Greg Murphy | Illustration Blog

Origin of the Universe

2012-02-11T13:38:00.001-05:00

This week's big question dealt with the origin of the universe. This illustration was inspired by the concept of the "fine-tuned universe", which postulates that our universe is seemingly "tuned" to support intelligent life, a quality that is not necessarily inherent of all possible universes.

In Search of the Soul

2012-02-04T22:43:00.000-05:00

It's been a super long time since I've posted anything, but a lot of new things are brewing! I'm starting up a new thesis project for the semester, dealing with "Big Questions" in philosophy and science. Each piece will serve as an illustration for a hypothetical magazine article addressing a particular big question. The illustrations also are going to emphasize human figure and symbolic elements, two of my biggest struggles in the past. This first piece was created to accompany an article titled "In Search of the Soul."

Self Promotion

2011-12-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

This past week I worked on getting my promotional materials put together (hence the lack of new art posts). I constructed my portfolio using unfinished wood and bookcloth, with a laser etched cover.

Greylord: Overview

2011-12-06T22:03:00.001-05:00

The semester is nearing the end, so the Greylord saga will be concluding, at least for now. Click the "greylord" tag at the bottom of this post to see it all in one place. Here's a cheesy trailer I made and scored, and here's the story:

After the final war of ourtime, the earth is a desolate world, scorched and contaminated by the nuclearArmageddon that wiped out all civilization. Over centuries, the last vestigesof human society began to thrive in a region untouched by the ravages of theFinal War. This vast, verdant expanse is known as Aeden to the scattered humantribes that inhabit it. The memory of the poisoned lands beyond Aeden’s bordersis now kept only in legend, a sight unseen by human eyes for nearly two millennia.Humans are not the only creatures to call Aeden home, as many strange lifeforms rapidly evolved to find earth’s altered clime hospitable, as well asmysterious, all-powerful entities known as Greylords. These mighty beings areworshipped as gods and act as forces of nature in the lives of the human clans,appearing at random to wreak havoc across the land. In reality, however, the Greylords are autonomous war machines left from the time of the Final War. After the Greylord known as the Wandering Lord wipes out a mountain clan, the tribe's lone survivor, the Hunter, embarks on a quest for revenge against the race of Greylords.

Bull of Heaven

2011-12-06T20:09:00.001-05:00

A quick piece reimagining the Bull of Heaven from The Epic of Gilgamesh. While the text refers to the mighty creature Gilgamesh slays as a bull, the myth also describes it as having dinosaur-like qualities rather than being truly bull-like. Most images of the Bull created in the Epic's time are pretty underwhelming and even less bull-like than this one, so if anything I'm sitting square in a long tradition of artists who said "Whatever" to the whole It's a Bull thing.

Website Up!

2011-12-01T23:27:00.001-05:00

It's official: gregmurphyillustration.com is online and operational!

CHECK IT OUT!

Greylord at the Pass

2011-11-28T14:06:00.001-05:00

The Hunter confronts the Mountain Lord in a snowy pass high in the Blackrock Peaks. This Greylord's slow speed is more than made up for by the sheer destructive force of its mountain-leveling fists.

Desert Beast

2011-11-17T09:11:00.001-05:00

The deserts of the Borderlands are harsh and seldom traveled. Those who do pass this way may have the added misfortune to encounter the Pit Lord, a serpentine Greylord that makes its home in the red sands. The Pit Lord was responsible for devastating surprise attacks during the Final War, and this ability has not lessened nearly 2,000 years later. Few who cross this god's path live to tell the tale.

8-Bit Hero

2011-11-13T19:18:00.001-05:00

Took a break from my "real" work to do some style experimentation. Not sure who this guy is or why he likes cigars and space invaders so much...

Autumn Valley

2011-11-12T14:05:00.001-05:00

A pastoral valley lies nestled in the Blackrock Mountains. The Erdone Clan believes the spirits of their ancestors inhabit this region, and mark the area's boulders with symbols and totems to honor their dead.

Chieftain & Hero

2011-11-06T19:55:00.002-05:00

The top image depicts a wealthy chieftain of the Erdone Clan dressed in priestly robes and gilded ornaments that are denote his rank in the tribal society as well as his closeness to the gods. His headdress bears the likeness of the local deity, the Wandering God. The lower image is a first pass at the design of the Hunter, still somewhat unresolved. He is a knight-like character with a mismatched set of armor cobbled together to provide maximum mobility and minimum weight. Since he is an individual perpetually in pursuit, his legs remain unprotected to leave his running and climbing abilities unimpaired.

Little Acrylics

2011-11-03T22:50:00.000-04:00

Doodled another little guy in acrylics.

