2.5 Day workshop with Teagan White! July 3-5th!

Join us for an awesome new workshop led by illustrator, Teagan White!
Registration is open to locals and travelers - full list of details or to sign up, click here.

EXPLORATION & INSPIRATION
An illustration workshop with Teagan White
http://teaganwhite.com

July 3 - 5th (Friday Night, Saturday and Sunday)
18 spots available

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THE WORKSHOP:
This workshop is open to locals and travelers! We believe that the best way to expand your creative practice is by connecting with other like-minded people in an environment that promotes exploration, innovation and discovery.

In this new 2.5 day workshop, illustrator Teagan White will share her perspective on what it’s like being an artist committed to two very distinct working styles, both influenced by her connection with the natural world, and why she makes exploration and discovery out in the wild environments of Minnesota a necessary part of her practice. Participants will be encouraged to explore their own stylistic spectrum, look to new sources of experiential inspiration to fuel a new body of work, and learn new ways of expanding their practice authentically through a series of demonstrations, discussions and studio sessions, both out in the (literal) field during a day at Lake Maria State Park and at Light Grey Art Lab.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Teagan White’s artist lecture and Q&A session on Friday Night at Light Grey Art Lab
• Meet other Twin Cities creatives at the Patches & Stitches Exhibition opening reception and Meet & Greet
• Artists wishing to diversify their practice will be prompted to engage with previously unexplored techniques, styles, or concepts
• Artists with multiple "styles” will gain insight into ways of promoting the spectrum of their capabilities and balancing a multi-faceted career.
• Travel to gorgeous Lake Maria State Park for a series of exploratory art-making sessions and time out in the field as Teagan discusses how the natural world influences our creativity.
• Participate in outdoor (and internal) exploratory sessions to help stimulate ideas for new projects and ways of working.
• Revealing the our personal authenticity and bringing our personal passions into every aspect of our practice.
• Opt in to barbecue and bike to the fireworks in Minneapolis with the Light Grey Crew and local artists on Saturday, July 4th.
• Explore alternative ways of making during demos and studio sessions.
• Chat with Teagan about your personal practice during one-on-one working sessions.

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Teagan White is a freelance illustrator specializing in intricate drawings of flora and fauna, playful watercolors of animal characters, and illustrated typography. Her clients have included Target, Papyrus, American Greetings, Penguin Random House, Disney Hyperion, Nike, Honda, Ford, Wired Magazine, and the Washington Post. She lives and works in Minnesota, where she spends her free time following tangled animal paths through forest and field, attempting to befriend gulls on rocky lakeshores, picking wildflowers, and collecting animal bones.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS / REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Storytelling, Comics, and Creativy Workshop with Sam Bosma

STORYTELLING, COMICS + CREATIVITY An intensive illustration workshop with Sam Bosma
http://sbosma.com

May 22 - 24 (Friday Night, Saturday and Sunday)
Open to locals and individuals looking to travel for a motivating and ambitious creative workshop.


THE WORKSHOP:
Summer is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to jump-start your creative process! Join us as we welcome celebrated comic artist and illustrator, Sam Bosma, for a two and a half day comic workshop at Light Grey Art Lab! Sam has prepared a slew of creative comic-centered sessions on storytelling, pacing, and world building, filled with in-depth process demonstrations and intimate discussions on best practices for identifying your own niche in the world of comics. Through a series of studio sessions and one-on-one feedback, Sam will coach each participant on how to use their unique voice while building the foundation of their next comic project.

Special guest Kali Ciesemier will join in discussions during the workshop, offering a unique second perspective as we discuss creating excellent work that reinforces your ideals, methods for avoiding pitfalls, and resources for enhancing your best creative traits.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sam Bosma’s artist lecture and Q&A session on Friday Night at Light Grey Art Lab
• Meet other Twin Cities creatives at the Iceland Residency Exhibition opening reception and Meet & Greet
• Learn Sam’s preferred methods of storytelling through workshops on pacing, framing, world building.
• Strategies for engaging a supportive audience and finding outlets for your work
• Learn new processes through technical demonstrations showing Sam’s creative techniques.
• Participate in intimate discussions about creative business, marketing and self-publishing
• Learn another perspective on the creative process from guest speaker, Kali Ciesemier
• Create a strategy and schedule for your next comic project
• Receive one-on-one feedback from Sam Bosma on your next steps
• Join us for our second annual “Beer & Boardgames” meet-up at Fantasy Flight Event Center


Sam Bosma is an illustrator and comic artist working in Brooklyn, New York. Sam's work has won awards from the Society of Illustrators, Spectrum Fantastic Art, and the Ignatz Committee, as well as being nominated for an Annie Award for his work on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe. His Ignatz-winning short comic, Fantasy Basketball, is being released by NoBrow Press in a new expanded edition called Fantasy Sports #1. Fantasy Sports #2 is due out in 2016.

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

The 24 Hour Comic Lock-in!

Get ready for an overnight, comic making extravaganza! Light Grey Art Lab is hosting a creative lock-in in correlation with the worldwide 24 Hour Comic Challenge, October 4th and 5th!



In 1990, Scott McCloud began the 24 hour Comic Challenge. The challenge originated as a creative dare between friends, has now become a worldwide phenomenon! On October 4th, tens of thousands of comic artists, illustrators, playwrights, fine artists, and animators will pull out their ink and paper and begin an all night challenge to complete a 24-page comic in 24 hours. You can read about the origin of this project here.



We invite you to join us for this unique overnight lock-in, hosted here at Light Grey Art Lab. We are inviting all types of designers, comic artists, animators, and all creatives to participate, ideate, and take on the comic challenge! Starting at 9PM and working our way through the night, we hope to create a cozy and productive atmosphere for you to create your most productive, spontaneous and inspired work. We will provide tons of coffee, tea, conversation, and workspace to make these challenge more enjoyable!



