In Place Artist Discussion and Book Signing!

Magers & Quinn Bookstore
January 19th from 2pm-4pm
Artist Talk and Discusison

This past year, we have had the honor of celebrating a group of incredible concept artists and illustrators through out In Place Art Book and Exhibition. In Place is filled with a collection of full-color illustrations of some of the most breathtaking, sacred, and interesting real-life places around the globe.



From the legendary mountain range in the Bavarian Forest to the Illuminated Caves in Japan, a bustling city center in Lisbon, Portugal to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, In Place takes you on a journey to some of the most exotic locations, the landscapes that inspire us to explore and move us to create - it is the places we yearn for and dream of.


Kelly Smith

It is not just these magnificent views that make this project special, but all of the artists who made this project possible. January 19th from 2pm-4pm, we are hosting an artist talk and discussion at Magers & Quinn Bookstore. The Light Grey team will lead the discussion, sharing insight about the process, collection of artwork, and inspiration, as well as ask some of the participating artists about their experience in creating and understanding these places. We would love for you to attend and spread the word about this event!


Sam Bosma

You can see more information and invite friends and family on our Light Grey Events Page You can also see the listing for this event on the Magers & Quinn Calendar or facebook page.

Thanks and we hope to see you here!


Angela An

You can see the full list of participating artists and more about the In Place Book here on the Light Grey Shop.

Artist Interview with Jenn Tran

Meet Jenn Tran, a concept artist, developer, and creative, living and working in Seattle, WA. Jenn graduated from the University of Washington with a triple focus in Political Science, Art History, and Human Rights, and then went on to attend the DigiPen Institute of Technology for animation and concept art. She is currently an environment artist at Harebrained Schemes, working on projects such as Shadowrun Returns. Jenn is a terrific concept and freelance artist, sharing her work through video games, exhibitions, and children's books.

Jenn is one of the current artists Light Grey's 6 Degrees Exhibition, and we are pleased to celebrate all of her work and accomplishments! Through this interview, we get to know Jenn Tran, her personal trials and breakthroughs in creating, and some of her biggest sources of inspiration.


We are continually impressed with your professional work and environments. Could you describe your role as a visual developer?

Currently I'm the environment art lead, so most of my work is comprised of original concepting, making sure the art style stays consistent, and producing/managing our environment team. I mostly focus on environment work and high level concepts, design, the look and feel, and game asset creation. I also do a lot of world building for game levels which include set dressing and lighting.


Can you tell us about your studio practice and how you make time for all of the projects you want to do?

I'm honestly still trying to figure out exactly what my "studio practice" is. I love my job and the work I do there, but I guess what drives me to create art outside of work is trying to find a voice in my personal work. It's something I feel like I'm still developing. However, I am always gathering references/inspiration, studying, going to figure drawing, and continuing to explore more illustration and ideas.


What are some of your biggest considerations? Color, theme, types of landscapes, types of characters?

As an artist in games I see a lot of amazing concept art. At the same time I'm discovering and starting to fall in love with visual development for feature film animation. I’m inspired by both, and it sometimes feels like a vicious tug-of-war because they are immediately so different. I admire the technical skill and complexity of concept art both in games and film, however I'm drawn to the design, simplicity, and clear storytelling of animation vis dev. I'm starting to experiment with elements in that realm in my personal work.



Could you talk about the piece you created for the 6 Degrees Exhibition? What were your sources/stories/motivation?

Originally, I wanted to do an illustration of my favorite coffee shop in Seattle. But when it came time to create my piece for 6 Degrees I was in a different mood. I was super busy with work and at the same time trying to sort out some personal feelings regarding relationships, where I was with my art, and having just received news that my parents wanted to separate. At the time I was also reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. A quote in the book by Charles Darwin stood out to me - “A shy man no doubt dreads the notice of strangers, but can hardly be said to be afraid of them. He may be as bold as a hero in battle, and yet have no self-confidence about trifles in the presence of strangers". It seemed to describe my mood perfectly and the image I created for 6 Degrees came from that. I wanted to share the idea that home and comfort can just be a little quiet time in a really busy world.


The 6 Degrees Exhibition is all about promoting other artists, sharing and connecting within our world, and about the influence of places we call home. You spend every day developing new worlds and places for games. Can you share this process? What considerations do you have to make a place special, memorable, and feel real?

Working at a small game studio, you have easy access to the art director, environment artists, character artists, writers, and level designers, to help develop what a place should look and feel like. In that way, we are able to easily share ideas and connect with one another. In terms of process, I'll usually start by brainstorming with the art director or receive an initial brief to work with. I will then go onto researching/exploring/concepting out ideas either on my own or with the environment team. After we have a high level concept, the environment team will generate content for implementation into the level. This would be game assets such as props, decorative elements, architecture sets, etc. When we start integrating content for art level passes, we'll work more closely with the team to really nail what we want the world to feel like.


What is the most monumental project you have worked on?

The most monumental project I've worked on is Shadowrun Returns. Shadowrun Returns was an indie game that was funded through Kickstarter and came out in July. I'm proud of this project because it's an example of what can happen when a group of smart, talented, passionate people get together to make something cool. It is a really good feeling seeing everyone's hard work pay off and having the opportunity to be a part of it.


What are some of your biggest sources of inspiration?

Right now my biggest source of inspiration is CTN Expo (Creative Talent Network). The convention was more than a month ago but it exposed me to a lot of new art/artists. While I was there I went on a tour at Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was amazing being able to see the work that goes into creating a feature animation, both in the past and present. But I think the highlight of the Expo was just meeting a bunch of artist I admire online. I got a lot of great feedback and advice on my portfolio. Everyone was incredibly kind. Seeing all the talent at CTN made me want to work harder, but actually meeting them inspired me to be more humble and helpful to others.

This time of year, especially, we are thinking about deadlines, new goals, motivation, and changes. Do you have any goals or projects for the new year?

Be more organized, meet more deadlines, make more art. Be a nice to people. Don't adopt anymore cats.

Thanks Jenn! It is great to hear about your inspirations and methods of making! You can check out more of Jenn Tran's work on her website or blog here. You can also see Jenn's work on the Light Grey Shop and Digital Gallery along with all of the 80+ artworks in the 6 Degrees Exhibition.

Artist Interview with Alexia Tryfon

Meet Alexia Tryfon, a talented visual developer and concept artist, living and working in Vancouver, Canada. Alexia is known for her interesting characters and imaginative backgrounds, as well as her completed works for gaming companies and exhibitions. Alexia is currently an artist in the Rolemodels Exhibition and in the upcoming 6 Degrees! We are in love with her mystical and playful style, and cannot wait to celebrate all of her work.



Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I grew up on a small island country called Cyprus. I was lucky to grow up in a place full of cultural history. In school, we'd go on field-trips to see churches built during the Byzantium era and visited museums filled with jewelry and statues dating back 3000 years. I think the history still affects my art.

I attended OCAD in Toronto where I got my Degree in Industrial Design. I loved Industrial Design but after working in the industry for a few years I needed a change and decided to get into concept design and visual development.

Can you tell me a little about your studio practice? What you are inspired by at the moment?

I work from home most of the time. In my studio i have a large collection of inspiring art books that both my husband and I have purchased over the years. I've collected books ranging from Dali, Van Gogh, Escher, Rockwell, Payne to the art of James Jean, Peter De Seve, Pascal Campion and James Gurney. The house and the studio walls are filled with artwork from my favorite artists. I love being surrounded by color and have paintings that tell a story or depict a moment.


In the Rolemodels Exhibition, your prompt was a little different than most in creating a landscape verses a character. Can you talk about your process in developing the Fire Kingdom? What were your considerations and mood you were trying to set?

Initially, the 'Fire Kingdom' was going to be depicted as a inhospitable desert. I decided instead to see fire for its beauty not for its destructiveness. Growing up in a place where snow was rare and rain was scarce, there was something about home that made it beautiful none-the-less. Here, the light is very different and everything has adapted to the heat of the sun. I thought of fire as something beautiful, full of life, dancing in the dark and the warmth that everyone wanted to be around.

The Fire Kingdom became that place. A place where the ground is lava, always changing, always moving. Where life grows out of it, uses its energy and blooms and bursts with blue flame. There, the animals have adapted to it. The stag you see in my piece takes the energy from the lava, igniting his antlers with blue flames in a vibrant courtship display. There are also jellyfish in this sky that float in the air from the heat rising up from the ground. Crystals that help the light travel further as the lava runs passed them. The ecosystem exists because it is fueled by the fire.



You are really talented at creating these dynamic and other worldly landscapes. Are you inspired by travel or your own landscape?

I love traveling! I was very fortunate to grow up in a family that loved art, and I was able to visit so many museums around Europe, although I don't think I appreciated them as much until I was older. I also loved exploring and finding new hidden places around our home. Snorkeling with my dad and going into caves and caverns in the summer. I guess I have always loved observing nature, so each piece I create I try to imagine what it would sound like, what it would be like.



Do you have different approaches in creating landscapes verses characters?

Creating landscapes is second nature to me. Honestly, no pun intended. I always have difficulty creating characters and I actually joined this project to push me out of my comfort zone! Character design takes me longer then any landscape piece and I get overwhelmed sometimes in what style of character to create and the technicalities behind it. But when I create a landscape it feels more natural. Okay, pun intended that time.

During Rolemodels, we are celebrating all of our real life heroes. Who are your mentors or art role models?

Role models, to me, need to be real people. People I can actually speak to and get feedback and advice. My first role model was my mother. She was always running me around getting art supplies, pushing me to be better, and was supportive of any decision- She kept me honest about it.

My husband is someone who I really admire. He helps me focus and has pushed me to pursue avenues I did not believe I could take, avenues I did not think I was ready for and he has been there to pick me up when I fall. And I fall a lot. I'm clumsy. And he continues to be my first line of defense for bad ideas.

On a professional level, a role model I have only recently met in person, Pascal Campion turned out to be everything he proved to be on paper and more. I had communicated with Pascal over email and finally got to meet him at San Diego Comic-Con. He is delightful and full of life. You can recognize his work anywhere. The simplicity in his rendering, his lighting and his subject matter and how each and every single piece he creates has so much heart is something I have always tried to perfect in my work. He is honest, friendly and gave me some wonderful advice that I'm still working through.

To every artist I'd say, it's not about having the role model, but having lots of them, who push you in different ways from different walks of life.


If you had the chance to create any project, what would you make?

Realistically, I'm creating this app with my husband that I am very excited about and have been working hard at it for everyone to enjoy.... but I've had a dream where each and every artist, young and old from around the world come together in a old city to paint the whole city, each and every inch with whatever they like, with any and every color under the rainbow, while drinking lemonade out of fountains and eating fruit from the trees. Whoa, I gotta stop eating goat cheese before bed!