Ichabod Crane

2011-10-29T14:25:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Some Swords

2011-10-20T11:20:00.001-04:00

A small selection of blades from the world of Aeden. The Relic Sword was constructed by the Hunter from a shard of ancient metal hard enough to cut though a Greylord's armor. The Longsword provides a longer reach than the Relic Sword and is an effective weapon for combat against humans and creatures, but is wholly ineffective against a Greylord. The lightweight Scimitar is a fast, deadly weapon in the hands of a skilled warrior and is best used against hoards of lightly armored foes. The Cataclysm Sword is a weapon of incredible power left from the time of the Final War. Each swing of the blade produces a concussive blast powerful enough to obliterate most targets.

Glasslands

2011-10-16T11:32:00.002-04:00

The Glasslands were once a desert, until the Fire Lord passed through the region. The impacts from his fiery fists created pillars of crystalized sand and the heat left in his wake turned dunes to glassy mesas.

Drumaine Forest

2011-10-11T10:11:00.003-04:00

Drumaine forest grew on once infertile land after a passing Greylord's footsteps diverted a river into this rocky region. Now snaking tree roots wind around the sheared off stones along the way to the cliffside region of Oduthian.

Road to Wunnheim

2011-10-07T21:54:00.004-04:00

A dried-up riverbed serves as the road leading to the Wunnheim region. The stone pillars that stand high above the plains are home to a wealth of vegetation and creatures not found below, acting as veritable islands in the sky.

Some Little Dudes

2011-10-06T12:15:00.002-04:00

This was a poster design for a k-12 theater festival. I've been doodling these little guys on napkins and scraps for a while, but this is the first time I've tried using them in a digital piece. My personal work seems to be moving in this direction, to this world of plastic creatures, propeller-trees and spiral-skies, so it will probably be showing up in a lot of my non-concept work.

Greylords

2011-09-25T10:14:00.002-04:00

Two of the numerous Greylords that inhabit the realm of Aeden. The hammer-fisted Mountain Lord served as a demolition unit before being repurposed for combat during the Final War. It is the patron god of the Oduthian Clan. The smaller, barrel shaped Wandering Lord is the regional deity of the Erdone Clan, despite its far-ranging travels. During the FInal War, it fulfilled a light infantry support role. It is this god that the Hunter seeks.

Creatures of Aeden

2011-09-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

The land of Aeden is home to a variety of creatures that evolved rapidly to survive in the drastically altered world left in the aftermath of the Final War. The bone-faced Slaither (top) inhabits the swamplands of Aeden. This large amphibian is slow moving and prefers to ambush its prey from among the thick reeds. The Erdone Yak (center) is a mild-mannered, dim-witted beast of burden endemic to alpine climes. The Fiske (bottom) is a cheetah-sized hunter with crushing jaws and powerful legs. These sly beasts hunt in packs, allowing them to easily take down prey many times their size.

Alpine Greylord

2011-09-06T12:56:00.002-04:00

A lone Greylord passes through the mountains of Erdone in this image, which establishes the elements that will define the world of Aeden.

Angry Hobo

2011-07-20T08:26:00.002-04:00

This summer I've been a TA for illustrator and all-around cool guy Greg Houston with mica's precollege program. This quick acrylic piece was in reply to a challenge Greg proposed to myself and fellow TAs to each do a rendition of a certain memorable vagrant we encountered in Washington Square Park.

Assorted Creatures

2011-06-20T21:09:00.003-04:00

Firefly Marsh

2011-05-01T20:39:00.001-04:00

Expedition

2011-04-28T15:15:00.012-04:00

Tashbaan Street

2011-04-22T11:47:00.001-04:00

Archenland

2011-04-21T17:11:00.005-04:00

ST-70

2011-04-19T14:41:00.003-04:00

The ST-70 functions as a light personnel carrier for planetary operations on Tyche.

Tyche: Creature Design

2011-04-17T11:24:00.003-04:00

Vehicle Sketches

2011-04-11T13:49:00.001-04:00

Just some vehicle sketches.

Tyche Bio-Mech

2011-04-03T22:20:00.004-04:00

A bio-mech found on the world of Tyche.

Now In 3D!

2011-03-21T12:56:00.005-04:00

Tried messing around with Blender. This turbine bike was the result.

Flora & Fauna

2011-03-15T21:56:00.002-04:00

Some creatures/plants found on Tyche. Pencil sketches.

Underground Sortie

2011-03-04T09:26:00.005-05:00

In this image a reconnaissance craft surveys an unexplored cavern deep inside the moon Tyche.

Spec-Con Facility

2011-02-26T17:50:00.005-05:00

This was a piece showing the specimen containment center in Colony 117.

In-Class Ship Design

2011-02-22T00:20:00.005-05:00

In my concept art class, we were given simple spaceship designs created by classmates during an earlier exercise to interpret as a more realized design. The original silhouette design (by Holly) is below my colored sketches.

Tyche Comm-Station

2011-02-12T15:58:00.003-05:00

As a continuation of the world I created earlier in the map, I had to show an establishing shot to generally encompass the environment of the planet Tyche. The scene I settled on is a view from Comm-Station Gamma, overlooking one of the planetary veins. I've also included two quick variations showing the scene at night and during the spore-releasing season.

