Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Two illustrator interviews in one week? you might be saying. (If you missed it, Elisha Cooper stopped by on Monday.) Well, why the hey not? You know, dear readers, that I love talking to artists and chatting with them about style and process and paintbrushes and influences and favorite words and inspirations and maybe some chalk here and collage there and oils way over there and so on and what-not. And you know I’m not going to ask them to stop by if I don’t have a particular fan-girl vibe goin’ on for what they do, and with today’s illustrator—Kelly Murphy—well, I love her work. The best thing? She always surprises. And I know Eisha’s a fan, too, so I boldly speak for her. So, yes, I’m so happy Kelly has stopped by for seven questions over breakfast, and how could I wait any longer to share her thoughts on what she does and find out—ooo! ooo!—what she’s up to next. (Hint: One future project involves Jane Yolen, so that makes it doubly exciting.)

And so what do I love about Kelly’s illustrations? First, I love her range. You can tell by the illustrations on display in this interview that she can paint for the wee’est-of-the-wee set and then swing over to painting something altogether more sophisticated and edgy for older readers. And, in their review of 2007’s Gallop O’ Gallop (Dial), School Library Journal nailed what else I adore about her work: her “well-composed, beautifully textured” art and her ability to swing from style to style with ease: such as, from realism to whimsy. She can also go from warm to goofy to somber—and a wide array of tones in between—with great ease. And there’s always a real energy—lots of verve, a sparkle—to her work, no matter the subject matter, setting, or tone.

There’s also her kickin’ web site; her sense of humor; and her latest venture, Shybird Studios, in collaboration with French artist Antoine Revoy. Shybird, founded in 2007, showcases Kelly’s and Antoine’s collaborative projects and specializes in illustration, concept art for animation, and character and motion design. When Kelly stopped by one Sunday in late March here at 7-Imp, she shared one of those collaborative illustrations, as well as a handful of other illustrations not in this interview, so head on over there if you’re cravin’ more Kelly.

Kelly’s very latest illustrated title, Masterpiece by Elise Broach (Henry Holt), will be released at the end of this month. I haven’t seen it yet, but OF COURSE I want to. Masterpiece, marketed as a YA novel (though Kelly told us in March it’s aimed at ages 8 to 12), evidently tells the story of a beetle named Marvin, who makes a miniature drawing as an eleventh birthday gift for James, a human with whom he shares a house, and the two new friends work together to help recover an Albrecht Dürer drawing stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What’s Kelly having for breakfast this morning while we chat? “I typically have Diet Coke and a lite yogurt for breakfast. Nutritious, huh? Aspartame owns me. BUT, my ‘I can eat anything and not gain a pound’ ideal would be blueberry blintzes…OR a huge hunk of a baguette with Nutella. HEAVEN.” Think I can talk her into having some coffee with me? Let’s set the table anyway by getting the basics from Kelly, and 7-Imp thanks her immensely for stopping by.

7-Imp: Are you an illustrator or author/illustrator?

Kelly: Illustrator and one-time author so far.

7-Imp: Can you list your books-to-date?

Kelly: {Ed. Note: Kelly took the time to list her books-thus-far—plus a few forthcoming ones—and they’re listed at the bottom of the interview.}

7-Imp: What is your usual medium, or -– if you use a variety -– your preferred one?

Kelly: Acrylic, watercolor, oil, and gel medium on paper.

7-Imp: If you have illustrated for various age ranges (such as, both picture books and early reader books OR, say, picture books and chapter books), can you briefly discuss the differences, if any, in illustrating for one age group to another?

Kelly: I guess the biggest difference would be the time and medium that each takes to complete. I am finding that chapter novels are such a fresh breath of air compared to picture books, because typically they are black and white. But since I love color and atmosphere, I also miss creating the atmosphere and jump that picture book stories can have.

7-Imp: Where are your stompin’ grounds?

Kelly: I haunt southern New England, Boston, and Providence. Then another chunk of weeks I am flying over to Paris to be with my fiancé. Sounds more glamorous than it is. Nothing is fun about layovers and the Metro after being up twenty-four hours.

7-Imp: Can you briefly tell us about your road to publication?

Kelly: Constant! Charged with a recent Bachelor of Fine Arts and the dream of making pictures for a living, I sent samples out to publishers right out of college. I sent them to everyone and anyone, magazines, ad firms, publishers… After being frustrated with full-time work, I made the decision to apply myself 120%. It was tough in the beginning, and is still tough nine years later, but I would never give this up. After three years out of school, Henry Holt published my first book.