What is upcoming for you? What can we expect to see in the coming months?

At the moment I am working on an app for kids. My husband and I created a company named 2BLoo Studio where we are creating a game for children. I'm also making a children's book with a friend about a little girl superhero. Starting in January I will be doing the backgrounds for Atomic Cartoons new IP called "Pirate Express Ship" with TELETOON Canada.



Thanks, Alexia! You can see her piece along with the other artists from the Rolemodels Exhibition on the digital gallery here. You can also check out Alexia's upcoming work for the 6 Degrees Exhibition on the online shop and digital gallery here. Or check out her own website.

Artist Interview: Joe Lillington

This week, I had the opportunity to talk with artist, illustrator, and student, Joe Lillington. Joe is one of the many artists in the Rolemodels: The Battle for Vyk' Tornaahl exhibition, and has contributed works in several past Light Grey shows, such as Station Zero, Macro + Micro, and SMART. Hailing from London as a current illustration student at Falmouth University, Joe spends most of his time working on his studies and freelance, as well as collaborating with his fellow artists and friends on a zine collaborative called Fold. In the interview, Joe shares his thoughts and inspirations of childhood fairytales, collaboration, and his own personal rolemodels!



Can you talk about your process? What mediums to you tend to use the most, or absolutely cannot work without?

At the moment, the medium I use the most is digital, but to work that way I need scanned textures and marks made using painting and printmaking to give a bit more personality to the work. I also usually do the line work with pencil because it’s feels more natural and I think it stops things from getting too neat. Previously I was doing a lot of gouache painting, which is a medium I like to pair with my digital work.

It looks like you are currently working on a children's book!  Can you talk a little bit about your own childhood adventures, dreams, or ambitions?  Who are some heroes from your childhood that have continued to inspire you to this day?

The type of story I liked when I was younger are similar to the stories I like now. I especially liked Fantastic Mr Fox (I listened to the audiobook every night for a very long time), Asterix and The Hobbit which I still find inspiring and fun. I think these stories feed my interest in creating children’s books now, I want to make an interesting story set in a fun and engaging world.


Your work tends to invoke the style of a fairytale, and includes fantastical obstacles such as dragons and heavily guarded castles.  How do you overcome everyday obstacles, especially when it comes to being a current art student?

I think you just have to stay calm and not get too stressed about things, even if there’s lots to do or a problem with something. I make lots of to do lists to keep track of everything on post it notes, and if I'm really stuck I take a break and play a game or something.

You are part of a collaborative called Fold which includes you and a few other students from your university.  Can you tell us about this collaborative and what it is you all do?  Do each of you have different roles, or do you all work together to devise new ideas?  

Currently the Fold zine is a bit like a game of Chinese whispers. The first person is given a piece of text, which they use as a starting point to create an image. The second person then creates an image inspired by the first person’s image, without seeing the text. The second person then passes their illustration to the next person… and so on. We only see all the illustrations put together at the very end. We all work together to push new ideas and think of new content and developments for the zine, but also have certain jobs behind the scenes.


Are you continuously trying to network with other artists?  Do you feel that a sense of community and collaboration helps motivate you to work harder and take on larger projects?  Do you have any teachers or mentors that have inspired you or pushed you a long the way?

I like working around other people because it’s good to be able to bounce ideas. . .if you work by yourself and without any contact, I think your work suffers. I’m currently working with my friend Birdie Cheeseman on LillingtonCheese, creating collaborative artworks and an online shop.


Do you have any current role models of your own?  Who are some of your favorite artistic influences and how have they continued to inspire you to keep creating?  

I’m really inspired by older artists like Brueghel, as well as Medieval Manuscripts and woodblock prints. I like work that has a strong sense of place with lots of details. There are also tons of illustrators whose work I really admire, it’s good to see when other illustrators/artists are producing lots of work because it inspires me to do lots to keep up!

Thanks, Joe!

To see more of his work, you can find his website here. For process and sketches, check out his blog, and catch up with Fold Zine for zine giveaways! You can also purchase a print of his piece on the Light Grey Art Lab Shop.

Artist Interview with Matt Rockefeller

Meet Matt Rockefeller, an illustrator, animator, and student, living and working in Baltimore, MD. Matt has created work for several Light Grey Exhibitions such as Station Zero, Rolemodels, and the upcoming show 6 Degrees, and it has been an honor getting to know him! In this interview, we were able to ask about his style, sources of inspiration, real-life heroes, and creation. His work is wonderfully captivating and continues to instill a sense of wonder in us all!


Can you tell me a little about yourself? Your background, where you are from and what you currently do?

I was born in Tucson, AZ and grew up in the unique landscape of the Sonoran Desert. I lived there until I moved to Baltimore, where I currently attend the Maryland Institute College of Art as an Illustration Major with a concentration in Animation. This past year, I completed an internship at Zenimax Online Studios working as a UI Artist on their upcoming game The Elder Scrolls Online. Earlier this year, my friends (Leonard Peng and Xanthe Bouma) and I conceptualized an idea for a gallery show at MICA called “Small Creatures Such as We” which recently had its opening on campus featuring over 700 3x3 illustrations by 15 MICA illustrators.

Can you talk a little about the character you created for the Rolemodels Exhibition?

This character is actually a part of a story I’ve had brewing that involves a boy and his dog finding a portal that takes them to space and eventually other worlds. I thought it was a good fit for my fantasy alter ego (since the characters were initially based on my dog and I), and I developed him into a sort of mythical explorer who travels eternally through these different environments. I love exploring, seeing new people and places and stopping to see the small details, so I thought that a character who is in a constantly shifting environment would be perfect!


Matthew the Curious: Explorer of Worlds

What was your process like creating a character modeled after yourself? Did you give it off of real life attributes or enhance feautures? What do you think this says about your personality?

It was really interesting! I based my general appearance off of myself and focused more on the clothing and armor to define the character. I definitely heightened my physical coordination and build a bit though; I guess I wish I were more physically active, since I tend to sometimes forget to go outside instead of drawing. I also typically wear ordinary clothing from day to day, so the choice to draw such a complex outfit might reveal something about where my true confidence lies.

What are some of your favorite character types to draw? stories to create?

My stories usually involve extraordinary things happening to ordinary people. I find that I can relate to these types of stories, and they feed my inner thirst for adventure. I love to draw mysterious, isolated characters who slowly, over the course of the story, reveal their complex history and warmth of heart. At the center of all of my stories, though, are the places my characters travel to or live in, since the setting can often be just as rich in personality as the characters themselves.



You are also a great draftsman of spaces. Are there types of spaces you are attracted to? moods you are trying to set?

Growing up in Arizona, I was constantly shifting between different landscapes – the vast plains of dead grass, the quiet, pine covered mountains, and the unbelievable cactus ‘forests’. Everything was so vast and inviting, and I try to recreate that feeling in my work. There is so much about the world that is beautiful and mysterious, so I am constantly considering light, time of day, history, and a place’s unique biology when drawing the setting for a story. I want to draw attention to the place- that there is something more to it than what is seen.


How important is collaboration in the things that you do? Do you work as a team? Share ideas? Work on projects together?

Having recently put together a gallery show with 14 other illustrators, I have a reinvigorated appreciation for collaboration. We were able to create a staggering amount of work, and I was continually inspired by the variety of ideas and personalities. Working on projects with others allows something entirely new to come to the surface. There’s nothing like having a group of artists whose tastes and opinions you can rely on when you feel unmotivated or stagnant. I’ve learned so much from my peers, and I hope to continue working with them after graduation!

Who are your real life role models?

My freshman year at MICA, I had Kali Ciesemier as my first illustration professor. She’s definitely been a rolemodel and mentor for me as an artist. She is very dedicated and hard working, and also takes the time to answer questions and share information about her process. She’s very genuine and open, which I try to emulate. Daniel Krall, another one of my professors at MICA, has also been an incredible mentor. He’s hilarious, friendly, and honest, and his ability to generate ideas and talk through problems is unbelievable.

I also have endless respect for what Hayao Miyazaki has done with his vision for animated films. I strive to some day have a fraction of his imagination and storytelling ability.



What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

“Never give up! Trust your instincts!” –Peppy Hare from Starfox 64. This one’s stuck with me for a while.

In all seriousness, the suggestion to always remain curious sticks out to me as being particularly relevant, to art and life in general. There are so many interesting people, creatures, places, and ideas to be uncovered; it would be a shame to lose that sense of wonder that makes life so exciting.

What are some of your favorite resources for inspiration?

I find most of my inspiration from books/comics, animation/film, and videogames- anything that can immerse me in a different world altogether. I find that I am drawn to visual storytelling due to its expressiveness and flexibility. I also have a book featuring woodblock prints by the Japanese artist Kawase Hasui, and I constantly reference these when I’m searching how to convey a mood in my environments.

In addition, being outside, hiking, camping, breathing, all of these things can pull me out of a rut and bring my motivation back.


Can you tell us about any projects that you have in the works or things we can look forward to seeing?

I am currently finishing the first half of my senior thesis, which involves narrative illustrations featuring folklore from around the world. Next semester I will be developing my own folktale/ legend of sorts that is inspired by these stories and draws from my own experiences. Perhaps I will develop this or another story into a book or graphic novel in the future, so you can look forward to that!

Thanks Matt!

You can check our more of Matt's work on his website here or purchase his piece for the Rolemodels Exhibition here.

Artist Interview: Hannah Christenson

I very excited to introduce Hannah Christenson, a freelance illustrator based in Arizona, and a graduate of the Brigham Young University - Idaho in 2011. Hannah has worked with Tor.com, Fantasy Flight Games, and Galileo Games among others. Her favorite jobs have always been fantasy related, and she has been generous enough to talk to us today about world building, strong heroines and heroes, and of course, her piece in the current Rolemodels: The Battle for Vyk'Tornaahl exhibition!

Can you tell us a little bit about your Rolemodels persona? What elements of their personality and class traits are the most reflective of yourself?

I chose a warrior with lots of armor and a ridiculously huge shield. I'm a very quiet person who probably puts up a lot of armor around myself. My personality isn't very sneaky or graceful like I imagine other classes to be. I can see my imperfect, lumbering self in the warrior class. I'm sure I was influenced at least in some way by all the cool fantasy stories and fairy tales that I've ever read, but perhaps what I was thinking of the most was "What is the opposite of a bikini-clad warrior in the snow?" and I kind of went with that and had some fun. There is a time and a place for bikinis, but it wasn't this time or place!

