Brand Defining in Motion

Driving amongst a rush hour that never stopped, 5 friends jammed out over five Los Angeles recording sessions. Spirited filmmaking sessions exchanged with the Clayton Brothers, Tim Biskup, Camille Rose Garcia, Jeff Soto, Joe Sorren, Kevin Christy and Martha Rich in one cohesive art documentary entitled Scribble.08.

Scribble.08 captured the essence of what was fast emerging in the art world in 2003 as the convergence all different disciplines were becoming one—comics, illustration, animation, printing, collage, street, and on. . . The spirit of this film continues, as a new full-length documentary featuring new artists is now in production. Fine artists: Souther Salazar, Mark Todd, Esther Pearl Watson, James Jean, Matt Furie and more have been actively recorded, as seen in the James Jean video below. Please keep in mind this is raw, unedited and will evolve as the film’s story is realized later this year.

The raw footage is captivating and allows the viewer into a private space, where artist openly shares points of view, that delivers a unique and authentic voice. Driving this concept of authenticity and uniqueness, I shared this vision with the attendees of this year’s Y Conference in San Diego sponsored by the local AIGA chapter (American Institute of Graphic Artists).

Inspirational points of view were exchanged through the process of personal mapping—a sketch to best articulate an important driver, “Who are you, and what do you bring to the table that is unique, fresh and original?” Furthering the discussion, the following 4 points were illustrated, exchanging stories and real life experiences in the industry to illustrate the following four important points: 1) Know Thyself; 2) Create Opportunity; 3) Expand Understanding; and 4) Practice Leadership.

The attached film will take you through today’s discussion, while the spreads extracted from the program “mini zine” was offered to the attendees, so that they could walk through each point, step by step and exercise their unique voice. Robert Craighead, TenStories, was on hand to offer technical antidotes and answered tons of questions from the audience, hungry to cultivate their own unique experiences.

What’s up Twenty—Twelve?

One week down and 51.177457 weeks of action packed design goodness to go featuring: Clint Eastwood, Cartoon Network, Guru Tattoo, Martin Wittfooth, Kevin Paulsen, gallery promotions for 101/Exhibit plus the Mindy Solomon Gallery and a full length fine art documentary film.

Anyone who knows me, recognizes my commitment to design and love for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to collaborate with the fine arts community. The Scribble 08 blog is an active resource for artist interviews, exhibition reviews, new music and a great resource for Murphy Design portfolio pieces. (Guru Tattoo on location details).

As fate would have it, one of the first people I met when moving to California began with Clint Eastwood. Your can imagine my excitement when Lisa Fitzpatrick, project director and catalyst, called and invited me into the Malpaso Productions world of Clint Eastwood? Over 50,000 words will fill the pages of “Clint Eastwood, Master Filmmaker at Work” with an introduction by Steven Spielberg, preface by Morgan Freeman, authored by Michael Goldman, edited/created by Lisa Fitzpatrick of Swan Studio and Robert Hoffman of Technicolor and published by Abrams, New York. (Flags of Our Fathers Storyboards, Clint Eastwood, courtesy of Jack Taylor).

Guru Tattoo features eleven creative professionals that make a forever lasting impression with inspired draftsmanship and dynamic ink for your “bod.” Guru founder, Aaron Della Vedova, is mixing up the flavor for the shop’s first book, “Creative Urges” featuring edge-to-edge reproductions of some of Southern California’s finest tattoos. (Tim Mantoani photographing Aaron at Guru Tattoo).

Over the past ten years I have been operating a booth at the world-famous Comic-Con in San Diego. An honor, as the exhibit halls are filled with wall-to-wall inspiration and good pals. Fortuitously, I have made friends with the kind folks at Cartoon Network over the years and a creative collaborative project has emerged to celebrate their twentieth-anniversary celebration in book form. The Cartoon Network 20th Anniversary Book will be one part celebration of their commitment to deliver an entertaining array of entertainment, one part celebration of the men and women who bring hundreds of characters to life, one part artist interpretations of their characters, one part extravaganza to be announced prior to Comic-Con 2012.

2012 will feature active promotion of important contemporary artists through Murphy Book Publishing, documentary filmmaking, active reporting, art collecting and archiving. The long awaited film and longer filmmaking process continues with the delivery of a new feature length documentary film that features: James Jean, Souther Salazar, Martin Wittfooth, Matt Furie, Mark Todd, Esther Pearl Watson, Megan Whitmarsh, Kelsey Brookes, Victor Castillo and more.

