Samhain Blaze

With temperatures still in the 90s, it's hard to believe that fall is on its way. But quite often illustrators find themselves mixed up with the holidays since commissions need to be made months in advance. Summer scenes in winter, winter scenes in summer (which are the most taunting), it's a miracle I even know the current month!

This image is for my next promotional mailer. Samhain: pronounced /ˈsɑːwɪn/, /ˈsaʊ.ɪn/, or /ˈsaʊn/[1] meaning “summer’s end”, is an old Irish festival, which takes place on October 31st. With a central bonfire ablaze, the villagers would extinguished all other fires. Each family then solemnly lit its hearth from the common flame, thus bonding the families of the village together. Often two bonfires would be built side by side, and the people would walk between the fires as a ritual of purification. Masks made sure to placate those pesky evil spirits.

I can't wait for apple crisp, candy apples, apple pie... ALL THINGS APPLE!

The Unicorns Are Coming!

Book four of Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist is passed in and ready to be born Spring of 2011. Book three will be out on shelves this October.



And, how lucky am I to be able to draw unicorns for a living?

Thirsty Dance Moves

Who drank all my beer? HOLY MOLY...

THIS GUY! I have now watched this 10 times.



One might even say, he's in a virtual insanity:

Dueling Banjo Pigs!

Banjo Pigs from Kelly Murphy on Vimeo.

This is a quick cut out animation I created for Dueling Banjo Pigs, a project started as a showdown between friends Guy Francis and fellow illustrator Stacy Curtis. Now, other illustrators have joined the fun with banjo pigs of their own!

Check them out at:
banjopigs.blogspot.com