7-Imp: Can you please point us to your web site and/or blog?

Kelly: www.kelmurphy.com; didyoudrinkmybeer.blogspot.com

7-Imp: If you do school visits, tell us what they’re like.

Kelly: Hahaha, oh goodness. See, contrary to what people think… I can be painfully shy. In theory, I love the idea of going to schools and sharing my work and inspirations with the very people that I work for. School kids have an energy and fervor {more} than any other age group. They can also be the most brutally honest. I admit, I get the shakes before starting each visit. Minutes before they enter the auditorium, I yell at myself, “Why did you say yes??” But by the end of the day, I am so energized and excited by seeing the students’ faces and questions, I am ready to do it again. I don’t think I will ever get over stage fright.

7-Imp: If you teach illustration, by chance, tell us how that influences your work as an illustrator.

Kelly: Teaching is in the same boat as school visits. SHAKES. I’ve been teaching at Montserrat College of Art for six years now. Before every class… SHAKES. But teaching has been such an important part of my life these last few years. It gives me a chance to apply my success and downfalls to very eager people. It also forces you to clarify simple things that can go overlooked, really important things like: Why am I doing this? How can I make this better? What am I saying? Constantly keeping these in my mind while talking to students has made me push myself harder in my own work. I almost feel guilty.

7-Imp: Any new titles/projects you might be working on now that you can tell us about?

Kelly: I have a book with Candlewick Press and Jane Yolen about monsters I will be starting soon. I am so excited. A sequel to Hush, Little Dragon with Boni Ashburn and Abrams Books For Young Readers is in the studio, too. And, I just picked up a gig illustrating these amazing adventurous chapter novels about a young boy, destined to become a Beastologist. Trust me, they are awesome. A British publisher and I are also collaborating on a new edition of the traditional Japanese story, Peach Boy. Wow, I am exhausted thinking about all this.

Okay, the table’s set, and we’re ready to sit down and talk more specifics. Kelly’s got her Diet Coke; I’ve got my coffee. We’re good-to-go.

1. 7-Imp: What exactly is your process when you are illustrating a book? You can start wherever you’d like when answering: getting initial ideas, starting to illustrate, or even what it’s like under deadline, etc. Do you outline a great deal of the book before you illustrate or just let your muse lead you on and see where you end up?

Kelly: It always starts with research and drawing. I grab so much reference from all places it’s not even funny. You know what’s been strange? With almost all of my books there have been these serendipitous occurrences where I will have just been looking at a certain artist or watching an interesting documentary that pertain to the future project. For instance, days before I was contacted to illustrate Loony Little, a friend showed me this huge book of Rockwell Kent’s Arctic paintings. They were gorgeous, and I ended up using all of his colors in the illustrations for the book.

From there, I start to develop a character list, their looks, attitudes, props. This is the best part of making the book. From that point, and this is such a lame statement, but I almost go on autopilot. I thumbnail the pages, blow them up, start a slightly larger version, and then tweak all the viewpoints, while refining the smaller details. It almost comes very naturally. After that, painting till I cannot paint no more. I am SO slow, and keep getting slower. It’s frustrating… I typically am pulling all-nighters the last month of the deadline. This is my biggest problem. I think I might have to change my process in order to see an improvement.

2. 7-Imp: Describe your studio or usual work space for us.

Kelly: This is so bad, I cannot believe I am telling you this… on the couch, palette in my lap, dog on one side, cat…wherever she wants, glass of Diet Coke to the right, and watching more movies and documentaries than you can shake a stick at. How bad is that! My back is starting to die, so I have been looking at setting up my desk in a better fashion. My desk is awesome, and I’ve had it since sophomore year of college, but I have to change something. I live in a one-room apartment, which happens to be the top half of a renovated barn, so it’s got a lot of light and air. But I am never separated from my work. Sometimes good… sometimes very bad.

3. 7-Imp: As book lovers, it interests us: What books or authors and/or illustrators influenced you as an early reader?

Kelly: Because I was not the strongest reader, I was always attracted to the non-fiction books, which were luckily rich with image. Our family always had encyclopedias and National Geographics that were filled with so many different animals, maps, and history I grew to love. Other books I was obsessed with were the “Learn How To” series. One of my most prized possessions is Let’s Draw Animals by Ann Davidow. This book is so beat up by myself and six other siblings, I would run into to a burning building to save it. I remember being so excited each time I opened it up and would practice drawing all of the animals inside.

