Joe Murray's Journal

Definitely in a place of bliss with the work I’m doing. I get lost in it. It’s the characters coming to life through movement, expression, mood. I like doing shows, but actually getting down to each line, sound effect, background,, crafting and tailoring without the volume and deadline heaviness. And then able to get interrupted by my daughter asking if she can have chocolate milk, or to go out in the back yard and see how the herb garden is doing.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

Today is the last chance to bid on these two original paintings of mine. Go to Ebay here to bid. It closes about 2:30 PM Pacific time.

Work continues on the short pilot film, as well as Fish Head. The E-book will be gone forever after July 7. Will surface in over a year as a hard cover, but not exactly the same.

At the risk of being a little too cosmic:

“We all have something we are meant to do. Your genius will shine through , and happiness will fill your life the instant you discover your higher purpose, then direct all your energies towards it. Once you are connected to this mission, whether it is being a great teacher or an inspired artist, all you desires will be fulfilled effortlessly.

We are all here for a special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past, and become an architect of your future”.                                                                        -Robin Sharma

I love this passage. In fact, I’ll add something of my own in the last part. Stop being a prisoner of what society says you should be doing, and become an architect of your own future. Although any gift is valuable, there is one, I believe, that is ours alone to give, that will be our contribution. Our true gift, in my opinion, has to be found, peeled back layer by layer, until you discover the feeling like ” this seems right, but it’s crazy and no one will understand it. But it will leave the world better than I found it.” 

Since art and teaching are major pointers to what we will need going into our next few decades ( it’s not money, and not more toys) the time has never been more eye opening.

I’ll leave this with an excerpt from a commencement speech Paul Hawken gave to the University of Portland recently:

“YOU ARE BRILLIANT. AND THE EARTH IS HIRING!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course.  We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead the stars come out every night, and we watch television.”

We need to be watching the stars. And I don’t mean the ones “dancing” on ABC.

Don’t know why I woke up on Monday morning needing to paint. Maybe because I’ve been staring bleary eyed at a computer screen too long. Needed to feel a brush between my fingers, and slap some paint around. I’ve been wanting to do some paintings of my characters for a while, so that’s  what I did.

After I posted the final paintings, I have to say I got one of the best posts I’ve ever received. The kind that keeps me centered when I’m getting to full of my artistic self.

it’s from Danni:

“Those are pretty great pictures. Bye the way, do you know how to draw a picture of death taking a shower? That would be so cool and so funny.”

Well Danni, I’ve never attempted “Death taking a shower”. ( Does death really need a shower?) But it sounds like a challenge.

Thanks Danni! I loved it.

Since the original painting I sold of Heffer started more inquiries into me selling original art, I’m Starting a series of “Character Paintings” and putting them up for sale here , courtesy of the Joe Murray Studio Archive Collection Store. I may do something with prints of the final series, but for now, I’m scanning them, and placing the originals up for sale.

The first is this original Acrylic painting of Rocko, Spunky and Heffer. The art itself is 5 X 7, on 8 X 10 Illustration board. I’m selling it unframed. These characters of course, are from my animated series Rocko’s Modern Life that ran on Nickelodeon. You can bid on it at ebay here. Bidding starts at $200. and ends on May 28th!

The second is this acrylic of RAj, Lazlo and Clam, from my series Camp Lazlo on Cartoon Network. Again the art is 5 X 7 on 8 X 10 illustration board. I’m selling it unframed. Bidding also starts at $200. and ends on May 28th. Bid on it on Ebay Here.

Currently juggling 3 projects, which lead to brain fry but artistic fulfillment. ( why do those two go together? Hmmm) . Working on Fish Head ( as always) also finishing a pilot for a new series due by the fall. ( a very short abbreviated pilot). Also, the hard copy version of my book Crafting a Cartoon for Random House/ Watson Guptil is due in early July. Very crazy. Blasting David Bowie when I’m not listening to the birds out my window.

Been watching films on Christo ( Running Fence, Umbrellas, you know the guy). If you want to get inspired when roadblocks come up to you fulfilling a dream, watch those. His determination is artistic.

