Podcast: Everything Is A Waste of Time Except It's Not

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Everything Is A Waste of Time Except It's Not
Length: 00:51:07
Synopsis: On this week's podcast, Jenny, Chris, and Lindsay talk about what, if anything, constitutes a waste of time? How do you balance and keep from dedicating too much time to anything unworthy of your master plan? We touch on failed projects vs experimentation, recreation vs practice, and planning vs execution, plus a whole lot more.

Show Notes:
Guts
Light Grey Game Night

Iceland Residency Exhibition Opening + Artist Talk with Sam Bosma

Mark your calendars for our newest exhibition and upcoming events, May 22nd from 7-10pm!

We welcome you to attend a public artist talk and lecture by New York based illustrator and comic artist, Sam Bosma from 7-8pm. The talk will be followed by the opening reception and creatives Meet + Greet! You can find all of the details on the facebook event page here!



About the Exhibition:

Iceland is home of some of the world’s most interesting vegetation, mythological spaces, dramatic landscapes, and creeping glaciers. Every inch of rock is a reminder of the violent history of the land, and every moss formation a reminder of the intricate and sublime life forms that thrive on the volcanic ash. Iceland draws you in with boiling earth pots, waterfalls, wild horses, and coastal creatures- it is a landscape full of inspiration, mystery, and intrigue.

In August 2014, Light Grey Art Lab brought fourteen diverse artists to explore Southern Iceland - to adventure together, create artwork, coteach, and collaborate. The Residency experience provided a platform for unbridled creative and natural exploration. Opening May 22nd, Light Grey Art Lab is proud to present Iceland Residency Exhibition, showcasing collections of new artwork made in response to the Iceland Residency, reflecting on personal experience, growth, and new perspective.


Preview photograph by Bryan Paul Patterson

The artwork will include original paintings, printmaking, and illustrations, as well as large format and experimental photography, zines, artist books, and more! The exhibition features new work by Bryan Paul Patterson, Chris Hajny, Claire Hummel, Colin Foran, Gloria Pizzilli, Jenny Bookler, Kali Ciesemier, Lindsay Nohl, Maike Plenzke, Manuel Kilger, Meg Hunt, Mike Freeman, Sam Bosma, and Teagan White.

PATCHES + STITCHES Artists Announced!

A huge welcome to all of the artists selected to participate in the upcoming Patches + Stitches Exhibition! Mark your calendars for July 3rd for a very special two-part opening reception and artist talk with local illustrator,Teagan White! Teagan is participating on the Patches side and will be leading a lecture and 2.5 day workshop that weekend, July 3rd-5th. You can see all of the details on the workshop here! More details for the exhibition and opening coming soon!.

Patches + Stitches Artists:

Aidan Vitti
Amanda Brown
Ashley Hohnstein
Angi Pauly Llobet
Asia Scott
Britt Hutchinson
Cai Vail
Chris Stavitsky
Chelsey Hughes
Christian Moser
Christopher Hegland
Claire Hummel
Daniel Fishel
Emory Allen
Glen Lowry
Hannah Culbert
James Lavella
Janelle Gramling
Jason Norman
Jonathan Randazzo
Kim Ku
Leigh Luna
Lillian Duermeier
Lindsay Nohl
Mira Ko
Patricia Thomasson
Rhys Jones of Lowwbones
Rob Krete
Rory Phillips
Sam Gerstner
Sarah Hedlund
Sarah Julson
Teagan White
Theresa Ptak
TJ Kelley III
Adam Pritchett
Agnieszka Grochalska
Alanna Stapleton
Alexxander Dovelin
Anika Starmer
Anne Ulku
Ashley Yazdani
Chloe Giordano
Clarissa Bean
Courtney Wirth
Eloise Biddlecombe
Erika Rier
Erin Lux
Francesca Gabrielle
Jenny Bookler
Josh Weatherlake
Kara Beckner
Kate Walsh
Katlyn Griffin
Kayla Wasil
Lana Crooks
Linda Winder
Luisa Uribe
Mackenzie Mollo
Meg Hunt
Melissa Stanley
Natalie Rowe
Rachel Frankel
Rachel Wingard
Rob Krete
Rosa sj Chang
Savannah Schroll Guz
Shanalee Hampton
Shiela Laufer
Suzanne Long
Toni Hall
Ulana Zahajkewycz
Vanessa Port
Yinfan Huang

Guts all over the walls! Recap of the GUTS exhibition opening reception.