You mention going on many great, yet sometimes perilous adventures while you were growing up.  Do still find your self taking on risky yet exciting challenges, especially when it comes to your art?

I grew up in the country in south Texas where there were rattlesnakes and alligators literally in my back yard. When I went outside to play my mom would tell me to watch out for snakes instead of to watch out for cars. It was great and it taught me to be cautious and prepared, but also to take risks if you want to go play. I suppose you could say that's helped me in the art world with doing my best and not being afraid to email that art director I've always dreamed of working with.  

When it comes to world building and creating environments and persons, what resources do you tend to look to?  How much research goes into designing your characters and building scenery? What are some places, books, or websites that you go to for a jump start?

I love going to the used book store and finding all kinds of books on armor and the stuff that goes under the armor, weapons, photography of environments, various anatomy books, animal books. Of course you can use the internet to research all these cool things, but books are always around to inspire you later on as well. I like to go to Parka Blogs for art book reviews. 

Can you tell us about your process?  How do you go about making decisions on creating such expressive figures within consistently dynamic compositions?  How do you make sure that each element is convincing and suitable for the stories that you try to tell?

My process probably doesn't differ from that of any other artist in that I start with a thumbnail and go from there. It's important to thumbnail and get your good and bad ideas out. Personally, if I myself were to be convinced of the believability of a character in any story, I would look at the environment first and see how the environment has shaped the character. What is the environment? Does the character dress appropriately? Live in an appropriate house? Have the items that one would need in order to live in that environment? What's her job? Does she dress and have the right equipment for that job? It's easy to fall down the details rabbit hole, but it's important to at least consider those basics.  

Much of your work seems to deal with themes of high fantasy and powerful female characters.  Is there a reason why these subject matters take such a significant role in your work?

I try to make what I want to see more of. There weren't a ton of female role models for me in fantasy when I was a kid. My local library was very small and they would only have one copy of a particular book (I had to wait FOREVER to read Harry Potter) so sometimes I'd imagine that all the good books were out. I want to see more ladies in lead roles, powerful roles, roles where they're given names and pasts. They don't all have to be armor-clad warriors either. I just want to see female characters that are written and depicted as people.

When it comes to obstacles such as art block or a lack of motivation, how do you conquer them?

Just keep working. Work on your own stuff, that secret project you dream about. Personal projects are incredibly important. They help you in so many ways. They help you improve your abilities, it's cathartic, you're producing something you love and you're passionate about. You can put it in your portfolio to get more work that you love. Cory Godbey wrote a great post about personal work, go read it! My own personal project that I've been tinkering on for a long time has helped me get jobs, break down art block, and helped me find bits of myself that I'd hidden away. 

What are some things that you arm yourself with before jumping into new projects?  How do you psych yourself up when embarking on a new illustration, or maybe there are some artistic tools or supplies you simply cannot work without?

I prefer to work digitally, so it'd be pretty hard to work without my Wacom 4 and some version of Photoshop. One thing that helps me start and finish a new illustration is a checklist. Even a very small one! My current checklist says things like gather reference, paint owl face, block in colors. It helps me stay on task and not get distracted by the shiny internet.
Tell us a little bit about your own role models; who are your artistic influences or even people who simply inspire you to keep creating?

Bear with me, this is cheesy, but my husband is my biggest supporter. When I create something I feel is incredibly stupid, I don't meet my goals, or I fail at something I had secret high hopes for he's there to push me back up above the waves. He does a good job at helping me keep my chin up. As far as artistic influences, there are so many amazing, truly inspiring artists out there that set such a wonderful example of hard work, persistence, and determination. Of course their individual work is amazing, but their sheer willpower is inspiring.  
Can you tell us about any new projects that you are currently working on, or are excited to start working on?

Outside of freelancing I'm currently working on my own secret project after hours. I can't share a ton about it but I'm excited about it. It involves a lady, some magic, some adventures and dog all in a webcomic format!   

Thank you so much Hannah! 

To see more of her work, take a peek at her website as well as her blog! Her piece is also available to purchase in the Light Grey Art Lab Shop!

Make My Holiday- Artists Announced!

Wow! Thanks to everyone who applied for this year's Make My Holiday! It was a fantastic turn out and we are excited to see what you make for one another! This is such a great time of year for giving and making a new art friend! Good luck and have fun everyone!

We just finished selecting partners- all of the artists pairings were made by the luck of the draw! So take a look at the instructions below and look for your partner in the listing.

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1. Say hello to your new art friend! - send a quick hello email and introduce yourself!

2. Request your new friend's postal address! Remember that this is a postal swap, so be prepared to ask for all the details!

3. Make something special for them!

4. Send it on over by DECEMBER 9th so they receive it in time for the holidays!

5. Once you receive it, send us a photo of you and the gift you received! You can send it to hello@lightgreyartlab.com! I'd love to post the great things that everyone gets on the blog!

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Amelia Grace Gossman

amelia-grace-illustration.com

ameliagossman @ gmail.com

+

Mercedes Benjaminse

Lacus2887@hotmail.com

wafflelele.tumblr.com

Sara O'Brien

sara.o.illustrator@gmail.com

earthboundsatyr.tumblr.com

+

Gino Pambianchi

http://ginopambianchi.com

gpambianchi@me.com

Rosana Iarusso

rosana.iarusso@gmail.com

+

Joshua Nelson

joshua@funnylookinghorse.com

Stephanie M.