4. 7-Imp: If you could have three (living) illustrators or author/illustrators—whom you have not yet met—over for coffee or a glass of rich, red wine, whom would you choose?

Kelly: Oh goodness. I have to chose just three? Will they see me get tipsy? I hope not… J. Otto, S. Saelig Gallagher, and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (two for the price of one!)

5. 7-Imp: What is currently in rotation on your iPod or loaded in your CD player? Do you listen to music while you create books?

Kelly: Wow, do I! If anyone ever saw my playlists, they’d think I was mentally agitated. Currently playing now, is Charles Trenet, but fear not, The Smiths is right after that, and then Arcade Fire, Fanny Pack, and Lita Ford. I’m a bit of music sponge, so I will soak up anything. And I mean ANYTHING. The sound level is usually deafening. Poor animals.

6. 7-Imp: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?

Kelly: I really am THAT jittery. I don’t think it’s the caffeine either. It’s just how I am built.

7. 7-Imp: Is there something you wish interviewers would ask you — but never do? Feel free to ask and respond here.

Kelly: Maybe something along the lines of… Will you do this forever? I’d love to say yes, and I will try my best. As I get older, I am nervous about my health and what effect my paints and chemicals have on me. Will I have my eyesight? Will I make enough money? What’s so wonderful is that publishing is not just one thing and can take you in so many different avenues. I welcome any of them!

7-Imp: What is your favorite word?

Kelly: “Sleep.” Kidding… it’s typically fun ones, like “fortuitous,” “serendipitous,” “gobble.”

7-Imp: What is your least favorite word?

Kelly: I’ve always hated “P**P,” “snack,” “spank”… just ugly to me.

7-Imp: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Kelly: Emotions and atmosphere. Sometimes just the way light is hitting an object or landscape and send chills down my spine. Such a nerd!

7-Imp: What turns you off?

Kelly: Over-boastful things. No need for the divaness.

7-Imp: What is your favorite curse word? (optional)

Kelly: Hahaha, in relation to the aforementioned question, “P**P.” Occasionally (which means constantly), I string together all of the cuss words. Good thing I do not have a parrot.

7-Imp: What sound or noise do you love?

Kelly: OOO! Good questions. Ready? Snow crunching beneath your feet, crickets, cats purring, katydids, and the noise pond ice makes when you drop a puck, “dooooooooooyyyyooooupp.”

7-Imp: What sound or noise do you hate?

Kelly: Loud noises freak me out. But most of all, the hum of a fluorescent light. NIGHTMARE.

7-Imp: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Kelly: Pilot! Who wouldn’t want to be a pilot? Or even a Cirque Du Soleil performer? Those people are magnificent.

7-Imp: What profession would you not like to do?

Kelly: Hahaha, lawyer, real estate agent, or wedding planner.

7-Imp: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Kelly: “Um, okay, let’s see. It’s Murphy Kelly… Oh, Kelly Murphy. Okay, um, nope. You’re not on the list… AW JUST KIDDING!”

That God, he’s such a prankster.

OR, “Sorry about the jitter.”

All illustrations and photos courtesy of Kelly Murphy. Posted with permission. All rights reserved.

Kelly’s answer to her books-to-date question:

• Boll Weevil Ball
  Henry Holt 2002
  Written and Illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• A Place to Grow
  Bloom and Grow Books 2002
  Written by Stephanie Bloom, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
  The American Horticultural Society, August 2005
  Recipient of the “Growing Good Kids–Excellence in Children’s Literature” Book Award for outstanding plant, garden, and environment-themed title.
• Loony Little
  Candlewick Press 2003
  Written by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Dancing Matilda
  HarperCollins 2004
  Written by Sarah Hager, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Good Babies
  Candlewick Press 2005
  Written by Tim Myers, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Fiona’s Luck
  Charlesbridge 2007
  Written by Teresa Bateman, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
  Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Bookmania Book To Get List 2008
• Gallop O’ Gallop
  Dial Books 2007
  Written by Sandra Alonzo, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Hush, Little Dragon
  Abrams Books for Young Readers 2008
  Written by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Masterpiece
  Henry Holt 2008
  Written by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
• Brand New Babies
  HarperCollins 2010
  Written by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Kelly Murphy