Space is limited, so please register for the lock-in on the Light Grey Shop here! If you have any questions about materials or registration, send us a note: hello@lightgreyartlab.com.

Studio Self Indulgence with Sam Wolfe Connelly - Weekend Recap!

Studio Self Indulgence with Sam Wolfe Connelly

We just finished a set of huge and inspiring weeks at Light Grey Art Lab! In coordination with the opening reception for Great Personality, we invited freelance, editorial, and exhibiting illustrator Sam Wolfe Connelly to teach a three-day workshop called Studio Self Indulgence!

The weekend workshop included a public artist lecture at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a series of studio-intensive sessions, advice on practicing and professional illustration, locational brainstorming, business talks, and a guest lecture by Teagan White. Overall, the weekend was full of dynamic conversations, ideating, and a focus on each individual's art practice and aspirations.



The weekend began with the visiting artist lecture at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In the artist talk, Sam walked through his recent work, motivations, and voice in illustration. He shared his thoughts about promoting work, navigating the line between client-based and personal work, and some of the stories and history that make their way into his pieces- creating eery, interesting, and voyeuristic narratives.

It was an informative and very entertaining start to the night! If you missed the artist talk, we just posted it to the Light Grey Podcast. You can find an audio recording of the lecture here.



After the talk, we made our way to Light Grey Art Lab for the opening reception of Great Personality, the release of the Great Personality Dating Games, and an All Creatives Meet & Greet. It was an unbelievable turnout with artists, locals, and friends, who were all gathered for the big unveil! Guests were able to mingle and meet one another while looking at all of the pinups and environments on the surrounding walls. You can see more information about the opening reception here or see all of the photographs on the Great Personality flickr set here.



The studio workshops began on Saturday morning with bagels, coffee, and tea. We gathered around the big tables to meet all of the workshop participants, get to know one another, and discus our goals and focus for the workshop and thereafter.



After a few brainstorming exercises and individual reflections, we broke into teams and began idea generating and comparing interests. Each group was given prompts to expand upon and use throughout the afternoon field trips and locational workshops.

American Swedish Institute

Our first group trip was to the American Swedish Institute. There, students were invited to gather source images, sketch, and wonder through the halls of the Turnblad Mansion. The entire mansion is covered in gilded statues, giant bay windows, lookout points, bannisters, and hand-carved ornaments. It was a perfect place to sketch and work out some drawings!

Students sketching throughout the museum.



We then made our way to Midtown Global Market for a lunch break and conversation. Midtown is a colorful and diverse marketplace for all types of food and goods- It is one of our favorite places for people watching and grabbing a bite to eat.

Midtown Global Market

And after lunch we made our way to Northeast Minneapolis to the Bell Museum of Natural History. Here, there are tons of beautiful landscapes, dioramas, taxidermy, and carefully placed scenes for sketching and observing.

Bell Museum of Natural History

In the afternoon, we returned to Light Grey Art Lab for a lecture, presentation, and work time. And after a productive day, we settled down for a family style dinner and game night! It was a mystery themed game night that included Clue, Pandemic, Rolemodels, Who Killed Doctor Lucky, and more!

Mystery Game Night!

Breakfast and Business Discussion

The second day of the workshop began with a Breakfast and Business Talk. We all gathered around the big tables to pool our resources! The business talk included topics of promotionals, art directors, conventions, art reps, and more. It is a content heavy and incredibly important part of the workshop!

Then Sam gave two technique-based demos. We watched Sam create a small drawing in charcoal, and then how he translated and colored his work digitally. He talked through his techniques and tips for keeping material qualities and setting certain moods.

Digital Demo by Sam Wolfe Connelly

Artist Talk with Teagan White

Then we had an artist presentation by local illustrator, Teagan White. Teagan is an expert in her craft, style, and application. She shared information about what techniques and promotions have worked best for her, finding the right kind of work for her style, and her thoughts on illustration. It was an thoughtful and informative talk! You can see more of Teagan White's work here.



After our artist talks and demos, we had a full afternoon including one-on-one critiques, portfolio reviews with Sam, and group brainstorming for future projects. During the one-on-one meetings, Sam talked with each participant with their individual art goals, current projects, and questions. It was a chance to ask all of the specifics about their personal illustration work.



Groups met to talk about zine, exhibition, and project possibilities! Each group came up with a unique solution that brought together their common goals, inspirations, community, and resources.

Farewell dinner at Fuji Ya

And after a productive, inspiring, and collaborative weekend, we gathered around around for our final, farewell dinner! We had a great time talking with all of the artists and about new things on the horizon! I think we all left with a sense of possibilities and good things to come!

Thanks to everyone that participated in this weekend, attended the lecture at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, or came to the opening reception of Great Personality- this was an extremely special and community driven weekend!

Studio Self Indulgence, 2014

Join us for a Moonlit Tarot Workshop!

If you are interested in tarot cards, want to learn to read, or just curious, we have a great class coming up at Light Grey Art Lab. This Thursday, January 16th from 6-9PM, Lindsay Nohl will be teaching a free workshop on reading and understanding the art of tarot.



Through this class you will learn about some of the symbolism and relationships in the cards, different structures and ways of reading, and the stories of the minor and major arcana. By the end of the class you will be able to start your own mini readings!
You can see more information about this event on the Moonlit Tarot Event Page here! If you have a deck, feel free to bring your own to follow along!



In 2012, Light Grey Art Lab published a collaborative artist deck, including the works of illustrators, designers, and fine artists from around the world. Each artist was given a card at random (to the luck of the draw) and ask to redesign and interpret the meaning and symbolism of the card. As a result, this unique tarot deck is full of beautiful color illustrations, storytelling imagery, and a very readable and comprehensive deck. Along with the cards, there is a 32-page guidebook that will help you along as you learn to read tarot! This is a limited edition publication. You can see the full details of this project here.