s.matos@yahoo.com

http://stephaniematos.tumblr.com

+

linda thiltgen

LTcre8s@gmail.com

Bridie Cheeseman

bridiecheeseman@gmail.com

+

Jahna Vaughan

jahna.vaughan@gmail.com

Kristin Nohe

kristinnohe@gmail.com

+

Nick Bensch

nickbensch@gmail.com

+

Brittany Seiveno

tofutonic@gmail.com

www.biddoodles.com

Jeran Schmidt

jerandschmidt@gmail.com

+

Hannah Ploechl

Hannah.Ploechl@gmail.com

Hannahploechl.com

Michael Perez

michael.perez.illustration@gmail.com

+

john randazzo

Jon Renzella

JRenzella@inbox.com

Nick Nazzaro

TheNazzaro@gmail.com

NickNazzaro.com

+

Kat Michaelides

tinderkindle.tumblr.com

k.i.michaelides@gmail.com

Linda Winder

lindadraws@gmail.com

www.lindawinder.com

+

Maryam Shari'ati

shimmersilkillustration.tumblr.com

shimmersilk@gmail.com

Allison Ranieri

allisonranieri@gmail.com

+

Matthew Spencer

mspencerillustration@gmail.com

Nicole Gustafsson

nicole(at)nimasprout(dot)com

www.nimasprout.com

+

Andy Krueger

andykrueger@gmail.com

Ana Marta Huffstot

amhuffstot@gmail.com

+

CM Ringor

cmringor@gmail.com

Taylor Kirstan

taylor.vanseveran@gmail.com

+

Pablo Leon

http://artsypabster.com/

http://pabster.tumblr.com/

pablo.j.leon@gmail.com

Francine Denise

h.francine@gmail.com

+

BreeAnn Veenstra

bree@lullafly.com

Sarah Hayes

SHAYES@pnca.edu

sarahhayessketch.tumblr.com

+

Regina Stanton

ginastanton@gmail.com

Megan Fisher

meg.fish2@gmail.com

+

Phoenix Chan

http://phoenixchanillustration.webs.com

phoenix0.72@gmail.com

Jose Miguel Amante

jm_amante02@yahoo.com.ph

+

Chris Harrington

cshillustration@gmail.com

Vaimiti Tragin

vaimiti.t@hotmail.com

+

Mary Closner

1964minx@gmail.com

Vân Tran Monnier

rhymeswithfun@gmail.com

+

Kessler Robinson

kesslerrobinson@gmail.com

Lisa Imas

imas.lisa@gmail.com

hashtag-art.tumblr.com

+

Chelsea Auernheimer

spcalover@gmail.com

Kelly Arnold

Vulfolaic@gmail.com

http://www.behance.net/Vulfolaic

+

Jack Rook

wukong7272 @ gmail

Amelia Allen

ameliaeverest@hotmail.com

+

Alexia Tryfon

alexiatryfon.com

alextryfon@yahoo.ca

Jon Marchione

jonmarchione@gmail.com

jonmarchione.tumblr.com

+

Nicole Caggiano

http://chocolatechip-tarot.tumblr.com/

Ncaggianoart@gmail.com

Karina Rehrbehn

phyllobates@web.de

+

Chris Hajny

hajny.com

chris at hajny dot com

Emily Muschinske

emily.muschinske@gmail.com

+

Justin Buenaflor

buenaflor.justin@gmail.com

Sam Lorang

slorang@gmail.com

+

Savannah Schroll Guz

savannahguz@gmail.com

Angi Pauly Llobet

Angi.pauly@gmail.com

Angipauly.com

+

Sandra Brandstätter

sbrandstaetter@hotmail.com

http://brandstaetter.tumblr.com

Amarilys Henderson

watercolordevo@gmail.com

+

Alex Endsley

alexandra.endsley@gmail.com

Mariah Llanes

llanesmariah@gmail.com

+

Randy Bishop

www.randybishopart.com

rdalebishop@gmail.com

Michelle Volansky

michellevolansky@gmail.com

+

Erika Rier

erika@erikarier.com

Liz Gollner

liz.gollner@gmail.com

+

Deb Thompson

justshortofcrazy@gmail.com

Katerina Friday

katfriday@gmail.com

katfriday.blogspot.com

+

Amanda Ritchie

twitchyritchie@gmail.com

http://twitchyritchie.com/

Lindsay Nohl

lindsaynohl.com

hello@lightgreyartlab.com

+

Nooree Kim

nooree_k@hotmail.com

angela an

loveangelaan@gmail.com

+

Ann Macarayan

acmate00@gmail.com

B Paul Patterson

cacrinolas@gmail.com

+

Chicherova Olga

alex-servantes@yandex.ru

Delia Evin

deliaevin@aol.com

+

Katie Wincek

katie@illuminaryart.com

Caleb Olson

calebaolson.com

calebaolson@gmail.com

+

Amy Liu

amliu88@gmail.com

amliu.com

Irina Levin

x@paperaffinity.com

+

Anna Grabowska

www.cargocollective.com/toeslikebeans

anna.grabowska@hotmail.co.uk

Shanti Rittgers

shanti.rittgers@gmail.com

+

Nic ter Horst

nichole(dot)th@gmail.com

Courtney La Forest

laforest.courtney@yahoo.com

+

Tyler Parker

theartoftylerparker.com

tfparker@gmail.com

Kyle Cahill

kemora2128@gmail.com

cahilldraws.tumblr.com

+

Kayla Wasil

kaylawasil.com

wasilkayla@gmail.com

Nneka Myers

nnekamyers@gmail.com

+

Jocelyn Anderson

ande8495@gmail.com

Katharina Netolitzky

katharina.netolitzky@gmx.de

+

Adam Vass

adamxvass@gmail.com

Frances Alvarez

hello@francesalvarez.com

+

Laura Moreno

lmoreno@mcad.edu

crystal shephard

crystal@crystalshephard.com

+

Cone Corbett

Coner.Corbett@gmail.com

ConeCorbett.com

Teressa Ong

teressaong@gmail.com

+

Ashley Masog

ajmasog@gmail.com

Stephanie Gott

moosemooseawyeah@gmail.com

+

Ashlyn Anstee

ashlyn.anstee@gmail.com

Alexxander Doveli

n

alex-xander.com

xander@alex-xander.com

+

Angela Rizza

Angela@Angelarizza.com

Christoph Kwon

Chris@christophkwon.com

+

Kristina Makousky

kristinamakousky@gmail.com

Irene Dose

irene.dose@gmail.com

www.irenedose.it

+

Allison Affourtit

allison.affourtit@gmail.com

Jenny McKeon

tozoku@gmail.com

+

Rachelle Reyes

rachjreyes@yahoo.com

Charlotte Mao

charlotte.mao@gmail.com

http://cargocollective.com/charlottemao

+

Jenny Bookler

jennybookler.com

jennybookler@gmail.com

Patricia Duchesne

patricia_duchesne28@hotmail.com

+

Kim Ku

kimberly.t.ku@gmail.com

Jon Renzella

JRenzella@inbox.com

+

Jackie Williams

http://dessinez.tumblr.com

http://behance.net/jmieldesigns

jmieldesigns@gmail.com

Leslie Pederson

resubee.tumblr.com

lespeder@nd.gov

+

Matt Hansen

m@matthansenart.com

Mary Wertz

mwcollage@aol.com

+

Karli Wade

karliwade@gmail.com

Dominique Pere

Dominique.n.pere@gmail.com

http://dominiquepere.tumblr.com/

+

Ten Wendlandt

ten.wendlandt@gmail.com

DeAnna Yarbrough

dyarbrough@mica.edu

+

Jia-Ling Pan

http://jialingpan.com

http://jialingpan.tumblr.com

jialing.p@gmail.com

Amber Vrsan

amberjvrsan@gmail.com

+

Grace Currier

gracecisme@gmail.com

Shermaine Tan

Shermstan@gmail.com

+

Janna Morton

www.jannamorton.com

jannamorton@gmail.com

Cheryl Kook

chrylkk@gmail.com

+

Amanda Erb

amanda@amandaerb.com

Leslie Boroczk

leslieannbee@gmail.com

lb-lb-lb.tumblr.com

+

Anna Laura Jacobi

info@annalaurajacobi.de

Danielle LaCasse

danielle.lacasse92@gmail.com

daniellelacasse.com

+

Audrey Gonzalez

audrey@thatsaud.com

Eliz Tremblay

tremblay.elizabeth@gmail.com

+

Kaye London

kayemlondon@gmail.com

Aileen Meneses

columnnotes@gmail.com

+

Melissa McGill

mmcgillart@gmail.com

mcgillart.carbonmade.com

Make My Holiday 2013!! Sign up for our yearly art swap!

THIS IS OPEN TO LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS!

***

We are happy to announce our second annual MAKE MY HOLIDAY art swap!

Would you like to give and receive something really super-special in the mail for the holidays and make a great art friend in the process?



Here's how it works!

Leave a comment with your name and email below before Wednesday November 13th and we'll pair you up another awesome creative person for (what we hope) will be a very memorable gift exchange!

Once the call is over Jenny and I will pair people at random and publish a new list by Saturday November 16th!
Then, all you have to do is find your person on the list, request their postal-mail address, and make something to send them via postal mail by Friday, December 6th!


There are only a couple rules to participate.

1. PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU CAN PROMISE TO FOLLOW THROUGH! (We don't want to leave anyone hanging!)

2. The thing you send has to be made by you! It doesn't matter when you made it, how you made it, why you made it, or where you made it. Size doesn't matter. Shape doesn't matter. As long as you did it, that's perfect!

3. Once you're paired, it'll be up to you to request your partner's postal address.

4. Please be sure to send your packages out by Friday December 6th so everyone receives their packages before the holidays are over!

5. (Optional, but we would love you forever) Once you receive your package, please send us a photo of you with what you got from your swap-friend! We'd love to hear form you and we'd love to post a public thank you / show and tell from everyone involved over the weeks people receive things! We'll post a batch every week as long as we are getting photos!


Here's to the holidays and a happy new year!
Sign ups are open to everyone and everyone that signs up will be partnered with someone! :)
So spread the word and share that delightful holiday cheer!

xoxo
Lindsay

6 Degrees Artists Announced!

We are excited to announce the line-up for our newest exhibition : 6 Degrees!
Thanks to everyone that participated in our call for art!


The whole month of December is dedicated to making connections, giving and sharing, and thinking about our roots. We're going to be discussing the power of the collective voice through a ton of content on the podcast, in our interviews online, and through plenty of interesting moments that will make you think about how very small, and wonderfully intimate our world is.

6 Degrees
an exhibition about the power of the collective voice
a postcard exhibition

opening reception December 6th
7 - 10pm
runs through January 10th.

at Light Grey Art Lab
118 E. 26th Street #101
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55404 USA

****


Congratulations to our 6 Degrees artists!:


Frances Alvarez
Courtney Billadeau
Justin Oaksford
Kathy de Castro
Bart Tiongson
Melanie Daigle
Erin McGuire
Rebecca Green
Nicolas Aznárez
John Lee
Sam Schetcher
David Aguado
Jardley Jean-Louis
Alexia Tryfon
Ashlyn Anstee
Sara O'Brien
Rory Phillips
Patrick Murphy
Taryn Gee
Fraeya Pinto
Tyler Parker
Kim Tomacruz
Victoria Fernández
Ulana Z
Alison McDole
Casey Crisenbery
Courtney Wirth
Kim Ku
Sarah Robbins
Shermaine Tan
Esther Hong
Audrey Gonzalez
Maria Vitan
Greg Wright
Irene Alfaro
Jo Yeh
Kate Thomas
Jenessa Mae Kundinger
Monica Esquivel
Gino Pambianchi
Karina Rehrbehn
Kelly Smith
Iori Espiritu
Simini Blocker
Lynn Scurfield
Camille Chew
Jessica Roux
Victoria Ying
Ami Moore
Xuancheng Zhang
Amanda Ritchie
Ricardo Bessa
Angela An
Matt Rockefeller
Phoenix Chan
Vân Tran Monnier
Laura Brown
Nooree Kim
Luisa Rivera Nahrwold
Anika Starmer
Leonard Peng
David Curtis
John Charles Cox
Angela Taguiang
Stephanie Matos
Nate Mathews
Bridie Cheeseman
Emilie Tromp
Jenny Bookler
Lindsay Nohl
Francesca Buchko
Chris Hajny
Anissa Espinosa
Courtney Bernard
Roman Muradov
Sophia Foster-Dimino
Natalie Andrewson
Leslie Hung
Jenn Tran
Annie Stoll
Jon Marchione
David Velasco
Nneka Myers
Amanda Hagemann
Benjamin Lam
Monika Grubizna
Kristen Fritsch
Matt Wentworth
Julia Lavigne
Wendi Chen

ROLEMODELS : The Battle for Vyk' Tornaahl PRE-ORDER!

We have been biting our tongues and keeping it in for the past couple months and we can't stand it any longer!
We just officially launched the pre-order for ROLEMODELS: The Battle for Vyk' Tornaahl, a limited-edition card game featuring all the incredible alter-egos from the 99 participating artists in our October exhibition! The deck is $25 and features 95 Hero cards, 4 Kingdoms, 1 handy rule card, a D20, and a small 100-page perfectbound book on the lore, land, characters and instructions on how to play the game.




We believe that the nuances of our personalities can be seen in the characters we choose to play. RPG games hold a special place in our hearts and for the upcoming ROLEMODELS exhibition, we've asked our creative role models to help show us their inner hero / heroine. From the righteous paladins, to the back-stabbing rogues --- ROLEMODELS brings you a look at the characters inspired by the personalities of the artists you know and love. While not a literal self-portait show, we find the decisions we make while crafting our characters to be very telling of how we see ourselves and who we long to be.

ROLEMODELS
Opening Reception & COSTUME PARTY!
Friday, OCtober 25th
7 - 10pm
118 E. 26th Street #101
Minneapolis MN 55406 USA
612.239.2047

We will be unveiling a slew of interactive extracurriculars, gameplay videos and plenty of goodies around one of Light Grey's biggest shows of the year! The ROLEMODELS opening reception falls conveniently on HALLOWEEN WEEKEND - where we'll ask our patrons to come dressed in their best mail, share a flagon of mead (or ranger beer) and party with us while we nerd out IN COSTUME.


THE GAME:

The realm of Vyk'Tornaahl is in a state of flux. Heroes battle for power in a strategic game of gathering allies, defeating foes, bluffing competing champions and ultimately vying for the rule of the realm of Vyk' Tornaahl. ROLEMODELS: The Battle For Vyk' Tornaahl is an easy-to-play game for 2 to 4 players.



The deck is available for $25 and can be pre-ordered through Friday, October 25th. The games will be shipped after the opening reception.
If you'd like to grab a deck, head to our shop and see the sneak-peek!

All the details are here!



For a full list of contributing artists, see this post!

More details on the upcoming exhibition and other fun things soon! :)

Autoptic Recap!

We had a really great time at Autoptic: meeting people, both at our booth and on the convention floor. The Aria building was a gorgeous location, the Autoptic crew and staff were friendly and helpful, and everybody, attendees and guests alike, was energetic and so happy to be there. That energy was definitely contagious!


The Gang's all here!


A view from our table at Autoptic

Between all of us at Light Grey we got to talk to a number of the artists tabling there. I was happy to see past teachers Barbara Schulz, Zak Sally, Vincent Stall, and James O'Brien.
We also met so many talented people that I've only known through their work. I'm certainly forgetting people (I don't mean to!), but Bart King, Sam Sharpe, Kevin Cannon, JP Coovert, the folks at Sparkplug Books, and Grimalkin Press are few of the people who gave us convention advice and talked with us about the ups and downs of book production.


Lindsay and Jenny chat about all the amazing things they're seeing


The In Place book!

And of course we're always happy to see artists who have exhibited with us, including Brad McGinty, Anna Bongiovanni, Erik Krenz, and Evan Palmer.


