Comicon Schedule

It’s probably too late for this (Comicon starts tonight) but here goes. There is a lot going on this time at the Comicon, and we’re scrambling! I’m sharing a booth with Murphy Art Books, find us at booth #4833.

That's my piece (above) for the Superhero show on Thursday. I’ll have two portfolios of small originals on paper, mostly drawings and color comps and will also be bringing some larger one-off monoprints. Please inquire at the booth if interested. I’m also bringing some prints- 5 artist’s proofs of my sold out Springbees litho, a few random sold out prints, and my new “Beast Within” giclee. My new zine, “Brain Decay” will debut Friday and last but not least, we just got 100 advanced copies of my new book “Storm Clouds” rushed from the printer. I’m psyched!



We have added Maxx242 into the lineup. He’s fresh back from Japan where his Zac Pac Be@rbrick had it’s debut. He is bringing 25 of these rare collectibles to the states and they’ll be for sale exclusively at our booth. He will also have his new zine “Never Dead” available.



Mark Murphy’s newest book, “Oil” will be available, as well as some of his original line drawings. He will be signing and sketching throughout the convention.



Schedule of Events- Murphy Art Books, Booth No. 4833

Thursday July 24
*Jeff Soto will be signing his new book Storm Clouds from 1 to 2:30 PM
*Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas will be signing their new book Ghosts and Martyrs from 3 PM to 4:30 PM

*SuperHero Exhibition and Party, 7 to 12 PM
Warehouse Space : 1616 National Avenue : San Diego : 92113
featuring Live Music : The Modlins and SSI
Sponsored by Effen Vodka, HiFructose, Ninthlink, Murphy Art Books

Friday, July 25
*Come by and say hi as we eat convention center hamburgers with floatation device sized buns.

Saturday, July 26
*Jeff Soto will be signing his new book Storm Clouds at 11 – 12:30pm and 2 – 3:30pm
*Maxx242 will be drawing and signing his new zine “Never Dead” and ZAC PAC Be@rbrick from 4-5:30pm
*Top secret Mark Murphy Rager house party

Sunday, July 27
*Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters will be signing their new book, “Ghosts and Martyrs” from 11– 12:30pm


Some of my monoprints available:

The Mailbox Explosion

Our mailbox got blown up the night of the 4th but someone didn’t do a very good job. It was all bowed out but didn’t actually get destroyed. They used a homeade bomb fashioned out of black electric tape and foil. There are some real pricks that live in our neighborhood. I shouldn't laugh but it's ever so slightly funny to get your mailbox almost blown up.




The Sea No Evil show was pretty cool at the Riverside Art Museum last week. If you ever get a chance to hear Paul Watson talk you should do it. He’s the captain of the M/V Steve Irwin (yes named after the crochunter- he was a big time conservationist and shared the same goals as Paul). He told stories of sinking illegal whaling ships, getting between whales and harpoons in an inflatable boat and getting shot by whalers. He had a definite passion for helping out our oceans. The artshow raised around $50,000 with all the artists donating their work to help Sea Shepherd. Here's some pics...



Here's a new painting I finished.. called “Brain Decay”. Don't necessarily know what I'm doing anymore but am having fun and exploring new territory which is exactly what I love about making art. So things are going good.



Just took part in the Monothon at Riverside Art Museum on Friday. The workshop is run by Ron Pokrasso an expert printmaker from New Mexico. I think I’m getting hooked on printmaking. I was working with solarplate which is an etching method without any kind of hazardous chemicals. You just use the sun to develop it rather than acids which is better for your health and the environment. I’m going to keep experimenting with printmaking when I can, it’s fun because you never really know what you’re going to get.



Last but not least, is the Comicon in San Diego. I’ll be there like always. I'm sharing a booth with Murphy Art Books- we’re at #4833. Come say hi if you’re going. Should be fun and crowded as always. Plus always excellent people watching and I’ll be bringing my camera. Look for me I'll be dressed as Xena.


My new book will be debuting at the Comicon, I’m excited, I haven’t even seen the final myself yet. I think we put more into this one than the last, there's an intro by Peter Frank, and a rather funny (and X rated) essay by David Choe. He's naughty but awesome. The book has most of my paintings from the last 3-4 years, it's kinda a trip to look at, for me anyway. I can see the evolution that has happened in my work. Hope people like it. I'll do a better blog entry about it later.


Here’s part of the press release:
Jeff Soto delivers his second fine art collection, “Storm Clouds.” “Storm Clouds” represents Jeff’s evolution beyond his signature robot vs. nature motifs and features work from his politically charged solo exhibitions, “Supernova,” “Cold Ice Age,” and “Storm Clouds” created over the past three years. The Riverside Art Museum, with funding from the James Irvine Foundation, generously contributed the introduction to the book written by RAM’s senior curator, Peter Frank. Also includes essays by Jeff Soto, David Choe, and Mark Murphy. 

“Storm Clouds” features a hard bound, archival edition, that matches the size and format of the sold out, “Potato Stamp Dreams,” with over 154 pages. The standard edition features specialty printing on the cover and the Limited Edition will feature a custom printed box, signed book, with 4 archival prints and special touches. Available late July 2008. Please contact murphy@murphydesign.com for more info.

I also have a new print out. "Beast Within", 17" x 17" giclee, edition of 50. I had a lot of requests for this image and think it's relevant somehow in this election year. Find it on potatostamp.com



Finally, just a photo of my daughter that Erin took... how did Jennifer and I make such a cute kid? I'm already learning to use a shotgun (or at least pump it dramatically) for when she's a teenager... I plan on being that scary dad on the porch...

The Tattoo Post

I got my Kestrel tattoo colored in a couple weeks ago by the mysterious R.G. I'm really happy with it, and though we are going to eventually add in some background- fall leaves and whatever, it feels like it's finished. R.G. is the best. I don't know why he's mysterious, he's not very mysterious actually, we just used to call him "the mysterious R.G." a long time ago. I like watching him work, I don't know a lot about tattooing, but to me he works like a painter, mixing colors on the fly, and working the needles like a brush.

We talked about what makes a piece of art timeless, be it a tattoo or a painting, but that's a tough question, and we didn't really find an answer. I like that about RG. He has a lot of integrity and is not afraid to question his own work. But you know you're going to get a good tattoo. I couldn't be happier with mine, I feel that nature tattoos done in a non gimicky way have a certain timelessness to them, but of course that's just one guy's opinion. As tattoo trends come and go maybe it's impossible to have a design that is timeless. Or maybe it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. In any case, it's one of the reasons I don't like designing tattoos. People ask all the time but it's just not in me.


I only have a couple of tattoos myself, so this was only the third time I've been needled. In the past I always thought I was a wuss, because both times I got all light headed and felt like I was going to pass out. The pain was never really bad, so I didn't understand why I'd feel like that. But now I know what was up. It was my blood sugar and the adrenaline rush you get when you're about to get tattooed. This time I tried drinking some soda and eating a bunch of cookies and I didn't have any problems. It was really nice talking to RG and his girl Gill, rapping about art and New York and Mead Valley. Good times.


Thanks RG...

So I got a new computer and while transferring over all the files I found about 30 images of my work tattooed onto people. I knew I had these but forgot about them. These are all images that were sent to me or I found on message boards. It's flattering but sorta weird at the same time. The robot stuff I was doing a few years back is the most popular theme, I don't know how timeless they will be but maybe by the time we start worrying about that we will all have blurry colored blobs on our arms anyway. All I know is my fans are awesome, and it's an honor to have my work permanently etched into their skin. Take a look...