Calormene Aristocracy

2011-02-05T21:17:00.006-05:00

I'm currently working on a long-term project developing concepts for the C.S. Lewis book The Horse and His Boy. The bulk of the book is set in the desert land of Calormen, located south of Narnia. This design was for the Tisroc, the opulent ruler of Calormen.

Map of the Landing Site

2011-01-29T17:07:00.004-05:00

In this semester's concept art class, we're working on developing our own unique worlds. I created this map of a colony established on a planet that is actually a living super-organism. The "water" is blue fungus-like organisms that make up the entire planet, while the red soil is cosmic dust that as been collected and secreted like a shell by the planet.

Oh, Hey 2011!

2011-01-12T23:34:00.002-05:00

So, it's 2011! Yeah, crazy! I can't say I've gotten any serious work done in the last few weeks, but I've been working through a lot of the more technical things that I don't have time to address during the school year and just trying to find a more natural way of working in photoshop. Here are some helmet designs I did this week while trying out ways to simplify my painting process.

Interplanetary Marine

2010-12-14T00:16:00.005-05:00

I noticed that I've been really overworking a lot of the pieces I've done recently, so for this space marine I tried to loosen up a bit. I'm not used to working this way, but I'm fairly pleased with how this piece turned out, so I'll definitely be pursuing this style further.

Tank

2010-12-01T23:48:00.004-05:00

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

2010-11-14T17:07:00.008-05:00

Here's my finished cover illustration for 20,000 Leagues.

and without type...

Gun Designs

2010-11-04T12:01:00.003-04:00

Migration

2010-10-21T10:38:00.006-04:00

Here's a concept for a migrating city. I envisioned this planet as a barren desert where the changing seasons make parts of the world hospitable at times and unlivable at others. Cities there are designed to move according to the season.

Castle of the Snow Queen

2010-10-14T01:12:00.005-04:00

For concept art, I had to design the castle from the fairy tale The Snow Queen. Based on the story's description, I felt that it should be a stark, sprawling structure of jagged edges, in this case, icicle-like towers.

ALIENS

2010-10-09T23:03:00.005-04:00

So, for my narrative color class, I had to create a movie poster (or just a scene that captured the essence of a film). I picked Aliens and decided to create a scene that evoked the mood of the movie rather than overtly using the imagery associated with it. Obviously, the environment, character and creature designs were still heavily influenced by the movie's aesthetic, but I tried to keep everything different enough that I could still do the concept designing in my own style.

Toothscape?

2010-10-09T09:40:00.002-04:00

Robocop 1863

2010-09-29T18:23:00.006-04:00

This is the final version of my 19th century Robocop concept.

Hobgoblin

2010-09-06T16:05:00.011-04:00

I've been sketching a lot in Painter recently, so I decided to try to do a finished piece using it. This hobgoblin concept for my concept art class was the result.

Planetscape

2010-07-18T16:03:00.008-04:00

Skate Deck Design

2010-04-24T17:31:00.009-04:00

This is a design I did for a (fictional) skate deck and matching t-shirt. The design had to incorporate the name of a specific rider sponsored by the skate company, the company logo and adhere to one of five possible image themes. I decided on rider Gerard Danforth and the theme "Heavy Metal Space Pyramid" for the final illustration.

Stymphalian Birds

2010-04-05T09:42:00.027-04:00

Product Design

2010-04-04T01:00:00.011-04:00

Last year I took a product design class in which we worked to create designs that re-imagined food/home products as sustainable commodities. My team's design was an over-counter, rack mounted dispenser that utilized a modular system of biodegradable plastic pouches. The pouches would contain any number of kitchen fluids, from detergents to salad dressings. This past summer, our prototype (see below) was shown at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC. This week, I received exciting news that it has been featured in the new design book "Exploring Materials," which can be found here.

Still Life & Window

2010-03-30T23:44:00.004-04:00

Sketch-Constructing the Arcologies

2010-02-11T22:00:00.007-05:00

Monster Mash, part 1

2009-10-14T15:00:00.008-04:00

Working on some sketches for an illustration depicting a legendary monster and its "modern equivalent." I'm illustrating the Greek giant Argus (aka Panoptes-'all seeing'), who had many eyes (rumored to be 100). This is just some prep work from my sketchbook for the legendary monster bit.

Bono-RED

2009-09-23T09:44:00.008-04:00

Bono returns for a final illustration. This time it had to incorporate something related to him, so I went with a (product)red theme.

Another One

2009-08-24T13:28:00.003-04:00

Just reread Huxley's Brave New World, and did this quick concept based on the "decanting bottles" from that story.

Bioform Abstraction I

2009-07-23T16:18:00.004-04:00

3 ft x 3 ft, Ballpoint Pen