We will have several of these decks available for practice and learning during the course! We would love to teach your all of our mystical knowledge- hope to see you here!

Winter Workshop with Sam Wolfe Connelly! STUDIO SELF_INDULGENCE! JAN 24 - 26

Great news! This January we've invited artist and illustrator Sam Wolfe Connelly to join us for a 2.5 day workshop called STUDIO SELF_INDULGENCE!

When we were thinking about who might be the perfect person to lead a workshop during the Great Personality exhibition, our minds immediately went to Sam! Sam's work skirts the border between sensual and mysterious -- dark and voyeuristic.

During the month of January will be talking about how ambiance and attitude make or break our perceptions of people and places, and we'll be taking a deeper look inside how we can add these things into our work and indulge ourselves in the process!

So if you're an artist that's looking to bridge the gap between your illustration work and your gallery practice, or if you've been more and more interested in finding ways of including the subjects you love in your professional work, this workshop is for you!



THE WORKSHOP:
Sam has a series of really self-indulgent, challenging, and mysterious assignments to help focus on the important aspects of defining the essential moments, language and content of your work. As we begin to define the most compelling concepts and themes for ourselves, we'll analyze the question of "How do I do more of what I love."

Participants will be guided through the refinement and development of goals for 2014 through some incredible demonstrations on technique, ideation and practice, discussions on the creative industry, portfolio development and refining one's creative identity, and a chance to learn through a guest panel of illustrators (including guest artist Teagan White!) that have been able to bridge the gap between their commercial work and their personal interests.

All of this, of course, has been curated to be a very special experience and boy, do we have fun things in store for you. The Light Grey Team has curated our dinners, extracurriculars and events with a nod to the mysterious side of art making. We'll visit incredible history-filled mansions, explore ancient relics from the past, and get absorbed in the nuances of a time long past. (Did you know Minneapolis has a speak-easy?)

Plus, Sam will be doing an incredible public lecture on the first night, followed by the opening reception of the Great Personality Exhibition!

So get ready for an incredible time!
Details about the event can be found on our shop here!
The event is open to 18 participants and is OPEN TO LOCALS AND TRAVELERS!
So let us know if you have any questions and get ready for an incredible start to 2014!

Questions?
hello@lightgreyartlab.com


ADDITIONAL DETAILS: (for a full list of details click HERE)
The workshop will include:
• Admission & Priority Seating for Sam Wolfe Connelly's Artist Lecture
• Workshop admission.
• A Light Grey Art Lab workbook and gift bag filled with creative materials for the weekend.
• Painting and Drawing technique demonstrations by Sam Wolfe Connelly
• Roundtable discussions on building recognition, reputation and defining your artistic identity
• A personalized workshop on assessing creative goals and developing personal practice including building a schedule for pursuing creative endeavors.
• Working alongside Sam during in-studio creative sessions.
• In-Studio collaborative exercises in developing character and environmental assets.
• An inside look at Sam's creative universe including insight into his gallery and illustration practice.

BONUS:
• Participation in the Opening Night mixer and reception of the Great Personality Exhibition!
• Admission fees to our off-site locations are included!
• Breakfast and morning coffee / tea is included both days.
• A behind-the-scenes look at how Great Personality, the interactive visual novel was created.
• Lunches & Dinners at some of Minneapolis's best mysterious eateries.
• Saturday night Mystery-filled Dinner (with Special Guest, Teagan White!)

World Building Workshop With Claire Hummel and Colin Foran- Weekend Recap!

Wow! Well, we just got done with a fantastic and exhilarating weekend here at Light Grey Art Lab! We had the honor of inviting Claire Hummel and Colin Foran from Microsoft Studios to teach a three-day intensive studio workshop filled with world building, brainstorming, and critical conversation!

Overall, the weekend was an informative and challenging introduction into concept art and the gaming industry, with expert advice in promoting yourself, working on a production team, working practice, and portfolio tips, as well as tons of studio time for the participants to build and develop worlds of their own!



The weekend began with a free public lecture here at Light Grey, where Claire and Colin were able to share and talk about their past, current, and in process projects for Microsoft Studios. They described their pre and post production work and talk a little about the industry, collaboration, and the art of concepting. It was wonderful to see and celebrate all of their work! We had a packed house full of students and creatives from around the community who were eager to hear about their process and meet Claire and Colin in person!

Immediately following the artist talk, was our All Creatives Meet & Greet! Tons of local creatives, traveling artists, students, and neighbors stopped by for a chance to say hello, exchange business cards, and talk about their work- such an energetic and fun evening!

Saturday morning began with a large pot of coffee, tea, and bagels as we settled in for an ambitious weekend. During this time, all of the participants were able to introduce themselves, their objectives, and backgrounds.

Then, Claire and Colin gave an in-depth presentation of their background, where they came from creatively, and influences along the way. They both come from a rich background of freelance illustration, digital and traditional mediums, concept art, and art direction- all informing what they do today.

The morning presentation of world building concepts was a great way to kick off the workshop! Students were ignited, full of ideas, and ready to start sketching! Students grouped with their teams to begin researching and rapid brainstorming for developing new worlds! A giant, collaborative ideating session which took us to on a journey through high functioning societies, underground dwellers, decorative and magical people, and refugee island inhabitants. All ideas were put on the table!

After the first studio session, we made our way to Common Roots Cafe for a lunch break. It was definitely time for brain food!

After our break, Claire, Colin, and our two guest artists, Victor Mosquera and Sidharth Chaturvedi, joined us for a skype interview and Q & A. All of these artists work in the concept art industry, but with various specialities and kinds of games/concepts. This was a chance to compare and contrast mobile games verses video production, and illustration- it was a chance to ask the tough questions about pace, expectations, and standards. The conversation was eye opening for all of us!