New books are in the works for Martin Wittfooth and Kevin Paulsen (pictured above), two contemporaries living and practicing in New York. (Clint Eastwood sets for Mystic River and matte painting for Unforgiven courtesy of Jack Taylor).

And yes there is more. Collaborative projects and creative exchanges with gallery owners, support at art fairs and Art Basel in Miami in support of 101/exhibit and Mindy Solomon Gallery. New websites in the works for yourBuddhi—Yoga for life, Murphy Design (really? It’s been way too long), and goodChatter.com promoting all things good.

Thank you for taking a glimpse of a few of the projects happening this year. My sleeves are rolled up and I’m ready to deliver on an inspired year. If you are interested in more information or would like to collaborate, email me and “magic” will happen, or at least that’s what Christian Clayton has coined—“Magic Murphy.” The new year is turned on and looking forward. More soon. (yourBuddhi.com website design, empowering the non-bill payers of yoga. Beware of yourBuddhi.com of La Jolla, CA and Harmony Yoga of Redondo Beach, CA).

Happy St. Patrick’s Day : Detroit Rock City

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. With so much happening in the world it is a well deserved day to visit the pub with your bub. To celebrate this most hallowed tradition, as 50% of me is Irish, the other 50% Lebanese—Guiness goes great with Hummus by the way—I am working hard to prepare for a trip to Detroit. (Brandon Boyd, image above).

Not just any trip, mind you. A get to work, learn me some skills and get inspired with the fine folks at the College of Creative Studies. My good friend and fellow artist Donald Kilpatrick has invited me to work with his classes, experience the letterpress lab and share a few thoughts on Tuesday, March 22 at 11:20 am at the Wendell W. Anderson Auditorium—W.B.Ford Building (Ford campus) at the College of Creative Studies. You are all invited. (Mark Murphy, image above).



And as “luck” would have it, there is a group show, “Lyric,” this Saturday night at 323East Gallery curated by Glenn Barr featuring Jeff Soto, Gary Taxali, Calef Brown, Travis Louie, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters and many more.

To prepare, I touched base with Glenn and learned that he had invited many artists that I have collaborated with in the past requesting a musical motif transcription and its words onto canvas. Glenn shares. . .



mM: loved the hand scrawl on your postcard and the promotional pieces you put together for Lyric.

GLB: gosh thanks!

mM: How was it to curate the show and how has the response been?

GLB super strong response... even from the jaded Detroiters. ha. and curating the show was a piece of cake... I just contacted a few fave artists that I new and BAM!.. instant show. Think I'll be doing more in the future...hated not being able to get even MORE artists involved but it's a quaint little gallery space...(Jeff Soto, pictured above)



mM : knowing you will get totally busted, what are some of your immediate favorites?

GLB: only seen a few pieces and I've been completely blown away... Gonna have to see for you're self. Ha!

mM : describe a little bit about the theme Lyric?

GLB: The theme LYRIC seemed like such a universal subject that I knew my artist friends would LOVE to tackle it. Everybody is inspired by music in some way. Everybody has their favorite song… Everybody interprets songs differently too. So how ‘bout your fave artist transcribing a LYRIC into a visual narrative?…. I think it was really easy for these artists to transcribe something they know A LOT about.... I think we all listen to music while we work and paint... right?...(Gary Taxali, pictured above).

mM : what's next for the world according to Glenn Barr?

GLB: solo show at La Luz de Jesus in June, solo show in Italy at MondoPOP Gallery in the fall AND a book thru LAST GASP called "Glenn Barr's FACES" this Sept. Also a print(s) release thru Circus Posterus like within the next 2 weeks and working on toys and bronzes!.... yay. love bronzes....(Calef Brown, pictured above).



Thank you Glenn Barr. Looking forward and ready to crank out some work to prepare for my trip to Detroit and the College for Creative Studies.

The luck of the Irish has me smiling, as I recently discovered the great poetic talents of Doug Tanoury while working on the article for James Jean’s show “REBUS.” Doug grew up in Detroit and recently relocated to Richmond, VA. Bummer, as I had invited him over to the CCA lecture on Tuesday to recite his poetic prose. His art, artists and lyrical quality of his prose is all inspiring. Check him out. More soon and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. (James Jean, image above).