Thanks to everyone that came by for the GUTS opening reception!

Hey! Thanks to all the awesome artists and visitors that made the GUTS opening a huge success! We had gorgeous weather, an awesome feature in the City Pages A-list section (Thanks so much, Jessica Armbruster, for the shout out!), and slew of people wanting to come out and dissect all sorts of topics with us!

Featured Artist, Lana Crooks, came out for the event in full force, staying to eat donuts and chat on the podcast with us. I have to say, it was an incredible time in the days leading up to the exhibition when we watched everything come together all at once.

Take a peek at all the photos from the night HERE!


Time to explore the insides! "Exposure" by Kristina Drake

If you haven't had a chance to take a look at all of the pieces in the exhibition, now is the time. There's a great mix of 2d and 3d, lots of literal and metaphor heavy work in the show and plenty of things that will quench your thirst for knowledge. The show will be up through May 15th - and you'll have plenty of time to check out the work either online or in person.

All of the delightful specimens are up on the shop through the 15th!


Thanks, everyone, for stopping in!


Doors open, great weather, great company.


Walls lined with guts of all types: (from left to right) "Missing You" by Lindsay Anne Watson,"Mummified" by Maggie Ivy, "Cosmos" by Brandon Robertson, "A Floating Home Deconstructed" by Philippe Poirier, "The Planetarium Hypothesis" by Chris Kindred

Definitely stop by and say hello if you're in the neighborhood!

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

*************

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.

*************

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

Podcast: Talking With Lana Crooks

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Talking With Lana Crooks
Length: 00:53:18
Synopsis: The Guts exhibition is finally here, and on this week's podcast we talk to featured artist Lana Crooks. Lana is a member of the OhNo!Doom collective and gallery director for Clutter Gallery. She constructs creatures from fabrics and found objects as a textile sculptor and purveyor of faux specimens and soft curiosities. We talk with Lana about everything from her past, her process, her thoughts on mixing client work and gallery work, and much, much more.



Show Notes:
Lana Crooks : Website - Instagram - Twitter - Facebook - Shop
OhNo!Doom
Every Day Original
Rotofugi
Stranger Factory
Designer Toy Awards
DesignerCon
Chicago Drink & Draw

Guts
Light Grey Game Night

GUTS Opening Reception tomorrow!

Join us tomorrow night, April 17th from 7-10pm for the opening reception and celebration of GUTS! This unique exhibition features new artwork, prints, and originals by 60+ artists from around the globe. Artists have made a variety of fiber sculptures, hand-sewn details, intricate illustrations, and paintings that share the truths, uncovered mysteries, and fabricated stories behind some of life's greatest questions! Artists have taken it upon themselves to investigate some of their favorite subjects- taking on the role of scientists, archeologists, and detectives!



The GUTS exhibition features a collection of new work by guest artist, Lana Crooks! Lana is a Chicago-based artist and curator who has been working with us over the past couple days to hang her 15ft wall installation filled with tiny treasures, hand-felted skulls, cut wood pieces, and more!

You will be able to see all of Lana's work available this Friday at the opening and on our online shop! Keep an eye out for special artist interviews and features. If you are local and attending the opening, Lana will be here to say hello!


Here is a detail of some of her handmade specimens!

You can find more information, the list of contributing artists, and invite friends on the facebook event page here! We hope to see you tomorrow night!

Light Grey Game Night: C.R.E.A.M.

