Kelly Murphy
Encyclopedia
Kelly Murphy is an American author
and illustrator
of children's books
from Massachusetts
. Murphy attended the Rhode Island School of Design
(RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island
, her student work receiving distinction from the Society of Illustrators
. After graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration in 1999, Murphy started a freelance career as an editorial and children's book illustrator. She wrote and illustrated her first picture book The Boll Weevil Ball in 2002 and has since illustrated a dozen more, including stories written by award-winning authors such as Kathi Appelt
, Richard Peck and Jane Yolen
. Murphy has also created artwork for theater and film, including the 2003 indie feature Little Erin Merryweather.
In 2009 Murphy earned an E.B. White Read Aloud Award for illustrating the New York Times Best Seller Masterpiece
, written by Elise Broach
. She has taught painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and is currently on the faculty of the Department of Illustration at the Montserrat College of Art
and Rhode Island School of Design
.
Kelly Murphy's original art was exhibited in the 2010 Children's Book Illustrators Exhibition at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios, celebrating outstanding illustration contributions in the field of children's literature, with fellow RISD alumni illustrators Christopher Bing, David Macaulay
and David Wiesner
.
Kelly Murphy's work has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City, NY.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Murphy attended the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
(RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, her student work receiving distinction from the Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
. After graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration in 1999, Murphy started a freelance career as an editorial and children's book illustrator. She wrote and illustrated her first picture book The Boll Weevil Ball in 2002 and has since illustrated a dozen more, including stories written by award-winning authors such as Kathi Appelt
Kathi Appelt
-Biography:Kathi Appelt was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and grew up in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University. She and her husband, a researcher in adult literacy at Texas A&M, have two grown sons. She lives in College Station, Texas....
, Richard Peck and Jane Yolen
Jane Yolen
Jane Hyatt Yolen is an American author and editor of almost 300 books. These include folklore, fantasy, science fiction, and children's books...
. Murphy has also created artwork for theater and film, including the 2003 indie feature Little Erin Merryweather.
In 2009 Murphy earned an E.B. White Read Aloud Award for illustrating the New York Times Best Seller Masterpiece
Masterpiece (novel)
Masterpiece is a 2008 novel written by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy and published by Christy Ottaviano Books. It won a 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year in Children’s Fiction, the 2009 E.B...
, written by Elise Broach
Elise Broach
Elise Broach is an author from Easton, Connecticut. Among Broach's publications are the acclaimed novels Shakespeare's Secret, Desert Crossing and Masterpiece...
. She has taught painting at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and is currently on the faculty of the Department of Illustration at the Montserrat College of Art
Montserrat College of Art
Montserrat College of Art is a four-year residential college specializing in the visual arts, located in Beverly, Massachusetts, 23 miles north of Boston. It is named indirectly after the Slave Ship Montserrat.-Description:...
and Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
.
Chapter Books
- MasterpieceMasterpiece (novel)Masterpiece is a 2008 novel written by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy and published by Christy Ottaviano Books. It won a 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year in Children’s Fiction, the 2009 E.B...
(2008, Illustrator, written by Elise BroachElise BroachElise Broach is an author from Easton, Connecticut. Among Broach's publications are the acclaimed novels Shakespeare's Secret, Desert Crossing and Masterpiece...
) - Flight of the Phoenix (Nathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, Beastologist is an ongoing series of chapter books for children written by R. L. LaFevers and illustrated by Kelly Murphy. The books chronicle the adventures of young Nathaniel "Nate" Fludd, a beastologist in training who travels the world in search of mythical beasts, with his...
, Book 1) (2009, Illustrator, written by R. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFevers is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series . R. L...
) - The Basilisk's Lair (Nathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, Beastologist is an ongoing series of chapter books for children written by R. L. LaFevers and illustrated by Kelly Murphy. The books chronicle the adventures of young Nathaniel "Nate" Fludd, a beastologist in training who travels the world in search of mythical beasts, with his...
, Book 2) (2010, Illustrator, written by R. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFevers is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series . R. L...
) - The Wyverns' Treasure (Nathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, Beastologist is an ongoing series of chapter books for children written by R. L. LaFevers and illustrated by Kelly Murphy. The books chronicle the adventures of young Nathaniel "Nate" Fludd, a beastologist in training who travels the world in search of mythical beasts, with his...
, Book 3) (2010, Illustrator, written by R. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFevers is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series . R. L...
) - Haunted Houses (Are You Scared Yet?) (2010, Co-illustrated with Antoine Revoy, written by Robert D. San SouciRobert D. San SouciRobert D. San Souci is a multiple award winning children's book author, residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. He often works with his brother, Daniel San Souci, who is a children's book illustrator. He was a consultant to Disney Studios and was instrumental in the production of the film Mulan,...
) - The Unicorn's Tale (Nathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, BeastologistNathaniel Fludd, Beastologist is an ongoing series of chapter books for children written by R. L. LaFevers and illustrated by Kelly Murphy. The books chronicle the adventures of young Nathaniel "Nate" Fludd, a beastologist in training who travels the world in search of mythical beasts, with his...
, Book 4) (2011, Illustrator, written by R. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFeversR. L. LaFevers is an award-winning American children's book writer from California. She is the author of the Theodosia series and Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series . R. L...
) - Secrets at Sea (2011, Illustrator, written by Richard Peck)
- Alex and the Amazing Time Machine (2012, Illustrator, written by Rich CohenRich Cohen (author)Rich Cohen is an American non-fiction writer. He is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone magazines. He lives in New York City.-Background and education:...
) - The Scorpions of Zahir (2012, Illustrator, written by Christine Brodien-Jones)
Picture Books
- The Boll Weevil Ball (2002)
- A Place To Grow (2002, Illustrator, written by Stephanie Bloom)
- Loony Little (2003, Illustrator, written by Dianna Hutts Aston)
- Dancing Matilda (2004, Illustrator, written by Sarah Hager)
- Good Babies (2005, Illustrator, written by Tim Myers)
- Fiona's Luck (2007, Illustrator, written by Teresa Bateman)
- Gallop-O-Gallop (2007, Illustrator, written by Sandra Alonso)
- Hush, Little Dragon (2008, Illustrator, written by Boni Ashburn)
- The Peach Boy (2009, Illustrator, written by Alex Frith)
- Brand-New Baby Blues (2009, Illustrator, written by Kathi AppeltKathi Appelt-Biography:Kathi Appelt was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina and grew up in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University. She and her husband, a researcher in adult literacy at Texas A&M, have two grown sons. She lives in College Station, Texas....
) - Over At The Castle (2009, Illustrator, written by Boni Ashburn)
- Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters (2011, Illustrator, written by Jane YolenJane YolenJane Hyatt Yolen is an American author and editor of almost 300 books. These include folklore, fantasy, science fiction, and children's books...
)
Exhibitions
Kelly Murphy was one of 5 artists whose work was exhibited in the 18th Annual Children's Book Illustrators' Show & Signing at the Chemers Gallery in Tustin, CA in 2009.Kelly Murphy's original art was exhibited in the 2010 Children's Book Illustrators Exhibition at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios, celebrating outstanding illustration contributions in the field of children's literature, with fellow RISD alumni illustrators Christopher Bing, David Macaulay
David Macaulay
David Macaulay is an author and illustrator. Now a resident of Norwich, Vermont, United States, he is an alumnus and faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design.- Biography :...
and David Wiesner
David Wiesner
David Wiesner is an American author and illustrator of children's books and publications. His work has won several honors, including three Caldecott Medals and two Caldecott Honors.-Career:...
.
Kelly Murphy's work has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City, NY.