Fairy Tale Characters

I've squeezed in a super fun Mudpuppy job between painting monsters, Beastologist, scorpions, and school. I could soooo not pass this one up. I'll keep details to a minimum, but share a few images!



I've squeezed in a super fun Mudpuppy job between painting monsters, Beastologist, scorpions, and school. I could soooo not pass this one up. I'll keep details to a minimum, but share a few images!

The Sandpit by Sam O'Hare

This is just way too cool not to share!

Taken from Brooklyn Heights Blog:
Artist Sam O’Hare’s “The Sandpit”, with music composed by Human, co-written by Rosi Golan and Alex Wong, uses “tilt-shift photography” to depict a day in the life of the City. Much of the action is seen from the Promenade and from the Brooklyn Bridge, including scenes of construction work on Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s best played full screen in HD.

I snagged this from art director extrodinaire, Chad. ;)

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Wyverns Away!

Thought I'd post a few images from the third Nathaniel Fludd, coming out this summer. I cannot tell you how much I love working on these books. I get to research far off lands, learn all of the local culture, and then add mystical beasts to those places. I am a fortunate girl. R.L. LaFevers has more Nate adventures coming, so stay tuned!

Old Drawing

I found this number deeeeeep in the portfolio box. I remember having a bit of extra time one winter-session during school and deciding to do a sketch based on the man, the myth, the legend... Vermeer. Due note the wise paper choice! Tear it out of the ol' sketchbook, Kel. Ok, so I've learned a few things. Paper is one of the more important ingredients to making any artwork. I am a little surprised this one isn't completely yellow yet.

Gallery Della-Piana Opening February 2th!

Hello everyone! I thought I would announce a show that I will be in alongside Jarrett Krosoczka at Wenham's Gallery Della-Piana! It will feature original illustrations and sketches from a various amount of children's books. If you have a little time, come swing by and say hello!

Here are the details:

WHERE:
Gallery Della-Piana
152R Main St
Wenham, MA 01984
(978) 468-1944
http://www.gallerydellapiana.com/

WHEN:
Opening Saturday, February 27th, 2010 from 4-6pm

The show will be hanging from Feb 27 - Apr 24th.
Regular gallery hours are Thur-Sat 11-6pm.
Many piece will be for purchase!


WHO:
Kelly Murphy
and
Jarrett Krosoczka


Hope everyone is keeping warm and ready to welcome springtime!

The Tapper!

Holy COW!!!

I was talking with friend Dan Santat about some of our most beloved video games. Burgertime, Spy Hunter, Keystone Coppers, Paperboy... and he came to mention "Tapper". I had NO clue what he was talking about, and I am now REELING with delight. Check this this out!


The Tapper game screen features four bars. Patrons arrive periodically at the end of the bar opposite the player and demand drinks. The player must draw and serve drinks to the patrons as they slowly advance towards the player. If any customers reach the player's end of the bar, they grab the player-as-bartender and toss him out the far end of the bar, costing the player a life. In Tapper, the player plays the part of a bartender serving drinks to eager customers.

The player serves customers by filling a mug at one of the four taps. Once the mug is full, the player releases the tap which automatically slides the mug towards the advancing customer. Customers catch mugs that are slid towards them, as long as they are not already drinking a beer, or otherwise distracted. If a mug is not caught by a customer (whether the customer is already drinking or distracted, or if there is no customer), then it falls off the bar on the other end, resulting in a loss of a life for the player. If a customer does catch the mug, though, then he or she is pushed back some amount towards the opposite end of the screen. The goal is to push the customer completely off the screen, but if they are not then they will stay and consume their drink in place. When a customer finishes his drink, he slides the empty mug back towards the player, after which the customer resumes his advance on the player. The player must collect the empty mugs before they reach the end of the bar and fall to the ground. A mug falling to the ground costs a life.

Periodically, customers will leave tips on the bar for the player. These tips can be left at any place on the bar. The tip will appear after a specific number of empty mugs are released by the customers, and will appear wherever the customer who releases the required mug is standing. For example, in all levels, the first tip is left by the customer who returns the second empty mug, and will be left beside wherever this customer is standing. By collecting the tip, the player earns extra points and initiates "entertainment" for that level (dancing girls on the wild-west level, cheerleaders on the sports level, etc). While the entertainment is active, some fraction of the customers will be distracted and stop advancing towards the player, but they will also stop catching mugs.

In order to complete a level, the player must clear the entire bar of customers. Once this is done, the player is presented with a short vignette in which the bartender draws a drink for himself, drinks it, then tosses the empty mug into the air with varying (usually humorous) results, such as kicking it and shattering it or having the mug fall atop his head and cover it.