Local Artist Erik Krenz talks to other local artist, Jesse Riggle!


Fun was had by all!

One of these days (soon!) I'll post my Autoptic purchases–my highly cherished collection of zines, books and prints. And thank you and congratulations, Autoptic crew, for putting on such a great event! Here's to many more!

--Francesca

Nights & Weekends Artists Announced!

As I'm getting this post ready I'm listening to the Erasure station on Pandora and I'll be working til the wee hours of the morning with Jenny on a ridiculous list of things. I was thinking today about those of us that stay up all night, work hard on the weekends and continue to push through the day-to-day with things that inspire us, revive us and sometimes intimidate us.

I know you guys know what we mean because you came out to show us what you do when you have a free moment. And it was beautiful!
Thanks again for showing us what you do! The whole month of September is dedicated to exactly that : working hard and working on personal projects.
We are going to be celebrating tons of amazing projects by amazing people, including our final list of artists for Nights & Weekends!

Featured Artist, Campbell Whyte is coming all the way from Australia to hang out with us and show his epic collection of hundreds of pieces of work! A workshop, an artist talk and some more fancy surprises are in the works, so keep a sharp eye out!
We'll make sure to let you know more as we get closer!

Without further ado:

Nights & Weekends
An Exhibition About the Fever to Create
Opening Friday September 20th
alongside the Sketchbook Project: 1703 Miles and Back Tour
7 - 10pm
at Light Grey Art Lab


This show features a small, select group of individuals whose artwork inspired us. During the course of the show we'll be delving into the day-to-day creative considerations of each artist and getting to know what drives them to make the things they make. We're looking forward to a series of interviews, podcasts and process blogs, among other practice-related content!

Participating Artists:

Campbell Whyte
Miko Maciaszek
B Paul Patterson
Antonio Rodrigues Jr.
Anne Ulku
Neufundland Magazine
Kim Ku
Jesse Lindhorst & the Morning Commuters
Genevieve FT
Evan Palmer
Anna Bongiovanni
Henning Koczy

Thanks again to everyone that submitted for the exhibition!
We are looking forward to September!

Artist Interview: Courtney Billadeau

With Station Zero going on right now, we wanted to take a peek into the minds of some of the many talented artists participating in the show. We were blown away at the expansive knowledge (and interest) in sci-fi that many of the Station Zero artists possessed, and wanted to give them a chance to speak more on the topic!

Meet C. Billadeau- a Chicago illustrator with a widespread pool of interests, ranging from comic art to book binding and much much more. Her work utilizes bold shapes and dynamic compositions (with just the right amount of texture sprinkled on top,) creating dramatic and eye-catching pieces. Aside from her work in several of our shows here at Light Grey Art Lab, C. Billadeau has been featured in Illustration West 48 and 49, CMYK 49, and Creative Quarterly 22. She has worked with Bioware promoting Mass Effect, and most recently participated in a short fiction anthology titled "THIS IS HOW YOU DIE."


Sebastian Orr Photography

What’s one sci-fi book you’d recommend everyone to read, and why?

As an avid reader and huge sci-fi fan, it is difficult to narrow the list down!

My favorite classic sci-fi is I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. The book itself is a collection of short fiction built on the premise of Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics and a logical society that believes them to be wholly comprehensive, with each story upping the ante in showing us robots finding loopholes in those laws and explaining how completely flawed the laws are. His other books in the Robot series are also really great.

If 'hard' sci-fi scares you or you're afraid of being labeled as a nerd or something (but really, it's great, come to the dork side), I'd recommend either China Miéville's The City and the City or the most recent trilogy by William Gibson, starting with Pattern Recognition. They both definitely fall more into the 'speculative fiction' side of science fiction along with "The City and the City", but are just as solid as any other futuristic sci-fi.


Work in progress for Station Zero

If you had to pick a sci-fi world to live in, where would you live and why?

Probably the world described in the Shadowrun tabletop gaming franchise (fun fact: the books are heavily inspired on the earlier, more famous William Gibson novels). See, a lot of my favorite sci-fi is about worlds or societies that are horribly, horribly flawed and that's why I enjoy reading stories about them (but not necessarily living in them).

Did you read the book you were assigned, or pieces of it? If so, what’s your favorite part of the book? Did that moment get included in your redesign of the cover?

I…didn't actually have a favorite part of "Cage A Man" because I really didn't like it! As someone who eats trashy pulp sci-fi like this for breakfast, I generally have a high tolerance for poor writing or dated ideas, but this was not the case here. There wasn't a lot of real plot to follow, as literally three-quarters of the book follow the main character's obsession with coercing and eventually forcing his female alien lover to get futuristic plastic surgery to make her look more human, simply because how she looks is offensive to his sex drive. No, I'm not actually kidding. All done in the name of "true love".

It's exceedingly problematic from numerous perspectives--feminist, racial, and otherwise--so it was difficult to digest because of that.

As such, I wanted little to do with the original content and ended up not specifically depicting anything from the book. I ended up relying on more abstract metaphors, instead, to describe a persistent theme throughout the book that didn't immediately make me backpedal away from the book--the concept of captivity, in its various forms.



What’s a piece of technology that you’d love to get invented in the near future?

Effective interstellar communication and/or travel--for research and knowledge! When I was a kid (and everyone else around me wanted to be a firefighter or a doctor or whatever their parents were), I only wanted to be an astronomer. Mainly to explore the unknowns of space from the comfort of Earth. I eventually grew out of that and into an illustrator, but I still find a lot of inspiration in the mysteries of the universe and deeply believe in what resources and knowledge we could find by exploring it.

What’s your ideal workspace?

My process is both part traditional mediums and part digital mediums, so having a large, dedicated desk where I can roll back and forth from messily inking something to my desktop is a must. As well as a huge scanner and copier nearby. I really prefer working with others, too--mainly for motivation and bouncing and sharing ideas off of each other.

Right now, I work in a space in my apartment with my significant other, but I plan to open up my own studio space with friends someday!


Work in progress for In Place

Do you listen to any music while you work? If so, what kinds?

Anywhere from industrial grunge to low-fi electronica. Music works, for me, less as a source of inspiration and more of a barrier between me and everything around me. I really can only focus on creating if I shut out the outside world for a bit.

What is your favorite medium to work in, and why?

I love working with ink. I make a lot of my textures by hand, mostly by slinging around ink with brushes on rough bristol.


Limited edition run of C.Billadeau's Mass Effect print through Bioware

In the future, what are some things you’d like to be working on/where would you like to go with your art?

I'm currently in the planning stages for a historical-fiction, surrealist graphic novel I've been doing the research for some time. I'm a commercial illustrator through and through, so, while continuing to do editorial and marketing work, I eventually plan to do more conceptual work for independent game design while making comics that I will likely serialize online.

Thanks Courtney!

To see more of her work, check out her blog or website, and be sure to check out her piece for Station Zero!

Station Zero Recap!

Huge thanks to everyone that came out to party with us this past Friday at the Station Zero exhibition opening reception!

I've got to hand it to the amazing people of the Twin Cities for their awesome ability to get into the fun and participate in the super silly stuff we do at Light Grey. I can't thank everyone enough for creating all tof these amazing tin-foil hats and actually wearing them around for the entirety of the exhibition!
I didn't think it could be possible to see such a diversity of bright, shiny headwear in one place!



We had incredible time! Tons of futuristic music, lots of action at the photobooth (thanks, NASA, for being awesome, too) and many artists making their way to Light Grey for the reception! It was great seeing some of you guys here in person! It was a total blast.








I couldn't resist. This one is of my dear sister, Victoria, who got a little too excited about space.

I have a hunch that no one could hold a straight face when taking photos in front of our photo-booth. Some of the faces people are making in these photos are priceless.
I'll let you check out the rest for yourself!

See all of the amazing photos on our Flickr set here.
And if you couldn't make it, don't worry, the exhibition is up for another several weeks and is also online here and forever on the site!

NIGHTS and WEEKENDS - SEPTEMBER SHOW CALL FOR ART

September is Self-Initiated Project month at Light Grey. Are you someone that has decided to put in the long hours, toiling away at a self-initiated project, fueled by that fervent interest to propel yourself further as an artist, a creator, or a human being?! Do you have the tired eyes and achy wrists of an overachiever? Do you have a series of work, or a perpetual project, or a printed work that exists somewhere in the ether 'just because you wanted to?'

Then we want to see what you've made!

EDIT: 8.5.13 Thanks to everyone that submitted to the Nights & Weekends Exhibition!
We're excited to announce this shortly - give us a day or so and we'll be able to let you know the final list of artists!
Thanks and way to go - there were an awesome number of people that submitted online & on the form with amazing work.



We are looking for people with any of the following types of work to submit their collections, series, books, projects and artwork for our newest exhibition,

NIGHTS & WEEKENDS
A Celebration of Self-initiated Projects
(Running alongside the 1703 Miles & Back Tour / Sketchbook Project Exhibition)
Opens Friday, September 20th from 7 - 10pm

Books, zines, comics, an artistic series of any type (drawings, paintings, digital work, design), animation, typography,... basically any visual medium that we can display, along with an artist statement about the project, and about yourself, your intentions and your ambitions.
If you made a series of SOMETHING -- it's fair game.

****

One image of the 400+ piece 8 Bit Dreams project by Campbell Whyte, our featured artist for the Nights & Weekends exhibition! (More information about this soon!)



We want to know all about your inspirations, your process, the items themselves and we want to throw a party in honor of your achievements!


The details:
In order to enter this call for art you have to make sure you can answer a resounding 'YES!' to the following things:

1. Have you created and finished a self-initiated project sometime in the last two years?
2. Can you take photos of this project and send us documentation of what it is, what it's made out of, and how many pieces are in it?
3. Can you tell us why the project exists? (Tell us all about how it started, why you did it, and what you're proud of)
4. Are you able to ship the project to and from Light Grey?
5. Would you be comfortable talking with us on the Light Grey Podcast about yourself and your work?
6. Would you be able to provide images or photos of your process of this project, too?
7. You make a blood pact with us that you'll be able to do all of these things by August 20th. (ok, not a blood pact, but a reasonable-alternative-to-blood pact would be fine too)

If you said "YES!" to all of those things, then here's what we need!
Put you name, email and a link to your site / blog in the comments below and then Fill out this application for Nights & Weekends by JULY 29th.


There are only a couple things we can't do for this exhibition. The work can not be for a client, a school project, or initiated by someone else. It's about you, your brain power, and your drive to get it done.

***


We'll be reviewing all of the submissions over that week and will be announcing the final list of artists for the NIGHTS & WEEKENDS exhibition on Tuesday August 6th!