There's something special about counting a towering pile of cold, hard cash. Money may be the root of all evil, but sometimes you just have the urge to dive into massive money bin like Scrooge McDuck, then emerge from the golden sea of loot spitting out coins like a majestic money fountain. And that odd craving you're feeling must mean it's time for another Light Grey Game Night! So mark your calendar for Thursday, April 23 from 6:30 - 9:30 pm!

As you might remember, we're attaching a theme to each night to help people narrow down what games they might want to bring (although you're still welcome to bring whatever you'd like!). This week's theme is, in the immortal words of the Wu Tang Clan, C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)!

So come prepared to test your monetary acumen as you outbid your opponents in High Society and Going, Going, Gone!, build a tiny empire in Machi Koro, or just point your (foam) gun at your friends and see who comes out on top in Ca$h & Guns, among plenty of others! If you have a favorite boardgame, bring it!

So grab your friends, family or favorite stack of board games, and come play with us! RSVP via our Facebook event, and feel free to share! The more the merrier!

Podcast: Think Of All The Sandwiches

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Think Of All The Sandwiches
Length: 00:52:55
Synopsis: Our new exhibition Guts opens this weekend, a show all about what lies within. This has us thinking about the similarities between preparing food and preparing an exhibition. On this week's podcast, Jenny, Lindsay, and Chris talk about working with the ingredients you have, what counts as 'fat' and how much of the process should be visible on the end consumer.

Show Notes:
Guts
Studio Workshop : CROCHET CORAL with Cleo Malone
Light Grey Game Night

COSMOS Artists Announced!

Thank you to everyone who applied to the COSMOS Exhibition!

This September we're recreating the magic of the night sky! With 100 international artists revisiting the mythology and metaphors we know so well, and creating an illuminated exhibition -and- oracle deck project! Details on the installation and project will be posted closer to the opening reception!

COSMOS
Astral Bodies, Reinterpreted
100 Celestial histories by 100 international artists

Opens September 11, 2015 • 7 - 10pm
Light Grey Art Lab
118 E. 26th Street #101
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612.239.2047

Over the month of September / October, we'll be treating you to all sorts of cosmic workshops, get-togethers and plenty of universe-inspired projects.
Stay tuned for our upcoming line-up of events!


Participating Artists Include:

A. Sparrow
Adrian Majkrzak
Alex Dos Diaz
Alex Konstad
Alex Reynolds
Alexxander Dovelin
Alison George
Alyssa Nassner
Amanda Christensen
Ameorry Luo
Andrew Kolb
Angela An
Angela Rizza
Annejulie Painchaud
Ashleigh Hetrick
Barbara Guttman
Boya Sun
Brenna Lindblad
Bridget Underwood
Cai Vail
Camille Chew
Cari Corene
Caroline Jamhour
Catherine Ho
Cathy Kwan
Charlotte Gomez
Chie Boyd
Claire Hummel
Corinne Reid
Daniel Shaffer
Emily Cheeseman
Emily Walus
Emory Allen
Erik Krenz
Evan Palmer
Florian Pichon
Francesca Buchko
Grace Kim
James Lavella
Jana Heidersdorf
Jared Tuttle
Jay Barnham
Jen Bartel
Jenny Zych
Jessica Roux
Jimmy Malone
JL Hirten
Joe Lillington
Joey McCormick
Jongmee
Jorge De la Paz
Joy Ang
Junyi Wu
Justin Oaksford
Kaeti Vandorn
Kate O'Hara
Kelly Wagner
Kelsey Borch
Kim Sokol
Lara Paulussen
Lauren Duda
Lily Padula
Lindsay Nohl
Lisa Perrin
Liz Parlett
Lynn Wang
Marie and Maddie Matthews
Mariel Hester
Marta Szudyga
Matt Rockefeller
Melissa Somerville
Michael Okey
Monica Esquivel
Natalia Pierandrei
Nicole Gustafsson
Nicole Miles
Philippe Poirier
Phoenix Chan
Rodrigo Avilés
Rovina Cai
Sam Schechter
Sander B
Sarah Webb
Tim Liljefors
Shannon May
Shanti Rittgers
Shirley Chan
Cathryn Virginia
Sloane Kim
Soljee Lee
Sonia Liao
Sophie Blackhall-Cain
Stephen Wood
Susie Ghahremani
Taryn Gee
Teagan White
Trung Nguyen
Xanthe Bouma
Yoshi Yoshitani
Zoe Keller