But that's not it. Check out the actual arcade game. It has actual taps that you need to pull down to serve. This is... this is something special. God bless the old days. No way that this sort of thing would ever exist in a kids arcade now. Wait, do they even have arcades anymore? I think I really just dated myself.

You tell 'em I'm comin'!

Who doesn't love Tombstone?

Monsters Sneek Peek!

Been busy starting the finishes to my monster book. It's been pretty fun! I'm working with more of an underdrawing and it has been very helpful to maintain the shape and drawing while moving the paint around on top. I feel as though with this addition, I can work a bit more with looser textures and bolder brush strokes. I've also changed up my normal process by working on several paintings at one time. I feel like it has been much more productive!

Paper To Drool Over

Well not literally...
But holy smokes, check out Bovey Lee's website. She's AMAZING.

Mad props!

Here is her website.

Illustration Friday: Focused

The beacon slowly focused in the small beam from her flashlight.

Masterpiece in Chinese!

I was so thrilled to find a copy of Masterpiece in Chinese in my mailbox the other day! The other exciting things... it's in PAPERBACK and in its FIFTH PRINTING! Yahoo! Marvin and James are selling pretty decently, and I could not be more happy about it. I am really dying to see if it ever gets translated in French. I might be able to read that one.

Zombies!

At Montserrat College of Art, what typically happens every mid-winter is something magical. It's the Illustration Theme show. It's that chance for students to create artwork over the break in any media/technique that they want, all in the name of one subject. This year... ZOMBIES! I don't consider myself a zombie aficionado (oh and they do exist!), but I decided that I should also take this opportunity for creating something fun and different.

My idea: Chihuahuas are the only animals zombies can own, because they don't have a brain. I can say this because I have one that I love very much, but let's face it... she doesn't have a whole lot going on up there. Well, ok, to be fair to her... she does constantly have the words "pupperoni", "ride", and "who's here" stuck in head.

I am very excited to see what all of the students, alumni, and faculty have for the show!

If you want to see the show:
Montserrat College of Art
301 Gallery
301 Cabot Street Beverly, MA 01915

February 8-19, 2010

Evolution of Matilda's Cover

I've been putting together a smattering of sketches for an upcoming show (which I plan to announce soon) this coming February. It got me pulling out all of the padded envelopes and plastic bags that hold the past sketches for book projects. It's amazing where I can shove this stuff! Under couches, in between bookcases, behind cabinets... I truly fantasize the day I can have a nice flat file. Right now, the majority of all my past art lies in a small closet in the eaves. Not exactly the best place, but at least I know where the majority of the artwork resides. To find exactly WHERE and in WHAT envelope is another story.

I had come across the series of cover sketches for Dancing Matilda, and thought it might be fun to share the different version that came before the printed cover. To be frank, I like the other versions a little bit better. But what I like and what the marketing departments think/know what will sell are two different things. I typically don't make a fuss and trust what their experience knows!

Monday Night Sketching

The best part about moving to a new place was our downstairs neighbors. Evan Larson and Ann Smith Larson are fellow graduates , co-workers, and long-time friends. I was so excited when we committed to having sketch nights together. It was an excuse to pick up the sketchbook again, put down the other deadlines for about two hours, and just talk and draw. Naturally, not having done this in sometime proved to be quite difficult. I ended up drawing their magical cats, Professor Rufus Devious Esq. and Donald Duck Don. Hopefully next time I can get to some more sophisticated concepts.

Oh, and ps.) I've had to go on a beer diet. The acceleration of weight gain this winter has been in direct relation to the amount of malted bevies. I might start to make Mastadon noises if I don't drop a few pounds!

Alma

Soooo pretty and a little bit creepy! I knew there was a reason I've always hated dolls since I was little!

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Written and Directed by: Rodrigo Blaas
Produced by: Cecile Hokes
Music: Mastretta
Art Director: Alfonso Blaas
Lighting Supervisor: Jonatan Catalán
Character Technical Supervisor: Jaime Maestro
Character Design: Bolhem Bouchiba, Carlos Grangel, Sergio Pablos, Santi Agustí
Animation: Daniel Peixe, ManueBover, Remi Hueso
Sound Design: Tom Myers and David Hughes
Post Production Coordinator: David Heras
Special Thanks: Keytoon, Next Limit, UserT38

Full credits: almashortfilm.com

The Little Match Girl

Had to post and share this beauty. A little bit of animation, a little bit of ballet... and a boat load of awesome music.
Sigur Ros to a classic depressing children's tale? It's pretty much the bOmb (even if it is a little on the "artsy" side).

Reading With Robin: Hosted by Mary Jane Begin

A few months ago, I was asked by my former teacher and illustrating guru Mary Jane Begin to come and visit with Providence, RI radio station WHJJ. It was a total blast, but I am really embarassed with the conditon of my voice. I had just come down with a cold, so the nasal is in full force! Mary Jane brings up some very important issues with pubishing today, regarding the influence of new technology and electronic versions of books. I'll stay positive and say that for childiren's picture books, the physical-ness of reading can never be replaced.