Colin is definitely a master of his craft! During his digital demonstration, we watched in awe as he developed one of his robot sketches. It quickly went from a rough sketch to a well-lit, colorful, and believable image. He made a point to emphasized the importance of knowing your materials- the visual differences between types of metals and leathers and how to render them. Wow!

For the afternoon, it was back to world building! The morning studio session got us off to a great start in defining our kingdoms, and now it was time to solidify ideas and concepts. This session was all about research, combining ideas, and challenging others. Students worked right alongside Claire and Colin to lay out the ways of their lands.

At the end of the first day, we transitioned from world builders for our Boardgames, Beer, and Pizza Night! Players joined in to learn Rolemodels: The Battle For Vyk'Tornaahl, D & D, Tarot Readings, Labyrinth, and other awesome games. It was a fun, competitive and nerdy night!

Here we are- in the midst of an epic quest!

Sunday began with breakfast and business. Claire and Colin led a roundtable discussion about conventions, portfolio building, and the business side of the gaming industry. It is always useful to hear first hand experience of what to expect in portfolios, what to include on your website, media resources, and more. The workshop participants had tons to share on social media and resource topics!

The, Claire led a digital demo on developing characters. She is fantastic person to share information about research in characters, constructing costumes, and personality! I think everyone was blown away by her attention to detail and intricate line work!

After a few hours of concepting time for our lands, we headed off to lunch! This was a chance to catch up with the other teams, exchange ideas, and relax!

For the final working session of the day, we got right to work! It was about putting ideas to paper, being able to present on our ideas, make a case and logic for the ways of the land, finishing thoughts, and critique.

Each group did a great job of representing many parts of their world. By the end of the weekend they had a goods understanding of developing an entire world, all the parts, and considerations that go into it. Students had interesting cultural garbs, city centers, good, food, and weapons for trading at the market, and more! It was impressive and thoughtful work!

And here is the whole group! A fantastic group of creators!


You can see more artwork and information about Claire Hummel and Colin Foran here.
You can also see the entire collection of photos from the weekend on our Light Grey Flickr Page here.

Podcast: Visual Development For Video Games

Download the MP3 or Subscribe via iTunes!

Visual Development for Video Games
Length: 01:04:39
Synopsis: Microsoft Studios Associate Production Designer Claire Hummel and Associate Art Director Colin Foran visited Minneapolis this week to host our weekend workshop dedicated to world building in video games. To kick off the event, we hosted a public artist talk where Claire and Colin spoke about how they approach the challenging work of visual development for AAA video games, what it's like to work on a high-caliber team of talent like Microsoft Studios, where they started as artists, and how they got to where they are now. And of course, lots, lots more. Claire and Colin are incredibly talented and knowledgeable (and super nice, too!) so we thought it would be a great conversation to share on the podcast!


NOTES:
You can see Claire Hummel's art and follow what she's up to next on her website, Tumblr, Deviant Art, or on twitter @shoomlah.

You can see Colin Foran's art and follow what he's up to next on his Tumblr, CG Hub, Deviant Art, or on twitter @colin_foran.

Big events this weekend!

We want to welcome everyone for an exciting series of events here at Light Grey Art Lab this Friday Night!

We have invited Claire Hummel and Colin Foran from Microsoft Studios for an entire weekend of World Building, character development, and art making! To kick of their weekend of gaming art and development, Claire and Colin are holding a free public artist talk here at Light Grey Art Lab! The lecture begins at 7pm, where Claire on Colin will share their work for Microsoft, their in-depth process, and stages of creating, as well as their personal work and illustrations. There will be time for a Q& A to ask questions!



Then, we will begin our All Creatives Meet & Greet! Grab your notebooks, business cards, giveaways, and information, as you will have the chance to meet tons of other creatives from around the cities, travelers for the workshop, and Claire and Colin! You can also bring cash for our coffee truck that will have fresh lattes, cappuccinos, blended drinks, smoothies and more! It will be the perfect chance to warm up on a cold night and get energized for great conversations! Bring you friends and colleagues- All are welcome!

You can read more about this event on our facebook page here.



Hope to see you here!

All-Night with Campbell Whyte Recap

Late last Saturday we locked 18 artists in the gallery, led by visiting artist Campbell Whyte, for the All-Night With Campbell Whyte workshop! This all night lock-in and comic workshop was an opportunity learn about Campbell's process, burn the midnight oil with other creatives, and (hopefully) finish the night with a finished 8-page comic!

The lock-in started at 9 pm with Campbell sharing a little about his history as an artist, the projects he's managed to continually crank out, and how he balances the ideas and projects he wants to accomplish with real-world responsibilities and obligations. After that introduction, we moved on to an idea-generating exercise to help come up with a concept for the night's project.

Once everyone got cranking, it was full-speed ahead as people worked through their ideas with Campbell, storyboarded their comics and got creating. The deadline was a 4 am trip to the copy-shop to make a 20 comic edition to share with the rest of the workshop participants.

Thankfully, Campbell is a charming instructor, despite the grueling hours and spirits remained high through the night. There was plentiful coffee, Glam Doll Donuts and a massive late night pizza delivery, which helped.

Right on schedule, we took a group trip into Uptown to make copies of our comics. Once printed and folded, everyone got to go home with a copy of everyone else's comic!

Thanks to Campbell for an awesome night! Needless to say, it was intimidating for everyone involved to start working, knowing they had such limited time. But Campbell really helped people get motivated and push through the problems. In the end, I think a lot of people were surprised to see how much they accomplished when they were on a deadline.

The best part (for me) was getting home and reading through a stack of comics in bed as the sun came up and the birds started chirping, and being impressed with how good they all were!