James Jean REBUS

James Jean’s second solo exhibition, “Rebus” opened March 12 at the Martha Otero Gallery in Los Angeles. “Rebus” featured a distinctive direction and mind-blowing collection of large scaled works created at James’ home studio, garage and private warehouse shared with David Choe. (Recumbent 40" x 60").

It’s hard to believe that James Jean just recently completed his second art collection—installed floor to ceiling with hand painted wallpaper. A nice touch, adding significant depth of scale for his apocalyptic compilation. At first glance, peering through a thick crowd of fanfare, I felt that James had continued his unique form of abstract expressionism. (above : gallery installation detail, Sprinkler detail).

James constructed a dense array of visual symbols comprised of brightly piled pigments and purposeful brush strokes. He thoughtfully reveals the right amount of information needed to peek your curiosity. James invites you to take a step back, realign to the center of the frame and choose a focal point for a second look. This is a much needed step to absorb the illusion of abstraction. “Rebus” offers the opportunity to read between the lines and discover typographic elements dancing amongst the decay of fallen subjects. (above : hounds 72" x 150").

James describes in Martha Otero’s press release, “The solidity of the paint belies the illusory nature of the narrative: these excavations into the subconscious are fraught with misfires, inconsistencies and contradictions of a dream.” (Cherubs 96" x 120")

Originally from Taiwan, James studied at the School of Visual Arts in NY and later stumbled upon my Comic Con booth in San Diego with his sketchbooks. Kevin Christy and I were blown away. Not just sketchbooks, fluid line that captured minute detail and the essence of daily life intermingled with fantastical worlds—organic deities, figurative mingling with nature, micro detailed writings with microscopic pen and pencil wisps. (L/sketch from Baby Tattooville 2006, R/Sketch featured in “Rebus”)

James Jean has exhibited at The Japanese National Museum in Los Angeles, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and his work is featured in the permanent collection of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. James was featured in “Survey Select” in San Diego. A few of the paintings featured in “Rebus” were filmed last year for the forthcoming art documentary film by Mark Murphy currently in production.

James Jean has entered a new level of painting consciousness, forging new ground into a nebulous world comprised of lyrical gesture, colorful abstraction and controlled experimentation with his brush. “Rebus” is not to be missed and can be viewed at the Martha Otero Gallery through April 30. (Tiger detail)

PS—“Rebus” is a form of word puzzle that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. Latin for “things.” (Braid and Lotus War featured above).

Survey Select Artists H—N

The Things I don’t know I don’t know, 2010 : 24 x 24" : latex, acrylic, glitter on board

Maya Hayuk : NY

There are things I know I know, like stuff in my immediate surroundings and inside my heart. There are the things I know I don't know, like quantum mechanics and the names of all (or any) of the members of Canned Heat. Then there are the things i don't know that i don't know. I don't even know what the questions are that I'd need to ask to find out the answers".

The Quiet Battle : 18 x 18" (acrylic/silver leaf/mixed media on cradled wood panel)

The Quiet Battle: Sketch : 6" round (pencil crayon/silver/gouache on tracing paper) : Sold

Ryan Heshka : Canada

We live in a world of quiet conflict, which happens on a subtler level than the obvious, larger conflicts we see in the media. Machine versus nature—animal instincts versus our "programmed" (accepted) human society. The piece is a study of the concept of quiet conflict: soft, feminine elements (quiet), versus the harsh, sharp, masculine elements (battle). The viewer has a voyeuristic, "peep-hole" view of the scene, as if looking through a powerful telescope... and like a telescopic view, we don't hear the sound of the battle raging, but it rages just the same.

Airport purgatory : 24"x36" : etched plexiglass and spraypaint

Logan Hicks : NY

"This piece is part of a new series that I began a year ago. With this new series it extracts all the extra information so the viewer can focus on the human story without being distracted. This particular piece was taken in Heathrow airport as I waited for several hours for my flight to be rescheduled. As I sat there I couldnt help but notice how people react to others around them. This one guy just sat there staring forward as though his life had just ended. It was like he was trying to transport himself to a better place. I pulled out my camera and snapped a photo right as the woman over his shoulder turned around."