Take a listen if you want to hear more, and to hear some call-ins from fellow illustrators Grace Lin and Jarret Krosoczka.
Just don't judge me by the honkity honk honk of the voice!

Click HERE to listen to the whole show!

New Year's Tidings: Retrospective

It's a wonderful self-given assignment each year to create your holiday tiding. I always opt to go with best wishes for the New Years for a number of reasons. The most important... I am always late so there's NO CHANCE I ever get them out before December 25th. Besides, I send them to a number of clients I have worked with over the years, and I'd like to think my cards are waiting for them upon returning from the winter break.

The common theme that my New Year's card have is a bit of beverage history. And not just any beverage, typically the festive, spiked kind! Inside, I also like to research a bit of the culture and folklore of the drink along with the needed recipe to fabricate such lovely concoctions! It all started in 2003, (I have since lost the file)when it began with a tipsy bluebird on a steaming mug of hot cocoa. The following year, I decided to invest in some supplies to increase my mailing. I bought 500 coin sized envelopes and 1000 manila tags. I might have saved a total of $12.97, but I have been finding all sorts of purposes for these tags! The size of the envelope has since determined the shape of the following years. Finally, this year... I have RUN OUT of those coin envelopes! Wouldn't you know I needed about 20 more to finish this years cards... and they only sell them in boxes of 500. Instead of risking the arrest by a Staples employee, I shall purchase another 500 count box, and continue the format that has been ruling these past years.

Here's a run down of the past years. Because of the wedding planning and hoopla of 2008... it was my one year I was not able to create a card. If you know of any drinks that your family or culture imbibe this time of year, please let me know! I am always searching for new recipes!


2004: Hot Toddy


2005: Glogg


2006: Mulled Wine


2007: Wassail

2008: Kelly's Lame Excuse

and now, for 2009... for celebrations galore...

2009: Champagne!

Champagne first gained world renown because of its association with the anointment of French kings. Royalty from throughout Europe spread the message of the unique sparkling wine from Champagne and its association with luxury and power. The leading manufacturers devoted considerable energy to creating a history and identity for their wine, associating it and themselves with nobility and royalty. Through advertising and packaging they sought to associate Champagne with high luxury, festivities and rites of passage. Their efforts coincided with an emerging middle class that was looking for ways to spend its money on symbols of upward mobility. Legend holds that when Dom Perignon first tasted the sparkling wine now known as champagne he called to his fellow monks,

‘Come Quick, I Am Tasting Stars!’

Kir Royale
Directions:
1 part Crème de Cassis (Blackcurrant Liqueur)
5 parts Champagne

Pour crème de cassis into a Champagne flute and gently pour Champagne on top. Serve and enjoy. Santé!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
xoxox
Kelly

A Little Erin Merryweather Sketch

Nothing more, nothing less.

Lawn Dandruff 2K9!

Well, it certainly is that time of year again. The warm smell of cookies, the light flurrying of snow... and more importantly the zazzle of electric glow. Lawn Dandruff Night 2009 had a few obstacles in its way, but we got it done, and in regal style! With baileys, bourbon, and whiskey in our flasks, off we went, camera's in hand!

We had originally scheduled it a week before before Christmas Day, and had even rented a twelve person van to facilitate this years growing interest. But low and behold... we got a blizzard that dumped 15 inches of snow on that very night. Gah! So, we agreed to make it for December 29th. Also new to this year, was a location change! We decided to hit a bustling suburb of Boston, and thank our lucky stars, it did not disappoint.

So let's get down to it... the best of 'druff, the worst of 'druff. I saw a rising trend of angels, penguins, and bear this year, with a steady decline of Santas on choppers and blow up ornaments in general. I am thinking the hard hit economic times made people think twice about running those loud fans all night. Thank bejesus! One of the more fascinating, yet slightly morose finding this year was a dandruff cemetery. With Christmas day long over, the owners decided to let all of these wonderful plastic gems sit there in a dark, frozen wasteland. It was quite moving. There is a certain sadness when one unplugs all of the lights, and boxes all the glitter. With only President's Day to help focus us through January... we need some of that glitter! Another morose find was a dead reindeer, a probable victim of the previous week's blizzard. I've seen this kind of carnage before, and they always come back guys. Those reindeer are invincible!

These small sad happenings were outweighed by a great party, and increasing amount of insanely colored LED lights, two cars of Dandruffin' fun, big buck riding (A NEW EVENT), Chinese food, and most importantly... scorpion bowls. So, come snow or shine... Lawn Dandruff survived the blizzard of 2009!