Congrats to everyone involved!

Light Grey Lock-in: ALL NIGHT WITH CAMPBELL WHYTE

This weekend Light Grey Art Lab is hosting a fall lock-in with a special twist: it's an all-night zine-making party! And if that isn't enough, it's hosted by Nights and Weekends artist Campbell Whyte, who is visiting us from Australia!



Campbell will be sharing his projects and process, presenting demos, and working alongside participating guests as they create 8 page mini-zines that will be copied and distributed at the end of the night (that's right–each participant will have their own collection of zines at the end of the night!)

Here's the break-down:
9pm—10pm: Meet Campbell & his practice! Campbell will be showing his work, talking about his process and sharing stories with us about his 8-bit dreams series, Home Time (his comic) and his other endeavors.
10pm—11pm: Participate in some technique demos, creative challenges and awesome conversation about comic-making as we head into the prompt for the night! 11pm - 3am Make work alongside Campbell, the Light Grey Team and all of your new art friends! We'll be drawing, story-telling and getting down to business.
11pm—3am: Make work alongside Campbell, the Light Grey Team and all of your new art friends! We'll be drawing, story-telling and getting down to business.
3am: Late-night photo-copying run!
3:30am—5am: Assembling, reading, sharing and talking comics!




And since we know it's a must for any all-night work party, we'll have an unlimited supply of tea and coffee to keep artists going all night long! Guests just need to bring their (black and white) materials of choice–we recommend ink and black and white watercolors. We'll provide paper, though guests are welcome to bring their own if they have a preference.
If you'd like to learn more about Campbell Whyte, you can check out his website: http://www.campbellwhyte.com/

If you'd like to sign up for the workshop, visit the shop to register or learn more!
LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE!!
 

NEW ART RETREAT / WORKSHOP! COLIN FORAN & CLAIRE HUMMEL : WORLD BUILDER WORKSHOP

Light Grey Art Lab is proud to present our newest weekend workshop, World Building with Claire Hummel and Colin Foran. The duo is traveling to Minneapolis from Seattle-based Microsoft Studios to join us in an incredible (and ambitious!) workshop filled with inspired discussion, exceptional exercises and a series of technical demos. Colin and Claire have professional world-building experience working on game titles such as Bioshock - Infinite and Killer Instinct and have helped develop the visuals for many other incredible Xbox and Kinect titles.

If you are an artist that has been dying to buff up your concepting skills in a super-collaborative experience, this workshop is for you! You'll be crafting content for a world in the style of the professional game development industry, under Claire and Colin's practiced eyes.

WORLD BUILDING WORKSHOP
with Colin Foran and Claire Hummel
November 1, 2 and 3rd
Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday

As always, this workshop is open and welcome to travelers! We will happily help you with your accommodations, so you can come and enjoy our fair city with us!

We're really thrilled to have Colin and Claire visit, just in time for our Rolemodels exhibition! What better way to celebrate our role-playing inspired show and card game than a guest visit from two artists from the gaming industry? These guys flex their mega-talented muscles both during work hours and after; you can check out both of their blogs to see they don't stop world-building at the office doors. After talking with them through a few shows and a podcast, it was clear that they are just excited about this kind of thing as we are.


Concepts for Bioshock-Infinite by Claire Hummel

If you're into creating super experiential work, or maybe you've been wondering what it's like designing in the gaming industry, this is the workshop for you.


Colin's recent contribution to the Station Zero Exhibition

******

The workshop will include:
• Admission & Priority Seating for Colin Foran and Claire Hummel's Artist Lecture
• A Light Grey Art Lab workbook and gift bag filled with creative materials for the weekend.
• Painting and Drawing technique demonstrations by both Colin Foran & Claire Hummel
• Roundtable discussions on building recognition, reputation and defining your artistic identity
• A personalized workshop on assessing creative goals and developing personal practice including building a schedule for pursuing creative endeavors.
• Working alongside Colin and Claire in team-led creative sessions.
• In-Studio collaborative exercises in developing character and environmental assets.
• An inside look at working in the video game development industry

BONUS:
• Participation in Light Grey Art Lab's 4th All Creatives Meet & Greet: Networking Event
• A behind-the-scenes look at how ROLEMODELS: The Battle for Vyk' Torhaahl card game was created.
• Lunches & Dinners at some of Minneapolis's best eateries.
• Saturday night BYOB(g) (Pizza, Boardgames and Beer! with ROLEMODELS Artists- Special Guests!) Woo woo!

....and much more!
To see the full list of what's to come, check out the listing here!


Work by Colin Foran

This workshop is limited to 18 participants and is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please note that it is non-refundable, so please let us know if we can help answer any questions for you.


We can't wait to see you!


Claire Hummel's Jasmine, from her Historical Disney Princess Series

For all of the details on how this works, head to THIS LINK!
Questions? contact us at hello@lightgreyartlab.com

Create, Concept, and Collaborate Recap!

Wow! Create, Concept, & Collaborate is already over, and it was a huge success! This past weekend we were honored to have the incredibly talented duo of Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying visit us at Light Grey Art Lab to host a weekend workshop dedicated to visual development. As Visual Development Artists at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Mike and Victoria brought with them an incredible wealth of talent, experience, and insight.



The weekend kicked off with a public lecture in the Minneapolis College of Art and Design's auditorium, which was packed to the brim with excited artists. Mike and Victoria gave a great introduction on what it actually means to create visual development and concept work for a company like Disney. Their body of work is hugely impressive and it was a great lecture! You can listen to the full lecture it on the latest podcast episode, here.


A packed house over at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design!


Mike and Victoria share upcoming projects, animation stills, and concept art for Disney Animation Studios.

