, his wife said. He knew most of his neighbors and even painted a mural of local residents.

Michael Lyons, chairman of the Haleiwa Neighborhood Board, said Artis did a lot of things to benefit the community.

"I think he was very well liked," he said, adding that his artwork added character to the area.

Besides his wife, Artis leaves behind 13 children, two from a previous marriage. His 11 children in Hawaii are Stephanie, Ron, Victor, Stevon, PraiseJesus, Spirit, Thunderstorm, Martis, Kailua, America and Artis. Services are pending.

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Star-Advertiser reporter Nancy Arcayna contributed to this report.