Self Love

Just one of the drawings created while waiting for the season finale of Lost. I also starting creating an arsenal of monsters for a potential manuscript. SO excited.

The Cabin

Working with mid-toned palettes. Instead of lots of contrast, lots of grey tones!

B.O.W. wow!

I just got the official info about the coming book signing for Hush, Little Dragon. Look at the lineup! My knees are knockin'!

Come on down to Books of Wonder for the first book signing of Hush Little Dragon! Books of Wonder is New York City's oldest and largest independent children's bookstore, as well as the city's leading specialist in children's literature both new and old. Whether you're looking for the newest books just published, classics from your own childhood, or old, rare, and out-of-print editions, Books of Wonder is your source for the very finest in children's books.

Will you be in NYC on May 31st? Please say yes, I'm so nervous. I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop.

Please join us on Saturday, May 31st as 7 authors and artists present their wonderful new picture books for this spring. On hand will be Caldecott Honor artist DIANE GOODE for Baby Face: A Book of Love for Baby by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant; DEB LUCKE author and artist for The Book of Time Outs: A Mostly True History of the World’s Biggest Troublemakers; RAINA MOORE, author of How Do You Say Good Night? ; KELLY MURPHY, illustrator of Hush, Little Dragon; EDEL RODRIGUEZ, author and artist of Sergio Makes a Splash! ; NANCY TUFARI, illustrator of Blue Goose ; and MATTHEW VAN FLEET, author and illustrator of Alphabet. Beginning at noon, each author and artist will give a brief reading from or talk about their new book, after which they will answer questions from the audience, and then sign copies of all their books.

When: May 31st, 2008. 12pm-2pm
Where: 18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
Why: Why not!

Girl With A Shifty Eye

Another straight watercolor on coventry rag experiment.

It's kind of nice to learn patience with the subtle build of layers again. Here's a small detail. Look Ma, no lines!

Another Creative Outlet

While spending sometime with my brother's family in North Carolina, my castle making obsession is in full force. In the past on riverbanks and beaches, my brother Mike and I would construct the best civilizations that laughed in the face of nature. An isthmus in a river? They said it couldn't be done, but it was done and our civilization survived! Made mostly from dripping sand, we'd discuss how our city was building residences and forming their government, so on and so forth.


Now, back at the beach after a long hiatus, I am instilling a healthy creative outlet for the next generation of Murphys (even though at the age of 6 and 3, they mostly want to Godzuki crush everything). This is pretty much super fun.

Practicing What I Preach

At the close of each semester at Montserrat, all students have to have a final panel review. An assortment of teachers from each discipline assemble to give their input as to the year's progression. One thing I find myself constantly telling ALL majors is: Keeping drawing, loosen up, try new media...

Being under persistant deadline pressures as an illustrator can force you to lose focus of what really is important in improving one's skills. Now that my freelance load has been lightened slightly, I am practicing what I preach. No more are the days of tight renderings! No more are the days of tickling! I will be EXPRESSIVE! Well, ok. Slow down, we're not making Pollacks here, but at least it's nice to experiment with more liquid sketch materials.

I almost feel a bit nude, as an illustrator, not to have a mission. It feels almost uncomfortable not to have a set dimension, art direction, style, and character list. I am back in the days where I am the true master and commander. So what do I like to do? I dunno! I think it's time to find out again in order to propel myself into the next chapter. Being a borderline hermit, working late at night, I frequently enjoy looking at the assortment of apparel and body shape of Yvan Rodic's (also know as the Face Hunter) photos. I hope he doesn't mind. SO I will use this a spring board.

Birds by Pleix

This pretty much has nothing to do with anything. But, it's very entertaining!

Birds by Pleix.
I am putting the studio in a couple bags for a week, and heading 12 hours south! A bit of a working vacation, you might say, to a little place called Duck. I think there will be many a pun made next week. "Look out! DUCK!"

Emerging Safari

Quick drawing from the back lawn, as the animals lay scattered about.

Illustration Friday: Electricty

A Poster for Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Cat Tuesday

It all started with the idea of drawing cats, then the horrible pun Cat Tuesday. Sometimes, you just shouldn't need an excuse to have fun and draw.

Illustration Friday: Seed

Here are some of the preliminary character designs for A Place to Grow (Bloom & Grow Books), written by Stephanie Bloom. It was a ton of fun to try and capture big emotion in a simple shape.