Thanks again to the overwhelming amount of talented folks that put your name in the call for art!
We're very thankful and humbled at the response!

Looking forward to showing with you!

---Lindsay
Questions?
hello@lightgreyartlab.com

Podcast: Panel Emergency

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Panel Emergency
Length: 00:53:19
Synopsis: The Light Grey team has spent the last few weekends speaking on several convention panels about art, games, publishing, and community projects. Convention panels are a wonderful place for sparking insightful discourse between knowledgeable peers. On the other side of the coin, there's a lot of ways that a conversation with complete strangers in front of a crowd of even more strangers can go off the rails and crash and burn. On this week's podcast, Chris, Jenny, and Lindsay plan their contingency plans in case of a panel emergency.

Show Notes:
BOSS RUSH!
Light Grey Game Night

Guts Opening Reception

We invite you to join us for the opening reception and celebration of GUTS, coming April 17th!

This unique project features a wide variety of originals, tiny sculptures, fiber-made skulls, delicate drawings, and art prints, all inspired by the interiors, insides, and fabricated guts! Artists have taken it upon themselves to investigate the hidden truths and secrets of some of their favorite and most bizarre subjects!


Sneak peek at work by Angela Rizza

Part exploration, part education, part evisceration -- the show explores what's really underneath the surface- peeling back the skin of all of the subjects you've ever wanted to know more about! Artists are investigating subjects such as the stomach contents of birds, ghost hearts, hysteria, the inside of a human eye, and so many more subjects! Come discover the truths and imagined realities through the eyes of 60+ artists!

For the opening reception, we are joined by featured artist, Lana Crooks. Her work involves fiber skeletons, creatures, and felt-made originals! Lana is planning an entire installation of artwork that is not to be missed!


Preview by Zoe Keller

Guts opening reception is Friday, April 17th from 7-10pm, and will remain on display until May 15th. The event is free and open to all! Feel free to invite friends, family, and help spread the word with the Guts Facebook Event here!

BOSS RUSH! Opening Recap

A huge thanks to everyone who made it out to the BOSS RUSH! opening reception! We had a packed house, great company, and a fun night recounting our favorite bad guys! It was an epic celebration of the 100+ pieces of artwork on the walls!



All night, guests proclaimed their love, hatred, and favorite memories from some of their cherished video games. You could hear the shock, excitement, and enthusiasm throughout the gallery! Pieces included topics from games such as Pokémon, Shadow of the Colossus, Pac Man, Street Fighter and more!

In additional to all of the physical pieces, we had an extra special interactive component, designed and created by artist Chris Schons. He displayed a Mega Man II inspired game filled with shrapnel, falling mechanical parts, and hidden details! Details and an online version will be available soon!



We also highlighted the favorites from our guest jurors to be displayed and recognized as the top ten pieces from the show! We asked Tim Turi and Ben Hanson (Game Informer), Adam May (Gearbox), and Claire Hummel (HBO) to select their top pieces from the exhibition. They selected the artwork of Miranda Meeks, Matt Rockefeller, Leonard Peng, Lydia Guadagnoli, Audrey Gonzalez, Ricardo Alvilés, Victor Maury, Chris Schons, Paul Reinwand, and Richie Pope.



If you were unable to celebrate with us in person, no problem! You can always check out the entire collection of artwork on the Light Grey website. Prints are also available on the Light Grey Shop through April 10th! To view more photographs of the opening reception and artwork, you can also see our flickr gallery here.