Afterwards, everyone moved down the street to Glam Doll Donuts, where we had a bustling All Creatives Meet & Greet. Spirits were high, fueled by Glam Dolls delectable donuts and plenty of coffee. It was a great event, and the people at Glam Doll happily dealt with the throngs of hungry artists like pros.


Artists line up to talk to Mike and Victoria, say hello to each other, and fill up on some delicious donuts!

The first day started bright and early, with introductions and an opener discussion with Mike and Victoria about personal work, their brainchild Extracurricular Activities, and sharing the portfolios that got them into the industry. Mike and Victoria highlighted some of their favorite pieces to date, shared current and in process works, and the differences in their personal and professional works. It was wonderful to see the changes from project to project!



Then, Light Grey led a series of workshop exercises, focusing on experimentation and exploration in story-telling. Splitting into groups, each team was given a short prompt and challenge to create a children's story with limited resources- Rorschach ink blots! As a humorous ice-breaker, this was a perfect project to start the day: it focused on group improv, brainstorming, and creative problem solving. The exercise was followed by reflective worksheets and discussion on project ideation.


Groups work on creating a playful and quick children's story, all with ink blots and abstract shapes!


A giant and fun brainstorming session to get all of us awake and thinking.

After a breezy outdoor lunch at Jasmine Deli and a coffee break at the Spyhouse, boardgame art director Mike Linnemann came by and talked about the relationship between art directors and participating artists. Mike is a bright and honest guy, not to mention an incredibly experienced and prolific director. Along with a presentation, students were able to peek at a few of the games and card decks Mike has helped produce.



Following Mike Linnemann's talk, Victoria led an incredible character building demo, where she talked about the shapes, relationships, and dynamics to think about when creating interesting character.





Victoria creates her version of Hansel and Gretel, showing how she ideates, creates characters, and builds personas.

The demo ended with a project prompt for a character building exercise, which the class worked on while each participant started in their one-on-one (or one-on-two, in this case) chats with Mike and Victoria. Individual students were able sit down ask questions, review their portfolio, and talk about their personal work.



After a long day, the whole workshop walked to Uptown's Chino Latino for some great food and some much needed R&R. We reflected on the day over colorful and exotic dishes and fun drinks!



Sunday morning started with an open and honest discussion about social media, promotion and marketing. This was a round-table discussion, and each person had great things to say about their personal experience, thoughts on promotion, useful and inspiring tools, and resources. From books to podcasts to online articles, this discussion was both insightful and necessary- shedding light on some of the most wondered and important questions. It was a very positive conversation, fueled by the variety of past experiences of participants, Mike and Victoria, and the Light Grey team.


Erik Krenz sharing his views on tumblr and social media.


So much enthusiasm!

Next, Mike led a lively landscape, character and painting demo. We all watched in awe as Mike effortlessly painted his interactive characters and background. He shared his personal techniques and tricks for painting in photoshop, as well as creating dynamic and informative compositions.



After the demonstration, we packed our bags and headed to Midtown Global Market for a quick and delicious bite to eat! Midtown is one of our favorite places to get lunch because of its endless and unique entrees, bubble teas, and handmade crafts. During lunch, we were able to relax and talk about our experiences so far, developing stories, and talk about our plan for the afternoon work session.



With the day half over, the group quickly got back to work! They spent the afternoon developing and working through their character building project. The review meetings continued throughout the afternoon, along with peer revisions, conversations, and a few Light Grey tarot readings!


Busy at work!


Partners were able to critique characters and look an each others work.

To close the day, Mike and Victoria walked through a portfolio building presentation, outlining the do's and don't's of portfolio creation, tips for unifying work, and how to make a portfolio a "reflection of yourself." The talk was not only about creating a portfolio, but how to share it, where to bring your portfolio, and how to get noticed. After a two full days of working, this was a perfect cap to share hopes and plans for the future.

To celebrate the weekend and new friends, the group moved to the Lowry for a great dinner and to give out final goodbyes. There were several drawing contests, such as "Cutest Kitten", or "Batman With Your Eyes Closed". Information was exchanged, including a hypothetical conversation about future workshops and dream projects.




Overall, it was an incredible weekend with so many talented and motivated individuals! Thank you to all of our participants, as well as those who were able to attend the lecture, meet & greet, or parts of the class! To see the entire collection of photographs from the weekend, you can check out the flickr gallery.

You can see more artwork by Victoria Ying and Mike Yamada here!

Watercolor Workshop: Bones, Beetles & Bell Jars

We had a great time at our Mother's Day weekend watercolor workshop! It was inspiring to meet our small group—somehow we always are gifted with talented people. I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend than watercolor painting a cabinet of curiosities with sketching companions.

The discussion was really pleasant. I got a few hot tips on how to compile my own curiosities-style still life, travel discussion and recommendation and of course, a good portion of shop talk!

 




Painting Mary Jo's collection was a dream, so I may take those tips and build my own still life. And maybe I'll have to update this entry with my finished painting, once it's completed!

You can see more of the workshop on Flickr!

CREATE, CONCEPT AND COLLABORATE with Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying : Our new travel workshop!

We are excited to announce our next big creative retreat / workshop at Light Grey Art Lab!

Join us for Light Grey's newest intensive art retreat! Now is your chance to get creative alongside Dreamworks and Disney visual development artists, Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying for an exciting workshop focused on creativity, concepts and collaboration!

CREATE, CONCEPT and COLLABORATE with
Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying
is scheduled for
August 30, 31st and September 1st
(On a nice, long, leasurely Labor Day weekend!)

Click here for the detailed agenda, dates, and information you'll need!
AND IT'S OPEN TO TRAVELERS!
Yes! We can help you with all of your accommodations so you can come on out and have a great time with us!

Super talented creative-duo, Mike Yamada and Victoria Ying are joining us at Light Grey Art Lab in what will be a memorable and exceptional creative time. We are so happy to announce that they'll be joining us!

