Joe Murray's Journal

Although I love the summer, I’m enjoying getting back to some rhythm. Kids back at school. The episodes of Frog are progressing ( More in the quality aspect than quantity.) I’m not one to tweak until the cows come home, but I want these to be right. But I’m also having fun. It’s the pendulum, ( as Mr. Warburton quotes in my book) that swings from art to commerce that if you are not careful, will crack your skull open. It’s all a balance. Life and Art. Art and Work. Life and Work….. money?  That’s a whole other beast in itself.

I’m finding my job description as an Animator, producer, Entrepreneur, a creator with two network shows in the past that a lot of people have a strong connection to,,, keeps changing. I keep finding new situations where I go “Yes,,, this is important to my job description. Keeping this plate spinning is important to me. On top of Dad, Boyfriend, etc…. But the line between work and play is not so defined with these job descriptions. And I love that. Very fortunate.

Uh oh…. the phone is ringing. And I can’t find it under my pile of storyboard pages.  It’s here somewhere…….

On another note. ( and maybe I’m too sensitive to this stuff) my video blog with Tom talking about amputee’s. I didn’t want to come off like Tom is a pain in the Ass in records because he’s thinking about how other people feel. Tom is the opposite of a “pain in the Ass” in the recording booth. More of a delight, someone you watch in awe. I just found the whole conversation funny, and a good insight into how we discuss when we are crossing the line.

Okay… back to work.

Sometimes it’s hard to post. How much do I want others to be aware of the demons that sometimes play in my head? I like to post on days I feel upbeat and optimistic, but then there are many days when I realize sometimes the years have beaten the optimism out of me. I’m still trying to raise my two daughters, and deal with the wreckage of a past marriage. But also be a positive light and give back to animation all that it has given me. But sometimes that is passing on the torch when I feel I’m growing tired of the marathon. Giving a few tips for others to carry on

When will it get easier? I don’t think life is about easier. I just want to make stories and characters, and the episodes and films in which they live. That’s a privilege. But I also need to support my kids, and uphold my obligations.

I’m tired.

Changes, Changes

The site will be undergoing some more changes this week. Some experiments with advertising ( please don’t freak out, we will see how it goes. It’s a test for further development of the web model.)

I will also be posting a clip this week from my recently completed film “Frog in a Suit” as well a new film to Tin Box Theatre shortly.

Spending the day finishing editing still more galley proofs of the book.

These highs and lows of an artists life always remind me what it’s like to feel. The money, no money, working hard, playing hard, marriages, divorce, kids, all the while being able to tell stories.

At the risk of overusing a tee shirt phrase,,…….”Life is Good.”

What is Artistic Independence?

I want to fill you in a bit on the journey I’ve been on, and how artistic and financial success can sometimes de-rail your artistic freedom.

Through my “pre-Rocko” art days, I had a small but gratifying art and animation  studio. Expenses were watched carefully in order to stay as lean as possible and to not have to take every job that came through the door. When I was negotiating Rocko, I didn’t need it to survive financially. I was quite happy with my business, and if I couldn’t get the freedom to do what I wanted on Rocko, or the right deal, I could walk away. And I did several times. Through most of Rocko, I squirreled money away, and later invested it in the stock market. Because of the boom in the late nineties, I was doing quite  well. But the spending started increasing, I and my then wife started a family, everyone wanted more money from me because they felt I had it to give. ( And I did donate quite a bit of it.) But  what I started finding was my monthly expenses were trending upward, and slowly taking away my freedoms.

Anyway, long story short, a recession, divorce, taxes, etc, I realized I desparately needed a “money makeover”  to pursue projects and businesses that may not make money at first, or maybe at all. I started downsizing, eliminating. I shared stuff that I had sitting in closets and such with those who maybe didn’t have a closet. In this process, I also realized I had an enormous amount of archive material sitting in storage that others might enjoy. I liked all of it, but I wasn’t enjoying it if it was sitting in boxes. Not to mention paying for storage fees. ( That is my answer to “Why are you selling such cool stuff?”)  I love it. I’ve had most of it for fifteen years, and maybe someone else, a fan of art or the shows, should have a chance to enjoy it. I’m donating part of the sales to charity , ( and one percent to the planet). But I want to simplify.