Here is a detail of Chris Schon's work displayed at the opening reception

Thanks again, everyone! We will see you on April 17th for the opening reception of GUTS!

Light Grey Game Night: Confrontation

Teamwork is great. Cooperative boardgames foster a sense of camaraderie and kinship between the players as they work together to solve problems and save the world. But after your goody two-shoes team saves the day for the umpteenth time in a row, you might feel the sinking feeling that you'd rather punch your know-it-all teammates right in the kisser and start a knock-down, drag-out, battle royale to the bitter end. That must mean it's time for another Light Grey Game Night! So mark your calendar for Thursday, April 9 from 6:30 - 9:30 pm!

As you might remember, we're attaching a theme to each night to help people narrow down what games they might want to bring (although you're still welcome to bring whatever you'd like!). This week's theme is confrontation (although those of you who are confrontation adverse, no worries, we'll have plenty of friendly games to play as well)!

In the immortal words of the great Alice Cooper, no more Mr. Niceguy. We're going to fight dirty in a head-to-head struggle for dominance with games like the lightning-quick area control game Kemet, the otherwordly Nexus Ops, the cheating-filled Kaosball, or the sophisticated but coldly calculated game of Coup, among plenty of others! If you have a favorite boardgame, bring it!

So grab your friends, family or favorite stack of board games, and come play with us! RSVP via our Facebook event, and feel free to share! The more the merrier!

Dream Arcade wins Best Visual Design award at GlitchCon!

Huge news! This weekend we were honored to take home the award for Best Visual Design for Dream Arcade from MinneCade, a showcase of locally-made videogames at GlichCon! A massive congratulations to all the artists involved, and everyone who helped make Dream Arcade a reality! This is everyone's award, you all earned it!

The awards were voted on by the public at GlitchCon. We had a hugely positive response to both Dream Arcade and Great Personality during the event, we were ecstatic that were were able to share and connect with so many people at the event. MinneCade was packed with incredibly talented creators, friendly faces, and beautiful, outstanding videogames (seriously, go check them out!), the thought of winning anything never crossed our minds!

It's not lost on us that a project with dozens of collaborators won an award voted on by an audience of hundreds of videogame fans and creators. Community is what Light Grey Art Lab is all about, and we couldn't be more humbled to win this award, and we want to thank everyone involved! Shout it from the rooftops!

Make sure to check out everyone involved on here!

Congratulations!

GlitchCon 2015 Recap

This past weekend was GlitchCon, a two day festival that explores video games as a culture, career, and creative practice. It's a super fun event, with hundreds of gamers and game makers in attendance learning, talking, and playing together. Light Grey Art Lab was an official partner, and we hosted several events throughout the weekend!



We started Saturday morning off with a pixel art workshop, based on the principals we learned while making Dream Arcade. Participants learned some of the basics of pixel art, and had hands-on time to brainstorm and make some assets and simple animations. It was a ton of fun, with a lot of really cool ideas thrown around.



After that, we participated in the retro videogame trivia challenge. Team Light Grey Art Lab came in a respectable third, although we wanted first so bad it hurt. Thankfully, we remedied that pain with a first place victory during Sunday's trivia challenge!

Saturday night we hosted a special BOSS RUSH! reception. Visitors reminisced over their favorite boss battles surrounded by tons of art, classic videogame music, and game-themed refreshments. We also broke out some boardgames and played until the convention center staff kicked us out!



Sunday was spent exhibiting Dream Arcade and Great Personality in MinneCade, a showcase of locally-made videogames. The reception was overwhelming, with a ton of interested people stopping by the play, say hi, and find out more about the projects.



MinneCade was an amazing experience, with a lot of talent and amazing games packed in one room. We did our best to play all the games on display, and tried to meet all the creators (while still tending to our own booth!). It was a wonderful experience, with a lot of amazing games, and outstanding people. Seriously, check out these games!