We've had a crush on these guys for a while now -- and are really impressed with how driven, creative and how nice they are! We had the chance to meet them in person when we were in L.A. this past January and knew they were perfect for us!

Lucky for all of us, we've been in cahoots with them for how to plan an amazing, meaningful, and energizing workshop!
I'll let you guys in on a little secret.... we've been planning a concept art inspired show for this summer and we're totally excited -- because Victoria and Mike will be hosting their workshop AT THE SAME TIME as In Place! (our secret new show! Watch the blog closely this coming week for the call for art & details!!)

Mike and Victoria have a series of amazing workshops, lectures and demonstrations planned! With the IN-PLACE Concept Art Exhibition as your backdrop, and a series of intimate lectures, discussions and hands-on studio workshops on everything from working in the visual development field, to character development, storytelling with imagery, and developing exceptional stylistic techniques for your artwork, participants are challenged to step into Mike and Victoria's world and make their own artistic visions come to life.

***

We've got two and a half days of creating, concepting and collaborating in store that is peppered with awesome demos, out third ever ALL CREATIVES MEET & GREET, (where we invite all the creatives from the Twin Cities out to meet you guys at a local hang-out) some amazing lectures and discussions about everything from shop talk to setting up your portfolio, to speaking with guest artist, Mike Linnemann, an art director with the awesome experience of working with 100s of artists at Fantasy Flight Games.

Let us take you to all the great places to eat, chat your ears off, and get down to some serious art making.
All in our cozy space at Light Grey.

Here's the link again to all of the schedules, details for accommodations and more!
Please let us know if you have any questions!

This workshop is limited to 18 participants, so we hope you can make it!

If you haven't had a chance to see what our other workshops are about, take a peek here!

Read about our super fun ILLUSTRATION BOOTCAMP workshop with the amazing Meg Hunt!

And the inspiring RESOLVE to MAKE 2013 with awesome illustrator (and awesome lady), Kali Ciesemier!

We're proud to bring amazing people together to learn, collaborate and work together.
Hope you can join us for this summer's workshop!

---Lindsay

For art-lovers! This Valentine's Day.

Something special for art-lovers!

We're having a very special workshop on Thursday, February 14th and I wanted to make a special blog post because I know it's coming up soon! We are hosting a romantic art-making night for those of you guys that want to do something fun, but a little different!

Join us that night for a bottle of wine and make cameos of you and your special friend!
Here are all of the details -- we have 5 spots left, so grab one if you're interested in joining us!

The whole experience is about 1.5 hours, and costs $60 for the pair.
We'll have everything you need, so just pre-register and come on over!
We'll help get you set up to make your own silhouettes, decorate and frame them, all while listening to great music and sharing your own bottle of wine.

Ah, young love!

Make:2013 Presents Searching For Secrets

It's a week full of secret surprises! As a part of Kali Ciesemier's Resolve to Make: 2013 workshop, each participant was asked to create an illustration. It was a good chance to exercise some of the techniques taught by Kali and to begin a yearful of creative collaboration. The collaborative part is where the secrets come in–aside from creating an illustration that suited the topic of Light Grey Art Lab's current show, Message In A Bottle, each illustrator was also asked to hide a specific letter of the alphabet in his or her piece.
 
We present to you this gallery of artwork (which has found a permanent home on the Light Grey website) and ask that you try and decode the message! Find the letters, write them down, and voilá! Secret revealed.

Make: 2013 With Kali Ciesemier Recap!

MAKE:2013 was a huge success! This past weekend we were honored to have the incredibly talented Kali Ciesemier visit us at Light Grey Art Lab to host a weekend workshop dedicated to illustration, creativity and goal-setting, as well as being productive and happy in the new year!


As we poured into the small zashiki room at Fuji-ya (our first stop of the weekend), spirits were high and the room bubbled with introductions and animated tales of each person's journey to the Resolve to MAKE: 2013 workshop. Just a few hours prior, we had picked Kali up from the MSP airport. She was surprisingly energetic after a day of traveling and eager to meet everyone that night!

The Light Grey team had spent the last several weeks planning with Kali, and we were excited to finally jump into an intense weekend with our 18 workshoppers!


Early Saturday morning we got straight to business with introductions all around. Kali was brave enough to show her impressive progress as a working artist; from her earliest recorded work (an adorable 2nd grade animation made in Kid Pix complete with voice acting and sound effects provided by her and her father), continuing through her semi-awkward teen years (we all have them), and finally wowing everyone with her current and impressive body of work. She passed around plenty of awesome published samples, speaking to how different types of projects created new challenges.


Everyone was feeling inspired after seeing so much beautiful work, and we talked a little about trying to figure our what is next for each of us. With 2013 looming ahead, we focused on what was important to us about our own lifestyles and what we look forward to in the future. We broke down where our goals stem from and why they are important to us.

Happiness plays a huge part in our decision making process, and we discussed how it should define what makes the goals we set "Our Goals." We shared our thoughts and plans with each other and using the MAKE: 2013 workbook, we charted a path forward, creating an achievable schedule of action. This plan would shape the rest of our workshop.


After a quick lunch of Bánh mì sandwiches and springrolls from local gem Jasmine Deli, we jumped straight into a panel discussion led by Kali that included Brad McGinty, Alyssa Thomas, and Allegra Lockstadt. It was an energetic group with drastically different approaches and methodology, so it was enlightening to see how they had each own carved their own place in the illustration and design world.

It was great to get their perspective on pace, approach, and theories about what is important to them when planning their own goals and growing their own business.



Next, Kali gave a detailed lecture about her ideation and concepting process, which led to an exercise in informal subdivision. This was the first time that many of us had been through this process and it was eye-opening how much it helped create dynamic compositions. She then led everyone through the details of our group project (the results of which can be seen in a special section in the gallery alongside Light Grey Art Lab's upcoming show Message In A Bottle).