In fact, I feel the most important part of the films was when he was in one of his countless hearings for some committee that had to approve his latest project, and he said “You are all part of my artistic project. This process is part of my art.” Basically, even those who voted against his projects were participating. The hurdles are part of the art. The struggle is part of the art. Then I looked at my projects, and probably the most fulfilling works were the ones that were the most difficult to pull off.

Time to go for a run in the hills before the sun goes down.

Polar Bear Awareness Day!

My 11 year old daughter Daisy is on a quest to raise money and awareness for the plight of the polar bear. Due to global warming, the ice pack that the bears use for hunting is melting earlier and earlier, decreasing their feeding time, and leaving some stranded in the ocean. The polar bears are dying at a rapid pace.

Daisy has created a web page to make direct contributions to the World Wildlife Fund, who is at the forefront of climate change research and solutions, as well as protection to those animals threatened by these fragile ecosystems. Since summer is the most dangerous time for polar bears, Daisy has a goal to raise $1000. by the end of summer. Your contribution is tax deductible, and goes directly to the World Wildlife fund.

Go to Daisys page for the Polar Bears here.

Many many thanks from Daisy and I!

Cartoon Network Creators, circa 2007- Left to Right, Me, ( yes, thats me) Tim and Julie Cahill, creators of “My Gym Partner was a Monkey”, Maxwell Atoms, creator of “Bill & Mandy”, Everett Peck, creator of “Squirrel Boy” ( and Duckman), Craig McCracken, creator of “Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends” and ” Powerpuff Girls” , Joe Horne and Thomas Lynch, producers on “Class of 3000″.

Came across this photo of the Cartoon Network Pack, back when Cartoon Network used to be a Cartoon Factory ( did I say that? Hmmmm). The main photo was shot on the roof, except I was photoshopped in because I was in London at the time of the shoot. It’s hard to see, but I have marshmallows ready for roasting, Tim Cahill has a live monkey on his shoulder, and Everett Peck is holding  a stuffed squirrel.

It brings back fond memories. All of these folks are good people, and great collegues. ( Everett Peck was a hero of mine when I was illustrating. After getting to know him, he still is.)

Don’t know why I was feeling nostalgic. None of these shows are in production anymore, but I’m hoping we see more from all of them!

Convention Day is a very Dangerous Day

Thanks to Daniel Sills for sending me this pic of him at the Anime Central Convention in Chicago. It makes me remember with gratitude all of those who participate in the artform of Rocko. I and my crew put it out there, but everyone else who loves it keeps it going. Thank you for that.

This photo reminds me of the walkabout ( body puppet as they called it at the amusement park I worked at) of Rocko they had at Universal in Florida. I was there for a licensing convention, and Rocko came out while I was giving my presentation, and I have to say, it’s a mind freak to see one of your own characters walking around with legs and feet. That one was a professional version, but I think Daniels has more life to him. ( especially holding Spunky!)

Thanks Daniel. And thanks to all of you who keep celebrating the show with me. You are great.

Page from my sketch book after a run in with creepy ( phantom?) elevator man.

Beach Week End

Spent the week end at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego taking a much needed break from hunching over the animation board. I’ve stayed there a few times. It’s 120 years old on a beautiful beach with a lot of history. One of which is that there is a ghost living there. I’ve never known where this ghost was,, it’s a big place. Last time I was there with my daughters, we had this really creepy elevator operator, who I had never seen before and never since. When we told him we were on the 4th floor, he said to us in a haunting voice, “Why would you get a room on the 4th floor. The 3rd floor is much nicer”. My daughters and I looked at each other and scurried off the lift, across the creaking floors to our room. 

This time, I was riding up the elevator, making small talk with a different elevator operator ( wearing the same nostalgic suit), and I asked him ” So where is this ghost anyway?”. He stared out through the wrought iron elevator cage and said sternly ” The 3rd Floor”.  Almost like “That’s the dead zone”.

I went to my sketch book where I drew that last creepy guy, and sure enough, he was promoting a stay on the 3rd floor.

Maybe the ghosts were looking for a little company. Or some new occupants. Hmmmm.