Waiting : Acrylic & Pastel : (2010) : 34" x 34”

James Jean : CA

James is a fine art painter born in 1979, Taipei, Taiwan and who now lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

The Who riders / who's it going to be him or me : 14"x25" : graphite, color pencil, gouache, and gold leaf on paper

David Jien : CA

Entering into David Jien’s cinereal universe is a hallucinatory experience, in which even a familiar face is (literally an) alien—though as the lyrics say, people are strange, when you’re a stranger. Like lost charts, Jien’s drawings depict a vertiginous temporal reality, alternating between the dawn of a folkloric world when mythological creatures still walked amongst men, and an unknown future in which aliens have finally reached contact. Indeed, there is an overarching sense of fantasy, of going There and Back Again on an episodic quest.

Melting : Acrylic on canvas : 18" 24"

Mi Ju : Korea

Entitled “Melting” because the painting is one of my series of North Pole.

Tangled Through : pen & ink, watercolor, collage, on paper : 22 “ x 30" : Sold

Mel Kadel : CA

This piece tells the story of our connections to one another. I believe that we are all tangled and looped together, and are integrated into each other's personal paths. Our individual journeys of moving forward, are always combined with those around us.

As the Music Swelled they Whispered the Words, “Descent with Modification” : 54"x 18" : 2010 oil/canvas

Dan Kennedy : Canada

"The work attempts to explore the historical and popular imagination as a collective ghost story, populated and narrated by a cast of real and imaginary characters and locations, where the phantoms of the past continue to speak to our modern culture. The boundaries are permeable . Themes of exploration have been; science and magic, social and political conflict, wonder and paranoia, public memory and the private imagination, histories of subversion and resistance and the projection of new worlds. The work is a hybrid of various thoughts, images, texts and fantasies based on official and unofficial histories. They all become points of departure and investigation throughout the working process."

who put their toes in my goblet : 18" x 24" : Acrylagouache and Acrylic

James Kirkpatrick : Canada

I am interested in the language of reoccurring marks that change and evolve over time in my paintings, which begin as abstract pieces but always end up with figurative elements in them. This figurativeness is mostly accidental and what I believe is part of my subconscious coming through in the work. The different “figures” interacting with other shapes and colors are what often lends a narrative aspect to the paintings. Visually, they tend to reflect my influences from hobo graffiti and popular culture, such as comics and cartoons.

Study of Cain and Abel : 36x36" : Acrylic on Wood

Hiro Kurata : Japan

This is one of my studies of the story "Cain and Abel" from the Book of Genesis. "Cain and Abel" are the first mythical brothers."Cain is a crop farmer and his younger brother Abel is a shepherd. Cain is portrayed as sinful, committing the first murder by killing his brother, after God has rejected his offerings of produce but accepted the animal sacrifices brought by Abel." The painting is my take on the myth and by replacing Cain being the Caucasian baseball player and Abel being the African-American boxer; we can possibly have a new perspective on the great myth.

This is a whole new series that I just started to work on. It is the first series of my 'Study of Cain and Abel" and I am planning to do 8 other paintings with this title. It is my take on the new perspective on warrior/ brotherhood fight/ capitalism vs idealism/ materialism vs materialism/ wht if Abel fights back?/ sort of theory. For the one I submitted "~the boxer" Baseball and Boxing is perhaps the two main sports that represents America, and what if these two top athletes fight? (brotherhood fight) bat x fist , and what if Abel (boxer) fights back and beats Cain? That would be a start of a new myth.

THE NIGHT TRAVELERS, 2010 : 22x30” : Acrylic on Rives BFK paper : Sold

CHEAP JEWELRY AT MAY FAIRE, 2010 : 10X16” : Mixed Media on Panel : Sold

Tasha Kusama : CA

The night travelers are stages of being going on the journey of the unknown, having a moment of reprieve, doing the round and round, the freeing of, and on to the next. Portals are there for the choosing…the revolving door, the shining gold, or into the looming darkness…Each leads to the next phase of the story. Will it be a wise decision, or will it end up where it began? Playing music along the way…

The individual in the painting is caught in the flux between natural simplicity and excess. She is constantly weighed down by the acquiring of stuff…the constant need for the next shiny object, only to find that it leaves her seeking a more purposeful destiny.