All of the participating artists will be given wall space and facilities to show their work. Jenny and I will be helping provide everyone involved with resources for displaying their projects as well! Each participating artist will also be able to sell their work on the online shop and in the gallery, as well as be provided with a documented section for each person on the Light Grey Art Lab website (which will contain photos of the exhibition, documentation of the installation, the work, and description of the artist and the project (including links to each artist / project if it is elsewhere online)

If you have any questions, please let us know! We'd be happy to tell you all of the answers! Just send us a note to hello@lightgreyartlab.com

Artist Interview: Jessica Roush

With a great love of life, and endless enthusiasm for the outdoors, meet Jessica Roush. A textile artist by trade, Jessica draws inspiration from the everyday. She is in a constant state of art-production: spontaneous sketches, typography, watercolor critters, and a wide variety of product design. A newcomer here at Light Grey Art Lab, our current show You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It is the first time we've had the chance to work with her.

Master of camouflage: Jessica Roush

Where did you grow up, where do you currently reside, and where is your dream home located?
I was born in Bakersfield California, but moved with my family to Raleigh, North Carolina when I was 6 years old. I graduated from NC State Univsersity in 2010 with dual degrees in Textile Technology and Art & Design. Right after I graduated, I packed up and trekked to Milwaukee to start at my current job.

As far as dream home... I went to Panama a year or two ago and really fell in love with the lost-in-the-jungle, Swiss Family Robinson type lodge my boyfriend and I stayed at in Bocas Del Toro. I'd love to plant myself there one day when I retire... I could be a crazy old lady hanging out with sloths, sleeping in a hammock! (It's called Tesoro Escondido, if anyone's curious.)


What is your current job, and what is your dream job?
I'd have to say that the two are fairly similar. My current job is an artist at Kohls Corporate Office in the Home department, doing prints and graphics for anything from dinnerware, to kitchen towels, bedding, bath towels, decorative objects or even christmas ornaments. I get to paint, draw and be creative the majority of the time, so I feel pretty fortunate.

If I could choose a DREAM JOB though, it'd be a combination hotel reviewer/ travel photographer. And maybe pasta-taster. A girl can dream.

What was life like once you graduated from North Carolina State University?
It was a huge learning curve. And I realized just how sweet I had it in school. Own screen-printing studio? Weaving studio? Laser cutting? All these resources I could leisurely use, (most of the time in the middle of the night) whenever I pleased? I'd kill for that now!

Also - that huge blizzard of 2010 happened right after I moved up here - Welcome to Wisconsin! ...And then I got towed. That was the REAL learning curve - City of Milwaukee's ridiculous parking rules.

Wisconsin Winters strike again

What are some hobbies you have outside of art?
I love the outdoors ... that's one thing I love about Midwesterners is that they really take advantage of the good weather - because it's so rare! So whenever it creeps above 50 degrees, you'll find me biking around town, or hiking, or kayaking, or just lounging on a picnic blanket, drinking some beer...

I also adore traveling. Researching before a trip, the trip itself, and the photos and inspiration gained afterward - I love it all. My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia in the fall. We were originally thinking about South America, because we've both wanted to backpack there, and I speak a fair amount of Spanish. But Southeast Asia will be so rewarding I think - I've always wanted to go, after hearing my dad's stories about getting bit by a monkey, crazy jungles, and other adventures from when he lived there shortly as a kid. And of course, anywhere WARM. I mean, seriously, I need a break from Wisconsin winters sometimes.

When is your favorite time to make art?
Late at night - even though my definition of "late" has changed since school. My "studio" pretty much consists of a big drafting table with my computer/wacom/etc, and bookshelf. My boyfriend also has his desk in the same room, so we just put on music or a whole season of Arrested Development or Flight of the Conchords or something, hang out and have burping competitions. Just kidding. ...Maybe.

At work, all of us artists sit in a line of cubicles, and joke, sing, and curse all day. They're the best. I have a cubicle-mate, named Sampson, who is an African Water Frog (or so I'm told). He is the most handsome amphibian you'll ever meet.

Hello Sampson.

What materials do you typically work with, and what is your favorite medium?
Watercolor would be my usual go-to medium, because the result can be unexpected and natural, and it's easy to set up, clean up, and doesn't take forever to dry like oils. This is especially important at work - when they want a sunflower today, or a bunch of painted leaves this week, or spring flowers in repeat by tomorrow, etc - it would be silly to use a process or medium that takes a lot longer. It's really made me results-oriented after working a few years, since coming from school where everything was so process-driven - and that has also spilled onto my personal work as well... for the better I think. Instead of tons and tons of exploration or sampling, now I just kind of ... dive in, whatever medium it is.

What are your biggest influences as far as types of art? Like graphic design, sculpture, screen printing, modern furniture design, etc.
Interior Design, photography, vintage travel books, gig posters.... I could browse through flat stock all day long.


What are your favorite subjects to draw?
10-year-old-me would without a doubt say unicorns and horses. Well, that might still be true. But 26-year-old-me, along with painting, loves drawing from nature, in the moment. I try to keep a good sketchbook of quick doodles of whats going on around me. My friend took a picture of me a few years back sketching / taking a nap in Pamukkale, Turkey, and I recently pulled out that same sketchbook to look through, and there was that same sketch I was working on in the picture!

What do you like most about being a textile artist/designer?
As a corporate artist, I love the continual challenge of creating graphics that will be both marketable and also new and fresh.

Thanks, Jessica!

To see more of her work, take a peek at her website, as well as her piece for our You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It show.

Artist Interview: Taryn Gee

Meet illustrator and pom-pom enthusiast, Taryn Gee. Born and raised in Canada, Taryn uses bold, flat colors accented with phenomenal line-work to create captivating portraits and places. A Light Grey veteran, you can find her work in several of our shows: GIRLS: Fact + Fiction, Beautiful Forever, Macro + Micro, and of course our current You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It.

The lovely Taryn Gee

Where did you grow up, and where do you currently reside?
I am Canadian and have never left the country! I currently live in Oakville, Ontario but grew up in Ajax, Ontario. I basically have always lived around Toronto, but never in it.

What is your current job?
I'm currently working part-time as a framing assistant and part-time as a freelance illustrator.

When and how did you decide to be an illustrator?
I have always loved drawing and it just made sense to pursue a creative career. When applying to schools, I decided to go into illustration because it would teach me more of a business aspect as well.

A wall of inspiration

How do you stay active with your art making?
I always keep a sketchbook on me to draw in when I find myself unoccupied. I try to sign up for as many projects as possible to keep me active. Unfortunately when it comes to self directed pieces things don't get done as fast, so I try to work with others as much as possible.

When I get the chance, I love do draw with Kelly Bastow and Ashley Mackenzie! We usually visit independent/quieter coffee shops because there's less people in them. They live in Toronto and it isn't the easiest for me to travel out there often. When I was in school cafe sketching with other illustrators was very common, but now it's been a while I feel sad that I don't do it as frequently.

I wish I had a studio away from home! My studio is totally half of my bedroom. I love to go out to have a change of environment and brainstorm/sketch/paint in the mall, the lake or a cafe. Actually it's really hard to tie me down to one spot when I draw in my sketchbook, I'm all over the place determined to find inspiration.

What materials do you typically work with, and what is your favorite medium?
My favourite medium changes between graphite to ballpoint pen (I definitely go through phases) and colouring my line work in photoshop is a really important part of my process. Though I have been experimenting with acrylic and pencil crayon and have been really enjoying it. I'm always trying to find something new that can add to my technique!

A peek into her sketchbook

Can you talk briefly about your sketchbook? Is your sketchbook a place for ideas and experimentation, or do you spend more time finessing the drawings inside, like an artist's book?
I have different sketchbooks for different things! One is always on me that I invest more time in, it's more like an artist's book. There was a point where everything was done in my sketchbook, including finals. I think it was more of a comfort thing that I thankfully grew out of - lugging giant sketchbooks across campus was tiring! When I'm not feeling happy with a spread, I draw and paint over the previous pages until I am satisfied with it. It's this place where there's no external expectations and I have the power to show others only if I want to, which I think is really important. I have another book for concepts and rough work and it's definitely not as pretty, haha. Actually... I throw them out after they've served their purpose, which is probably not a good thing.

Who is your biggest influence as an artist?
The people around me are my biggest influence, I draw a lot of observational studies of them! As for artists I love, Kent Williams is my hero (I recently helped frame one of his original pieces and nearly cried). I also enjoy Klimt, Yoji Shinkawa and life style illustrations from the 50s and 60s! I find textiles super inspiring, I really enjoy knitting and cross stitch.

Do you have any big projects in the making?
Nothing big other than trying to really promote my work and get more illustration jobs. I'm working on some little zines for conventions and craft shows.

Can you tell us about some of your zines?
I only have sketchbook zines for now. I do a lot of personal comics of my experiences and I was hoping to make it into a zine in the future! There's a Goosebumps fanzine coming out in the fall that I will be taking a part of, it's run by Jennifer Ilett + Sabrina Parolin. I'm actually really excited to read the book I was assigned, it'll be so nostalgic! I'm still in the process of applying to several craft fairs and Art in the Parks, but I will definitely be at Fan Expo this year with the wonderful Kailey Lang!


Thank you, Taryn!

To see more of her work, check out her website, and be sure to take a gander at her piece for You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It.

Artist Interview: Elana Schwartzman

Meet the super talented, motivated, and go-getter local artist, Elana Schwartzman. Although she is currently running her own printmaking studio, Elana actually has a background in marketing and communication. She has worked with nonprofit, for-profit, and electoral organizations and campaigns throughout the Twin Cities, with a particular emphasis on social media strategies and online development. About four years ago, she began printmaking, and since has started Fontlove, a letterpress studio working with nonprofit organizations and collaborating with other creatives! Wow! Elana is the perfect person to interview for the You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It exhibition, a show all about flexing your creative muscles, getting out there, and getting to work.

 
 
Can you tell me a little about yourself, your background, and interests?
I am a Minneapolitan by way of the Chicago area, and I've lived here for about 13 years. My background is actually in non-profit work – while doing communications for a small organization, where I had to do everything from PR and social media to web content management and publications, I discovered that I loved graphic design. Around that same time I took a class in letterpress printing at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts – and fell stupid in love with it. Typography has always been of intense interest to me, but I also love the machinery involved in letterpress printing, and the smells and textures of things like ink and paper. I stayed in communications for several years before jumping into the deep-end and freelancing. I am self-taught and constantly worried that someone will come and strip me of my (metaphorical) graphic designer / printmaker badge. When not worrying about that (or cleaning ink off my hands) I love to walk the lakes, drink local beer, and make snarky commentary. I have been a collector for as long as I can remember, and I obsessively look for vintage objects and ephemera with the patina of everyday life. 