We ended the day with a heartfelt closing ceremony (there was more than one tear shed), which was perfect, but to our AMAZEMENT, Dream Arcade was awarded Best Visual Design by the GlitcCon attendees! A huuuuuuge congratulations to all the artists!



All in all, what impressed us most about GlitchCon was the community. Everyone was happy, friendly, and amiable it was like spending the weekend hanging out and playing games with a few hundreds of your closest and oldest friends.

To all our new friends, hope to see you soon!

Podcast: Con Artists

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Con Artists
Length: 00:54:48
Synopsis: Convention season is already upon us, and on this week's podcast, Lindsay, Becca, Jenny, Chris, and Francesca talk about the art of the con. With the Light Grey home-team fresh out of GlitchCon, and Francesca exploring Emerald City Comic Con, we've got cons on the brain. Cons are exciting places full of new ideas, new people, big communities, unknown opportunities, and maybe just a hint of exhaustion. We discus our favorite and least favorite experiences, the art of talking to new people, the highs and the lows, and what we are hoping to take away from a successful con.

Show Notes:
Minicon
BOSS RUSH!
GlitchCon
Light Grey Game Night

Artist Interview: Victor Maury

Meet Victor Maury. Victor is a French artist, living and working in Sarasota, Florida. Victor is known for his fantasy characters, concept art backgrounds, and video game inspired digital paintings. His work has been recognized and celebrated by art magazines, gaming companies, and publishers such as Fantasy Flight Games, Riot Games, and Bifront Entertainment. Victor has also participated in several Light Grey Art Lab exhibitions and publications including In Place, Rolemodels: Battle for Vyk' Tornaahl, and the current BOSS RUSH! project.

We are thrilled to work with Victor on the BOSS RUSH! Exhibition and celebrate his process and artwork. Below, you can read more about his thoughts on illustration, participation in the community, and goals. You can also view more of his work at victorymaury.com



Hi Victor. Can you tell us more about yourself, your background, and where you are headed?

I was born in small-town France and moved to the US when I was seven years old. A lot of my work is influenced by my visits to the French countryside and the Pyrenees as a kid with my family. I've always loved to draw, but only began studying art seriously about four years ago, starting with animation and now illustration. I've been freelancing for about two years and expect to graduate from the Ringling College of Art and Design this May. After graduation, I plan to move out to California. My priority in life is to go on adventures and experience new things- art simply allows me to explore that in a personal way and share it with others.

What is your studio setup like? What materials do you most enjoy?

I try to keep my workspace clean and tidy, just the essentials: A semi-powerful PC + monitor and my trusty Cintiq 21 that I've had for about 4 years. Oh, and my speakers, cos jams are super important! My room is decorated with artwork from some of my incredibly talented friends. This is where I'll do most of my finalized paintings. When I'm brainstorming or sketching, I like to leave the house and go outside, any excuse to go exploring!



What is your creative process? Do you prepare yourself mentally for art creation, or do you dive right in? And if so, how?

When I get an assignment or an idea, I like to let it simmer for a bit in my head (if time permits). I find that once I start thinking about a project, random things in my life will coincide with or inform the finished piece. This allows me to integrate real life into every painting in a way that feels organic and natural. I also thoroughly research my topic. I scribble a thumbnail here and there, I stay loose but draw with intention. Once I have the essence captured in the thumbnail and all necessary reference collected, I move on to painting. The painting process is usually pretty fast because at that point I have everything mostly figured out and it's just execution. I like to paint in a couple of sittings so I don't overwork a piece if I can help it.



What inspires you? What imagery you are drawn towards using in your artwork, and what about it excites you?

A healthy mix of contemporary and deceased artists, photos, fashion, film, the natural world, and most importantly my own experiences! As far as recurring imagery, I don't think it's any secret that I'm obsessed with giants and clouds. I'm also fascinated by roots, moss, rust, fungus, rocks, mountains, gnarly old man faces, knobbly hands and various other rough, weathered, or organic shapes. I love riding my bike and going hiking, where I often see faces in the trees, sleeping giants in the mountains or kingdoms in the clouds.