Diving to Wonderland : 24'' x 22'' x 8'' : acrylic and oil on 4 wooden boxes

David Choong Lee : CA

After seven years of focusing on the figure, he began to explore different concepts, such as mixed media, sculpture and graphic design. He's been influenced by such diverse sources as Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Sukdo, and underground music DJ scenes. He ended up creating his own artistic style that is a combination of graffiti, collage, portrait, and classical realistic skill with bold graphic elements. As you can see by the release of his products, he has combined many different forces to create his own, distinctive style.

emotional terrorism : 9" x 12" : mixed media on canvas

super is as paris does : 80" x 57" : mixed media on canvas

Anthony Lister : Australia

Anthony describes the first painting, “I often refer to parenting as the guilt that keeps on giving. This painting is a representation of a child aware of his parent's emotional vulnerabilities and using it to his advantage.” And the second, “I met Paris Hilton and then did this painting of her as a super hero.”

20” x 20” : Acrylic on wood panel : (2010)

James Marshall (Dalek) : NC

Transcendental Disaster : Acrylic on Canvas : 98” x 62”

Mars-1 : Mario Martinez : CA

That Color Makes Your Face Look Ugly and Poor : (2010) : mixed media on paper : 17" x 36"

Sean McGaughey : CA

Transfixed : Acrylic on paper : 17 x 22”

Brendan Monroe : CA

I currently live and work in Stockholm Sweden with my wife Evah and our cat Jalapeño.

Sea Pearl : Aluminum Panel w/Digital Print : 4’ x 4’ : (2010)

Carnival Heat : Aluminum Panel w/Digital Print : 4’ x 4’ : (2010)

Barbara Nessim : NY

A lasting impact is made when 3000 years of beauty paradigms are compressed and distilled, as in the artworks “Sea Pearl” and “Carnival Heat” from the series Chronicles of Beauty. The Greco-Roman sculptures utilized in these pieces present the historical archetype of beauty. Standards of beauty have evolved and broadened throughout the ages, as there is greater access and media exposure to the diverse ideals of what people find attractive cross-culturally. Chronicles of Beauty combines historical models of perfection with modern elements to pose questions about the social implications of the quest for beauty and acceptance.

Sketch Book Joy

Cathie Bleck : Tim Biskup

Ana Bagayan : Amanda Visell : Shag : Lola

What is the “big deal” in collecting signatures or inviting a great artist to pen a precious moment into a blank sketch page? For some, a special favor to make something meaningful and more credible. And for others, proof that hours standing in line, was well spent, as they now possess the captured markings of a famous artist or gifted soul.

Dave Cooper

For me, the only way to collect thoughts and unexpected opportunities is to travel with my sketchbook. Often, I look for the chance to hang with artist friends who enjoy drawing and exchanging in great conversation. Of course, I am a true nerd when it comes to this exercise, but it is vitally important that I capture and collect these moments in volumes that can be archived for future generations. Especially, for those who may not get the opportunity to meet all of these artists, (I promise to leave these sketchbooks to a museum someday).

Daniel Peacock

Brandt Peters : Kathie Olivas

Every year, there are chances for fans to collect these "sketch" moments, and Comic-Con is one of the best. Of course, some fans arrive armed with blank canvas boards, vinyl figures and pages filled with inspired artists from years past. True art patrons, in my opinion, are interested in the personal exchange with an artist, conversing while the artist is busy drawing on their page.

Over the past few years, Jeff Soto and I have shared a booth at Comic-Con. I love witnessing Jeff work on many sketches for his art pals and fans of his work. For me, this is a great education, watching black line move across the page, take form and turn into something great. Often, this is a discovery that ends up in a future Soto painting.

Matt Furie

Brandi Milne : Paul Hornschemeier

This year, I have had the great privilege to meet Matt Furie and a new artist, Paul Hornschemeier at the Buenaventura Press and Fantagraphics booths. Alvin of Buenaventura Press kicks out some of the best-designed books in the graphic/comic space and his new “Kramer’s Ergot” rocks. Thankfully, Matt Furrie and Matt Groening signed this oversized coffee table book. Rockin.

Thomas Han : Gary Baseman

This entry represents sketches I have archived over the past couple of years. Kind thanks to all of the talented artists who have shared their creative moments with me, as I continue to learn, explore and experience a creative community I feel so fortunate to be a part of. More will be shared soon, but for now you all are invited to make collecting art a “big deal” in your life.

James Jean