How did you get started in printmaking? 
 Like all kids, I was creative when I was young and unencumbered by the inhibitions of adulthood. I was a mostly solitary kid, but I took a lot of art classes. I still remember taking a printmaking class when I was 9 or 10, and how much I loved it. One of the prints I made then still hangs in my mom's bathroom. Then, I grew out of it. I felt like I didn't have natural talent (I can't draw a likeness to save my life) and I was passionate about social justice and working in a field where I could make an impact. But bit by bit, I found that I loved the parts of my job that let me be creative. The 2008 Obama campaign had a huge impact on me – I saw the power of typography, of Hoefler & Frere-Jones' Gotham typeface, to bring a movement together and inspire people. The Shepard Fairey poster that reached down and influenced many people, not just those that pay attention to graphic design or street art. I started playing around with basic relief printing in my apartment, carving linoleum, and then took the class at MCBA. I got truly addicted, buying my first press before that class even ended and haven't looked back since. I now have four vintage presses and operate a full-time letterpress and graphic design business. 



How did Fontlove begin? What was it inspired by? 
 It began in stages. At first it was just me, in my basement studio, teaching myself to print and hating everything I made while falling more and more in love with the process. It was a confusing time. Then came the "notebook stage" – I carried Field Notes notebooks around with me everywhere and jotted ideas for products I would love to make, or make up pretend schedules for what my day would look like if I quit my job to pursue this full time. There were a lot of pro/con lists, too. Then there was the "oh crap, I have all this stuff, now I should put it to use" phase. Like I said, I'm a collector, and I pretty quickly had spent a lot of money on equipment, so I got to work getting good enough to be a printer for hire. I would say that it was inspired by the obsessive need to print/make stuff. 

Most of your work is text based. What are some of your favorite phrases, words, subjects to work with?
I usually start with the typeface. Because I work with real moveable type – both metal and wood – it's not just like the endless options on your font menu on a computer. You really get to know a typeface, and understand in a physical way what it means for a font to be "condensed" or "italic" and how those are best applied to a given situation. I don't necessarily have favorite words or phrases, but I do have favorite letters. The uppercase R in the typeface Antique Extended is one of my all-time favorites, and it's one of the reasons I used it in my work for You Can Do It Put Your Back Into It. My grandfather used to say that one should "plan your work and work your plan", which I love on its own as a motivational phrase – but it also uses a lot of R's. 

What is your favorite part about traditional printing? What other materials and mediums inspire you?
Letterpress printing is a centuries-old process. I am most interested in working with the original tools of the trade – wood and metal type, old halftone cuts, borders and ornaments. That means that my work is often defined by my constraints. I can't just make the text bigger or smaller. I can't use a font I don't have. Kerning involves physically carving up the type, sawing through wood or lead. I find these constraints inspiring, and it has defined my personal style. I love the imperfections of the type and the variations in inking and texture – but it's also what I have to work with. 

What is your studio practice like?
Currently, it's a bit of organized chaos. Day to day I could be working for a client on digital graphic design, printing business cards or invitations for hire, or printing personal projects for my Etsy shop – and sometimes all three. And the reality of working for yourself is that a lot of my time I'm also replying to emails, sending proposals, and data-entering receipts. I work in the front half of a storefront studio with huge windows and lots of light. I'm a very neat person at home, but my studio tends to be an explosion of type, paper scraps, failed experiments, and bits and pieces of inspiration. I love to try new techniques, like pressure printing or experimenting with overprints – but those things rarely make their way into my work for show or sale. 

What is your biggest motivation when you are stuck on a project? 
I usually get stuck when my confidence takes a dip. So if something isn't going right – the inking is inconsistent, the impression is wonky, the registration is tough, or I'm just not liking the way it's turning out – I take a break and make something else that I know will be successful and look beautiful. I do tend to get easily demoralized, so my biggest motivation is just to remember that there will be clunkers and there will be stars, and a lot in between, and not to sweat it too hard. Unless it's a paying client, when my motivation is making sure they get the highest quality printed goods I can provide. There are no shortcuts in letterpress, really. 

Can you talk a little about collaboration? How do you collaborate? What is the best thing you have collaborated on? (For both person projects and Fontlove)
To me, getting to work with a wide variety of talented and passionate people is the second best part of freelancing. I'm really fortunate in my graphic design practice to work primarily with non-profit organizations that share my passions and interests, and in my letterpress work I tend to work with other creative types. Even when I'm printing someone else's design, it's a beautiful coming together of process and product. I also really love collaborating on personal projects, especially with artists that have strengths where I am weak. I made a beautiful set of cards with the artist Lisa Luck of Hello Lisa!, and got to work with artist/man about town Andy Sturdevant on an infographic for Common Roots Cafe. Both involved hand-lettering and illustration, and it was so much fun to incorporate those things into my designs when they are normally not in my wheelhouse. 

Do you have any favorite resources, books, blogs, sources for inspiration?
Too many! Present & Correct is a London-based stationery shop, but they curate a fantastic collection of vintage packaging and ephemera (much of it letterpress-printed). I have always been very inspired by maps, and I love exploring the David Rumsey Map Collection, which has a fantastic digitized archive. For excellent wood type references, I go to either the Rob Roy Kelley Collection at the University of Texas, which has uploaded and identified many specimens of wood type, or David Wolske's Letterpress Daily blog. 

What is your dream project? Something you have always wanted to make/do? 
If they would let me hang out at Hatch Show Print, that would be my dream. I could clean type, sweep the floors – whatever! They are a huge source of inspiration for me and I would love to be around that shop and absorb things by osmosis. What is the best piece of advice you ever received and why? I don't know if he would even remember telling me this, but my former boss Jeff Blodgett once told me, "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Sometimes I feel that this philosophy flies in the face of the typical M.O. for printers and artists, but if I was striving for perfection, I'd never be doing what I am doing now. I believe in getting things done and moving forward, while being true to yourself. 

Who are you inspired by? Other artists, musicians, teachers, etc. 
The list is very long. There is a select group of hugely talented letterpress printers working today, and thanks to the power of social media I get to see their work and process pop up on my phone every day. Besides my Instagram feed, one inspiration is the photographer Vivian Maier. She was an amateur street photographer whose work was never discovered or shown until a collector bought a box of undeveloped negatives from an auction house after Maier stopped paying for her storage locker, just 2 years before her death. The images are arresting, with a powerful energy, but she took them for herself and never saw most of them. There is something I like about that. I also am very inspired by sign painters, folk artists, craft beer brewers and pretty much anyone that makes things by hand in an impractically slow way in small quantities. 

Thanks, Elana!

You can see more of her work and projects at fontlovestudio.com and see her work on the Light Grey shop here

LIGHT GREY ART CAMP! August 9 - 12!

take a peek at the location of our newest retreat / residency!

EDIT 6.29 - Wow! Thanks guys for all the enthusiasm over this! It's now off the store, sorry to every one else that was interested in joining us! We'll be looking forward to offering it next year and we'll make sure to let you know all about it!

We've been biting our lip for a while and now that we're back in action, we're SO EXCITED to announce our newest retreat!

LIGHT GREY ART CAMP! Join us for an energizing four day retreat filled with creative workshops and field trips, ultimate outdoor adventures, and tons of art-making! Light Grey Art Camp is half retreat and half residency built to make new connections, make work, and create without boundaries!
Get ready for a huge adventure and join us for our retreat / residency in gorgeous, green, Mequon Wisconsin!


This is a travel workshop so it is open to everyone! Meals and accommodations are included in the workshop price, as are your sketching supplies and workshop materials! All you have to do is pack for camp and arrive in time for adventure!

We're embracing the spirit of adventure! Think: sketch scavenger hunts, late-night art making, spirited brainstorming sessions around bonfires, inspirational workshops and plenty of time to explore, create and reflect. We have crazy amounts of things planned and we are super excited for this to happen! All of the details are listed on our shop page and we are REALLY looking forward to spending some time with all of you guys!

Reservations are limited to 18 people and it's first come, first served! All the details are HERE.


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ART PROGRAM:
The core focus of our camp is about exploration! Technique demonstrations, incredible sketch prompts, inspirational field-trips and exploratory drawing sessions are all part of the plan! Each artist will receive a Light Grey Art Lab bag with sketching materials, a workbook and an agenda for the weekend when they arrive.

In addition to our core curriculum, Light Grey Art Lab founder Lindsay Nohl will be hosting an evening workshop on hand-drawn patterns by hand and Francesca Buchko will be hosting a workshop called "Field guide" - an observational watercolor workshop.

All of hard work will be celebrated in the publication of a collaborative Light Grey Art Camp japanese bound zine- which will be available on the last day of camp to all participants!!
We're looking forward to brining together illustrators, designers, comic artists and fine artists to see what we can make together!

SCHEDULE:
Each day is filled with combination of both inspiring and challenging workshops, field trips, art-sessions and discussions. We have a ton of amazing meals, extra-curriculars and leisure activities planned as well to make sure you get the most out of your camp experience!

Our daily schedule begins each day with an at-your-leisure breakfast from 8:30am - 10am where you can take your time and enjoy starting your day with fruit-topped pancakes, organic smoothies, freshly baked scones, coffee and tea, or other goodies. During this time you'll also have the option of joining the Light Grey team in morning yoga, a dip in the pool, or just taking your time getting ready. The optional morning activities will be listed on our workshop agenda, which you can sign up for as we go!

During the core of the day we'll volley between creating, discussing, collaborating and brainstorming. After breakfast we'll have session 1 -- where we begin our workshops! Nearing the noon hour, we'll have a family style lunch on the patio with the group as we take time to reflect and discuss. In the afternoons we'll head to session 2 where continue our workshop program. Finally, hunker down at night for a festive organic meal and great desserts with the group.

After dinner you can follow your every whim! You'll have time to explore the outdoors, spend time in the studio, chat around the bonfire, watch a midnight movie, or play games with the Light Grey team. Our schedule is built to use the core of the day for getting down to business, and we encourage you to enjoy your free time with whatever inspires you while you're at camp! A full list of options will be available to everyone on the camp agenda!

ART FACILITIES:
Bring your art-making supplies and your ideas and set up camp in our large collaborative studio space! Get creative with other artists as you work alongside each other during open studio hours. Participants will have access to studio hours from 9am - midnight each day, so you'll have plenty of time to get ambitious with your projects!

