New Magic Art: Eagle of the Watch

Here's a new card for Magic: the Gathering that just came out. This one is for the newest set, Journey into Nyx. 

12" x16" Oil on masonite

I really enjoyed painting this guy since a: he's an eagle, and you know how I feel about those, and b: I got to paint a tiny cyclops smashing some unfortunate soldiers off a cliff. Though I will say that incorporating the "Nyx," the stars you can see in the shadows of the cyclops, was a bit of a challenge to paint and have it read properly. Here's the card:

 I'll get some new prints for it up in my etsy store, as well as the artist proofs once I get those in the mail. 

 

New Illustration: Beyond Griffith

Here's a new illustration I did recently as a reaction piece for my trip to Pasadena back in November with the Hartford MFA program. After each trip we are required to create an illustration about something we experienced during our travels. I usually try to keep these paintings within the vein of my typical work, but I found it difficult to come up with something purely fantasy in the context of L.A. and it's surrounding area...No offense L.A., but you're just not home to axe wielding northmen or hordes of skeleton warriors (outside of the movie studios). 

So instead, I was inspired by our brief trip up to the Griffith Observatory. I thought it was a really cool place with great architecture and some awesome murals...that I could see through the doors. Sadly, we had gotten there just after closing. But I imagined what it would be like to be a kid who was visiting and getting to learn about space and look through the giant telescopes. So I created a little story in my head about a girl who visits the observatory and imagines herself becoming an astronaut...and her dog pal too...because, why not? 

"Beyond Griffith"
12.5" x 18" Oil on masonite
Available for purchase, contact me if interested. 

The Evolution of Grendel

Hey folks, today I'm happy to share a "new" set that I did over a year ago for Cygames' card app game: Rage of Bahamut. As with the Skull Soldiers I posted last year, the idea is to take a given character and sort of evolve them over a series of four stages. It's always a fun challenge to take an already somewhat over-the-top character and push them further with each step. For this one we have a guy named Grendel...I'm not sure if he's supposed to be related to the Beowulf Grendel, but in any case they just said that he was a large beast man with an axe that lives in the forest and his "skin" is more like exposed muscle. So off I went:

All of the paintings are 10"x12" Oil on masonite. 

The originals are available for purchase, please contact me at murphyillustration@gmail.com if interested. 

Spectrum 21!

Today I'm happy to announce that my painting "Badru and the Giant" was accepted in Spectrum volume 21!! You may remember my post from last year about the competition and my acceptance for the first time ever. I am completely honored and excited to be included yet again in this year's edition. As well, to have one of my personal pieces from a project that I care very much about gain recognition makes it that much nicer. 

Thanks to all of the judges and congratulations to everyone else!

New Magic: Minotaur Younghorn

I'm very excited today to share with you a new Magic: the Gathering card that was just released this past weekend. Unlike my last MtG related post about Setessan Oathsworn, this card is actually the first I was ever commissioned for the game. Have a look:

Minotaur Younghorn 12" x 14" Oil on masonite

This guy was created for a special encounter deck called Battle the Horde. Which is a special preset deck that players can play against to try and defeat the bloodthirsty minotaur clan. So, sadly this card can't be used in regular game play....i think? I don't quite know the the rules regarding this card, but I think it can only be used in conjunction with the horde deck.
Anyway, I'm really happy with this painting and it was a blast to create. Here's the sketch:

12" x 14" charcoal and digital

I'd like to thank Dawn Murin the AD on this one for giving me my first opportunity to work on a game I've wanted to create art for ever since I saw it back in 1998. It's an honor to be a part of all the other outstanding artists working on the game. 

Both the painting and sketch are available for purchase please contact me at murphyillustration@gmail.com 

Space Eagle

I was doing thumbnails the other day for totally different project, and for some reason I was inspired to paint a space eagle. So I did this quick painting:

5x7" Oil on illustration board

I might have to turn this into something some day...

For purchase information contact me at murphyillustration@gmail.com

New Prints Added to My Etsy Shop

Hello everyone!

I've added a whole bunch of new prints to my Etsy shop that weren't previously available.
So swing on by and check them out.

My First Magic Card! Setessan Oathsworn

Today is a very exciting day! 

That's because over the weekend I found out that my first image (not first commissioned though!) for Magic: The Gathering was spoiled for the upcoming set Born of the Gods! 

This is exciting because I have spent years trying to get work on this game which is known for it's top notch art and artists. On top of that, it's been almost a year since I first painted this image. So i've had to sit quietly waiting in anticipation for it to show up. Now gladly, I can share with everyone!

This had a fairly straightforward description which was to basically show this newly aligned satyr standing strong as a guardian of his new homeland. 

Here's the sketch I turned in:

12"x16" Charcoal and digital

From there I went ahead with the final which turned out like this: 

12"x16" Oil on masonite

And here's the way the card looks. I can't wait to get the physical artists proofs in the mail!

Ferryman of Hades Final

I managed to wrap up the painting for the sketch I posted not too long ago. Here's the final painting of The Ferryman of Hades.

20" x 30" Oil on masonite.

This painting will be published in the upcoming Lands and Legends book being produced by Michael Publishing, LLC.

New Sketch: The Ferryman of Hades

At long last, here's something I can actually share with everyone. 

This is a new sketch for a painting i'm working on called "The Ferryman of Hades." I'm creating the piece for an upcoming art book called Lands and Legends. I look forward to getting started painting on this one! 

Charcoal/digital 20"x30"