As the group began to work on sketches and ideas for their pieces, Kali began one-on-one meetings with each of the artists.


That night we hosted an All Creatives Meet & Greet at Cafeteria, where tons of artists, designers, animators and more got together to have some drinks, talk shop, and make some new friends. The private room was packed, loud, and busy, and it was exciting to have so much tallent packed in such a small place.



Thank you to everyone who braved the cold (and the very vocal and rambunctious crowd watching football in the bar next door) and came out to the Meet & Greet!


Sunday started out with a roundtable discussion about the business side of illustration. The conversation was freeform, ranging from reps to legal questions to promotion and marketing. Everyone was eager to learn and had questions to ask and personal antidotes to share.

From there Kali led a techniques demo where she showed off her whip-smart process and workflow. Although everyone works in there own way, it was enlightening to see Kali's specific method of illustration. Kali has her technique down to a science and is super


Following the demo, the group spent more time working out their sketches for the group project, and Kali continued her one-on-one meetings.


During the final discussion of the day, everyone (included Kali and the Light Grey team) shared a personal goal they were set on achieving in 2013. In the end we asked the workshoppers to check in on the progress of their peers and be accountable for each other going forward. It's always easier to stick to a plan when you have a group of friends to cheer you on!


As MAKE: 2013 ended with one final group dinner, everyone said their goodbyes and went on their separate ways; hopefully a little more confident in their next steps for 2013.


We want to thank everyone who came to MAKE: 2013! It was amazing group of super talented and wonderful individuals! And of course a special thanks to Kali herself, who did an amazing job leading the workshop and just being a all-around awesome person!

P.S.- If you want to see ALL the pictures from the weekend, take a look at the MAKE: 2013 flickr set.

Andres Guzman! (And all of the things that make him special!)

Over the past few months we have held several classes, such as Handmade Typography, Portraiture in Ink, and Character and Concept, taught by an important member of our Light Grey Art Lab faculty. We would like to take this time to introduce and celebrate Andres Guzman as an amazing teacher and as a local illustrator and typography artist.



Andres Guzman is originally from Lima, Peru, and spend a majority of his childhood in Denver, Colorado. A few years ago he graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration with an interest in Graphic Design. Since graduating, his has been creating art as a full time freelance illustrator, under the art collective Steak Mob, working for companies such as Wired Magazine, Mountain Dew, Nickelodeon, and Vice Magazine, just to name a few. He has also been published in Front Magazine, Thrasher Magazine, The Washington Square Review, and Vitamn. He is extremely versed in concept and client based work, creative teaching, and multimedia projects.

As a freelance illustrator, Andres is constantly at work. Sometimes, spending an entire day learning how to perfect an ear, an arm, or a letter, always trying to improve his craft and versatility; His severe focus and passion for the creative process, and his love for form, type, and illustration has pushed him to where he is today.




" I try not to limit myself by any specific visual style as I believe there are too many beautiful methods and processes in the world of art to just settle on one."- Andres

As a teacher, Andres is extremely engaging. He sets the tone for his classes by playing relaxing music, talking about technique, and working by your side on his own illustrations. The entire class is about making, process, practice, hands-on type, and great conversation.

Although most of his classes are primarily studio and work time, he does a great job of sharing inspiring images, techniques for specific materials, and drawing demonstrations that make character and type look incredibly easy.

As a coordinator and student of Andres', I appreciate his organic classroom style, throwing structure out the window, and reacting one on one to students needs, interests, questions, and styles. It is great to be surrounded by someone so skillful and personable.



Thank you, Andres, for inspiring all of us to work harder.


This upcoming Sunday, November 18th from 12:30 to 3pm, Andres is teaching our second Handmade typography class. Using traditional ink and brush materials, this class in intended to push the envelope for creative design and typography. He will lead you though the basics of type, and catch everyone one up to developing letter forms, both though form and play. This class will delve further into type, and is a class appropriate for all skill levels and disciplines. I encourage you to all come and meet Andres, and experience his teaching style and all of his great type advice. This class costs $25.00 per person, or $20.00 each with a friend.


Blog post written by our awesome Light Grey Art Lab gallery manager, Jenny Bookler

Kali Ciesemier's MAKE:2013 Workshop Announced!

We can't contain it any longer! Not only are we in the midst of a frenzy of shows, projects and upcoming exhibition ideas -- but we have the best news ever!

We're serious and we're excited! You know those New Years resolutions to do more, get better, collaborate and get stuff done? Well, this is our answer to making those come true!

Awesome illustrator, Kali Ciesemier, is coming to Light Grey to head up a two and a half day intensive workshop for a group of motivated, excited artists, January 4 - 6th at Light Grey Art Lab! She's excited, ready and has a ton of great things planned for everyone to conquer in the first couple days of 2013!!

This workshop is open to anyone interested in coming to Minneapolis for this creative retreat, so we'll be offering accommodations for those of you excited to visit us!

You'll learn all about her process, she'll guide you through one-on-one creative sessions, lead everyone in in-depth and frank discussion about the world of illustration, mediate discussions with a half dozen visiting guest speakers from the industry and share a lot of advice on the world of illustration.

As part of the workshop, Kali's got big plans for an in-studio creative project that will challenge you to one-up yourselves! We're so excited about her project that we've even saved a section of our gallery to showcase the work from MAKE:2013!!

And finally, smack in the middle of it all, we'll throw a big party for all of the creatives in the Twin Cities and host our second ever - ALL ILLUSTRATORS Meet & Greet!

So! Now you know why we're so excited! Please help us spread the word and tell your friends that have been waiting to kick it into high gear! We're ready for them!

All of the specifics, schedules and details are here! Thanks, Kali! We're so excited!