MEALS:
All of the meals for our adventure are provided with the cost of the retreat and will feature organic, home-grown vegetables from the local garden. Vegetarian options will be available for each meal as well! We'll be enjoying family-style meals for lunch and dinner, and breakfast will always be at your leisure. Campers will be able to sign up for the optional cooking workshops where you can learn to make some of the meals we'll enjoy during our stay.
A full menu will be provided to all participants closer to the event.

LODGING and LIVING FACILITIES:
As you arrive on Friday night, you'll get a tour of the grounds, facilities and we'll show you to your very own spacious tent -- fit with a comfy bed and plenty of room to spread out! We have plenty of facilities for showering, getting ready and freshening up, so you'll never need to worry about 'roughing it' while you're here.

We'll be staying in at Fox Hollow Farm, a small family homestead with a large organic garden, a mini orchard, tea garden and 6 acres of partially wooded greenery!

Don't forget your swimming suit if you'd like to take a dip in the pool! The pool will be open 24 hours a day, so if you feel inclined, jump on in!


We have the rest of the transportation, arrival and schedule details listed HERE!
Thanks and hope you can make it!
Can't wait!!

Questions? Send me a note! hello@lightgreyartlab.com

Artist Interview: Danamarie Hosler

Currently living in Baltimore, MD, with dreams of Portland, ME, Danamarie Hosler has a great love of all things creative. She draws inspiration from all corners of her life, perhaps the most readily noticeable being pigeons (and the many parallels they present.) Her work spans across a great deal of mediums, ranging from small gouache illustrations, various plush creations, large-scale murals, and much, much more. Here at Light Grey, she has participated in several shows, including Macro + Micro, Smart, and our most recent You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It.


You work in quite a variety of ways (plush dolls, accessories, murals, paintings), do you have a favorite among them? How do they overlap?
I can't choose a favorite! Are you kidding me? They're like my kids! I think its less about having a "favorite" and more about which medium I'm finding most interesting or most challenging, or even most appropriate at any given time. In general, I tend to only be able to do any one thing for a few weeks before I find myself feeling antsy and wanting/ needing to try something else (which is why being an artist is so perfect for me). I find that I learn a lot from each medium & way of working & when I get tired of one thing, the next one is waiting for me and I'm able to bring something new to that way of working. Gouache, for example, is a new medium for me--- I'm a teacher too & I realized it wasn't fair that I couldn't say anything nice about it to my students, so I made myself learn to use it and now I LOVE it. It's made me a better watercolorist & its given me a new way to think about pattern & application.

I think they all overlap when it comes to my style & my subject matter. I tend to talk about the same things, no matter how I am making the piece-- my aesthetics are the same. I just tend to choose the medium based on what will work best for my message & for the audience I'm trying to reach.

How does your family influence your work? Does your son like to make art as well?
Definitely! My husband and I met in college-- we were both Illustration majors, but we have very different styles & approaches to art making, so that's a pretty big thing-- having a partner who is also an artist. Its nice having a studio mate & a build in guest critic at home!

My son is 2.5 & yeah, he's pretty creative. We've always let him paint & draw; I think its really important for children to have opportunities to create and experience outlets with no wrong answer. He goes to an art program at a local museum I used to teach at & usually comes home from those classes very inspired. At home, he's basically living in an art gallery. Our work & our friends work is hanging on every wall. He spends a lot of time in my studio, so he's no stranger to color or texture.

My background is in Children's Book Illustration, so I was making work for kids long before I had a child of my own, but actually LIVING with your audience is a huge advantage. He's the reason I created my Under Appreciated Animals ™ series! I feel pretty proud to be able to bring things to life for my kid.

Various pieces on the fabled "pretty sure this is done" wall

What is your ideal work environment?
Having my studio in my home is a big part of what I'd consider ideal. Being able to roll out of bed and walk a few yards to "work", in my pjs, and never have to get in a car or commute anywhere? That's pretty awesome. My studio is an extension of the family room-- I'm able to close off my work space if I need to really concentrate on something, but otherwise, its nice to be able to paint in the same room my son is making epic Lego awesomeness. In terms of the ideal work environment, I've pretty much got it-- great natural light, big windows, tall ceilings, lots of wall space to cover with things that inspire me, a great big desk & room for all my gadgets. I could probably use more storage for my fabric and yarn stash though.

Who is another artist you’re greatly inspired by and why?
I have a lot of favorite artists, who I look to for different reasons: John Singer Sargent is my favorite painter--- if you ever get to see one of his paintings in real life, you'll know why. The man just had the most amazing sense of color & what, to me, just seems like the most confidence I've ever seen exhibited in a brush stroke. In Illustration, I love Mary Blair (I'm a huge Disney fan… Small World!?! The colors and patterns. Ugh. Amazing), Lisbeth Zwerger & Ed Young-- their compositions and use of texture & line work. Jim Henson, because he was brilliant & his work has shaped SO much of my world view. Kermit for president, am I right? And of course John James Audubon. Oh the birds.

And then there's the murals… I could spend months just walking around Philadelphia chronicling them all. I find a lot of inspiration in art I see on a daily basis, that might not even be considered "art".

Progress shot of Danamarie's piece for the Smart show "Pigeonholed #7"

What made you choose the quote you selected? Any personal attachment to it?
SO much attachment. I mean, I grew up with the Muppets-- Sesame Street was my first babysitter (I think that goes for most of my generation)-- and The Muppet Movie just gets me. The song 'The Rainbow Connection'? I have literally never been able to sing it or hear it without melting into a puddle of blubbering tears by the end; I can get through it dry eyed until the "there's something that I'm supposed to be…" part. That just wrecks me. And if I think about it too much now, I'm going to ruin my keyboard, so I'll move on…

Obviously, I wasn't going to be able to illustrate THAT song, but the reprise, at the end of the movie, with all the Muppets coming in behind Kermit & joining in, after they've all had this awesome journey, together, to create something meaningful… I dunno… its just so beautiful. When I think about wisdom I want to impart to my son, I think that's what I want him to really understand. You write your OWN ending. You're in control of you & you should never stop dreaming or pretending. None of us should. I get to spend 85% of my day dreaming and pretending… for a LIVING. That's pretty awesome. Kermit taught me that.

Do you have any words of encouragement for the world?
Listen up, world. You've got this. Ask for help if you need it. We're all in this together. Be kind to yourself.



When you’re having a bad day, is there something that never fails to lift your spirits? A favorite comfort food?
My kid has a pretty incredible gift for saying something so unbelievably cute & perfect, at JUST the right time. These days, he's pretty much the spirit lifter. Even when he's wrecked something and then had a tantrum and screamed in my face about it, he manages to remind me what really matters, just by virtue of existing.

And when that fails, watching Gordon Ramsay yell at people, with some jalapeño Cheetos or pizza & a frozen Kit-Kat bar will usually do the trick.

I also have a special place in my heart for Space Unicorn, by Parry Gripp. I share this with all my Seniors before they graduate, because I think you need to have a go to song to snap you back into place, especially if you're going to be a creative person for a living. Bad days can be really tough. Anyway, if you aren't familiar, you need to google it. Immediately.


Daily Pigeon #122

As they are generally under-appreciated creatures, why are pigeons special to you? I mean this with *all* the sincerity in the world-- I could talk about pigeons for DAYS. You don't have the data allowance to upload everything I could say about pigeons. I promise you. Hmmm… let me summarize. Give me a sec.

Ok.

Basically, pigeons *should* be special to everyone, because they are intrinsically linked to humans and are, in a LOT of ways, very like humans…And, because if you take any amount of time to actually look at a pigeon (really look at them), you will realize how much information they hold. I seriously think that the world would be a better place if more people appreciated pigeons.

They're hugely misunderstood (but so many people perpetuate stereotypes & negative falsehoods about them). They operate in family units, with both mom & dad (monogamous partners) raising the young. They're actually quite smart & have been at the center of tons of research, holding the key to questions about magnetic fields, sonar, the extreme possibilities in areas of memory & genetics. Heck! Darwin used pigeons to uncover the mysteries of natural selection. They've saved lives in times of war, doing things that human soldiers couldn't do. AND pigeons are doves. Everyone loves the pretty, solid white dove-- symbol of peace and whatnot. I could go on… But they're proud history & scientific contributions aside, I'm most fascinated by them as a parallel to/ stand in for, human society. You could easily look at a pigeon and say they all look the same, but each one has a unique & special coloration & feather pattern-- even if the difference is slight. Most people, I think, look at a group of pigeons in the city and see one big nameless, faceless mass-- not the individual birds that make up the group. And those birds all have families & special skill sets & unique features. I've lived in an urban environment my entire life, and no matter what city I'm in, I've experienced people looking at & dismissing groups of PEOPLE with the same nasty assumptions they'd place on those birds. I don't think anyone should be written off based solely on where they live or what they look like, or what someone told you might be true about them. Pigeons have a bad reputation for being dirty (they really aren't), for spreading disease (they really don't), for being dumb (totally false) and for being expendable (no living thing is expendable). And what's more, I see pigeons as a mirror for humanity. For example, people despise pigeons for pooping everywhere (where *should* they poop, by the way?) and the damage it does to our property, but did you know that if WE didn't litter & make OUR food available to them, if they were able to just eat the food nature intended them to, their poop would rinse away with rain, and damage nothing? So that part fascinates me too, because what we really don't like about them seem to be things we've either caused them to do/ be, or things that we don't like about ourselves.

I could go on. But seriously, if anyone is interested, I invite you to follow my tumblr & my Daily Pigeon project. I have already heard from dozens of people who've told me I've converted them & they look at pigeons totally differently now. Mission beginning to be accomplished!

Daily Pigeon #127

Where do you find inspiration for your Daily Pigeon project, and how long do they usually take you?
Inspiration comes from all over the place-- sometimes I go out on pigeon "meeting" trips (where I walk around the city looking for them & when I find one I always say "Hello, my name is Danamarie. May I take your picture?" and then I take their picture, because that's the polite thing to do…. Totally not kidding). Other times I draw them from my head (which I've gotten pretty good at by now). I try not to over think the Daily Pigeons too much-- I want them to have whatever feeling the day had for me. In my bigger works I can get more cerebral, but these are really just trying to pique peoples' interests; give me a way to use different tags on my blog, find new followers, get them seen more. I might explore pattern or text. It might just be a doodle. They can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 8 hours. A few of them so far have been much bigger pieces, which are obviously not completed in one day, but on the day I finish them, they are that day's Daily Pigeon. I like being able to "reward" people with something more substantial every now and again. Really, this project is a way to get people to see beauty in them, the way I do & hopefully get them looking at real pigeons with the same kind of enthusiasm as they do my renderings of them.

Thanks, Danamarie!

To see more of her work, check out her website, and be sure to take a peek at her piece for the You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It show.