What are your favorite creative resources, whatever they may be?

I follow a couple art blogs like Muddy Colors, and sometimes take the time to listen to a podcast here and there. My facebook feed is almost exclusively professional artists, and we're pretty good about sharing interesting resources (and distractions).


Run for Your Buns

What are your favorite video games or video game moments? What significance do games have to you?

I have played more hours of Fire Emblem, Advanced Wars, and League of Legends than I'd like to admit, but the single most influential game I've ever played is definitely Shadow of the Colossus. The scale, simplicity, score, design, and mood are unmatched. It feels like a game that was made specifically for me. If you ever wanted to understand how my brain works, the closest you could get would be playing Shadow.

Can you talk about your idea and process for creating your piece for Light Grey Art Lab's BOSS RUSH!?

I'm surprised I haven't made Shadow art before (though some might consider most of my portfolio to be Shadow fanart anyway haha). I just wanted to make a very simple piece that captures the mood and scale I felt in the game. Another thing I really wanted to play with in this painting was texture and surface. I intentionally used artifacting and layer mode glitchiness to add a gritty quality to the painting.


The 3rd Colossus

Are you working on any exciting projects? What are some of your "dream projects" that'd you'd really like to work on?

I am! I'm currently wrapped up in a project I'm really excited about, a sort of reinventing of the Little Prince. I am focusing on character design and pushing my shapes and understanding of how to communicate personality visually. It's a project that's very dear to me and I can't wait to share it when it's done! I'm not sure what my dream project would be, maybe a collaboration with friends to make a game would be fun. I just want to keep learning and see what comes my way!

Thanks, Victor, for sharing your thoughts and process!

Again, you can see more of Victor's artwork on his website and tumblr here. You can also find his piece for the BOSS RUSH! Exhibition on the Light Grey Shop and website! His work will be available on the Light Grey Shop through April 10th. Victor's Shadow of the Colossus piece was nominated as one of the top ten in the exhibition by our guest jurors from Microsoft, Game Informer, Gearbox, and Glitch.

Join us for GlitchCon 2015!

Join us this weekend, March 28th + 29th, for GlitchCon 2015!

We are thrilled to participate in this year's festivities and events! GlitchCon includes two days of guest panels, lectures, gaming tournaments, workshops, social hours and more! Some of the special guests and attendees include video game writers, producers, art directors, publishers, and board designers among others.

Our team at Light Grey Art Lab is teaching a workshop Sprite, Asset, and Effect Design for 2D Platformers on Saturday, where we will share some of the behind the scenes process and work for Dream Arcade and Great Personality! Saturday night, we are hosting an exhibition and reception for BOSS RUSH! We are showcasing the top ten pieces nominated by our guest jurors, as well as a projection of all 100+ pieces!


Dream Arcade Level by Joey McCormick

We have also been selected to participate in Minnecade! Come stop by our booth Sunday morning, as we table alongside tons of other game makers, developers, and artists! You will get the first look at these unique indie games and local creations!

If you are interested in video games, board games, concept art, and want to meet other gamers in the community, we invite you to join the events! There are still a limited number of tickets available on the GlitchCon website here!

Podcast: Like A Boss

Download the MP3, stream directly on Stitcher, or subscribe via iTunes!

Like A Boss
Length: 01:03:42
Synopsis: Fresh off the launch of BOSS RUSH! we're thinking about the concept of a boss. Bosses always get a bad rap. In media and real life, it seems like it's always fun to bag on the higher-ups. But let's be honest, it's a tough job. On this week's podcast we talk all about being in charge. We discuss what makes a great boss, why it's hard to see the value of a boss early in life, the difficult balance of delegation and cooperation, and how to grow as your own boss in a freelance career.

Show Notes:
BOSS RUSH!
GlitchCon
Light Grey Game Night: Vacation