So, I’ve gotten my expenses and my lifestyle down to a managable level so I can pursue the two major projects I have going on right now. My independent film “Fishhead”, and my business start-up KaboingTV.com, the cartoon web channel. Both are being produced on a bootstrap budget to begin with, and without early investors or money people, I have the freedom to make then the way I want to.

Low overhead to me, means Artistic independence. It feels good.

I’m totally going nuts with trying to get this video blogging thing going. Found out I was a little behind the curve with video editing because my Power Macs are not equipped with an Intel Processor. ( When did Intel and all of the video camera makers have such a mass orgy? I missed it.)

Anyway, one Final Cut Pro 7 upgrade, and new Macbook Pro later, I think I’m close. We will see. Not that I’m excited about having my mug on camera, ( I’m freaked out about that really.) I’d like to share a trip I made where I saw the old building where we did the Rocko pilot up in Saratoga.

I’m also tripping on the amount of work I’ve been doing getting this new site up and running, while still working on Fish Head.

Then there’s Christmas around the corner. Holy Crap. I need to stay calm.

Keep those gingerbread latte’s away from me please.

Are we so Devoid of Art in our lives?

I’ve been watching this empty piece of land near my house for awhile.

I drive past it almost everyday.  It started slowly. Someone decided to stack a rock on top of another. Then more rocks stacked. Soon, every rock on the stretch of land had been stacked , seeming to point weary settlers in the wagons to the appropriate trail. Like a desert landscape out of a John Ford movie. But what I saw were locals who were badly in need of some type of art expression.

When Halloween came around, suddenly the rock sculptures carried Jack-O-lantern pumpkins perched high on the seeming teetering stacks. Some became scarecrows. Each day brought something new.

Now, that the Christmas season is upon us, the rock stacks are beginning to take on the look of the holidays. Who knows what’s in store. Some developer may drive by this splat of land and see a potential building or house that could occupy it. I’m glad someone has it has their canvas for now.

Unlike other countries, America seems to place little value on artistic expression for merely arts sake. I suppose it’s a form of graffiti , that has been legitimized as art in the recent decade. But these sculptures don’t have an urban message to them. Just the results of some lone soul or souls in need of some art in their lives.

I like it.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Going through some old files for a talk I’m giving to a school on tuesday and came across this page I did for one of the illustration directories in about 2001. Looks like an early version of Lumpus in there. For those interested, it’s acrylic on strathmore illustration board with some gouache thrown in.

When I was illustrating in the 80′s the directories like “The California Workbook”  and a few others were the way to go to get illustration work. ( I myself got most through direct mail and word of mouth). The directories gave way to internet directories like “Eyespot”, but the illustration business has shrunk so much I’m not sure whats being used these days. My friend and amazing illustrator Elwood Smith seems to continue using the old tried and true method of direct mail postcards.

Quiet morning this morning. If my kids were here we would be watching the parade.

Note: If you simply have the urge to shop tomorrow, watch “the story of stuff” link on the left of this page first!

Well, we got some of the video stuff going, but it’s got a few bugs in it. I’ll be trying something out in the next few days.  A little sad this Thanksgiving cuz my daughters are with their Mom out of town, and the rest of my family are elsewhere in the country. I’m happy not to be traveling.

I’ve realized something with participating in Facebook and such. I’m normally a bit of a recluse. I prefer working by myself. I’m not a party goer. I’m finding Facebook to be a bit like standing at a party while all of this conversation is going on around you, and not being the least bit interested in participating in it. I think it’s a great tool for getting the word out about projects and  stuff ( for the people who are interested in knowing about it.) But other than that, it’s a goof. At least to me. I don’t know.

I hope all of you in the US have a good turkey day, and to the rest of you, it’s just a day to be grateful. I’m grateful for you all.

Cheers.

It’s funny  with all of this talk about blogging and facebook.

I remember I went to a Rocko fan site ( or it could have been Lazlo, I don’t know) and I went to this chat room and said, “Hey, this is Joe Murray.”

And then someone wrote ” Yeah, right”.

I said “No, really it is. How are you guys doing?”

Then someone said something really rude, and told me to stop with the BS and to get the hell out of the room.

So, I’m always hesitant to log and at Rocko or Lazlo sites, and interrupt their conversation.