Artist Interview: Leonard Peng

Meet Leonard Peng. He is a current student at the Maryland Institute College of Art pursuing a degree in Illustration with a focus on Book Arts. His unique illustrative style and interesting concepts have allowed him to be featured on Juxtapoz.com and in many shows at MICA. Leonard enjoys illustrating narrative based work, especially for children, but adding his own fun conceptual twist. Leonard is one of the artists in the You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It exhibition, and will be displaying work again with us this August, in the In Place Exhibition.

Where did you grow up, and where do you currently reside?
I grew up in sunny California and I currently reside in Baltimore pursuing an illustration degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

What are some hobbies you have outside of art?
There are only two things that I like more than art and that is swimming and watching movies. I have grown up near the ocean so swimming has been something important throughout my life. As for watching movies, I love the idea of escaping into another world and experiencing emotions and thoughts of other people in film. Also both activities help with my creative process. When I'm swimming, I clear my thoughts of distractions and think clearly. While watching movies I am able to feel motivation and find inspiration.

What materials do you typically work with, and what is your favorite medium?
For the bulk of my work, I use acrylic paint and add highlights or details with either graphite or color pencil. In "Reach For The Stars", I used half acrylic painting and half digital and it worked out better than I thought, so that's something I'm working with now. I like using traditional mediums especially acrylic because of how versatile it is. You could use acrylics for washes or for dry brushing and also I find that using traditional mediums come with more variety of control. Sometimes surprises and mistakes can make a piece far more interesting than what I was expecting.


Detail of "Reach for the Stars" by Leonard Peng

What is your favorite historical art period?
My all time favorite historical art period is a tie between the golden age and the 1910's - 1930's lifestyle illustrations. The illustrators that influence me the most are Erté, Kai Nielsen, and Jon Bauer. The illustrations during these times all had beautiful and smart shapes that were integrated well as design elements – not to mention the figures are very elegant.

What are your favorite subjects to draw?
My favorite subject to draw is people. It's extremely satisfying to capture moments in time of someone's reaction or pose. Through drawing people, I get a sense of personal intimacy with that person. Sometimes this helps me jumpstart new ideas that I want to work with for future projects.


Illustration by Leonard Peng

What is your favorite aspect of working with type?
Finding the right type is difficult but once you find one that fits the illustration, it feels like a real accomplishment. I don't have much experience with type so it was hard choosing which typeface to use. I always feel that choosing the right type either makes or breaks a piece, so my favorite part is meeting the illustration halfway to complete it.

What do you like about illustrating different types of stories? Like fables, folk tales, and children’s books.
What I love about illustration is its narrative properties. Ideally, I would work as a children's book illustrator so working with stories is what I look forward to. I love the fact that an illustration can represent an entire story from beginning to end. It's magical in its storytelling qualities and pleases people with its aesthetics.

What inspired you to depict the quote “Reach for the stars”?
After bouncing off ideas with my friend we came up with "Reach for the stars, and never look back". I quickly became inspired and motivated to create something fantastical and imaginary. I ended up only using the first half of the quote because I felt it was so applicable to everything you do and that looking back isn't always a bad thing. In "Reach For the Stars", I combined two elements that I loved as a child, aquatic animals and space. I am enamored by both subjects because of how mysterious they are. It's interesting how vast the ocean is and how much unexplored territory and new creatures have yet to be found. I thought it would be appropriate to have a futuristic space like fantasy setting along with these weird fish like creatures.


"Reach for the Stars" by Leonard Peng 2013

Are there any quotes/mottos you live your life by, or feel strongly about?
I don't have any mottos that I live by but there is one quote by Maurice Sendak has said that I feel strongly about. In an interview on what being an illustrator means, Maurice Sendak said that he felt being an illustrator was the closest he could get to being a writer. In a way I felt that was applicable to me because as an illustrator you are giving life to sentence, you're supposed to make a simple sentence into a fantastical story. And that's part of the magic of being an illustrator!

What do you like most about being an art student?
My favorite part of being an art student is being in a community filled with artists. I think it's important to be in a place where other artists can help critique, motivate, and inspire you. Even though at times being an art student isn't as glorified as people believe it to be, I think it was worth it just to meet the people. It's also nice to have the security of being in school!

Thanks, Leonard!

You can see more of Leonard Peng's artwork here

You can also check out his poster on the online shop and the entire collection of work on the Light Grey You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It Gallery Collection

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.


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

You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It Opening Reception Recap

Friday, June 14th was our opening reception for You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It, a collection of illustrated posters featuring words that celebrate the practice of making work: diligence, confidence, courage, and participation. It is an awesome show filled with big, beautiful, inspirational posters.

It came just days after we got back from an nice, long vacation, so we needed the energy from the show to kick us back into gear. It was fun to see visitors gravitate to the posters that jived with their personal motivations, and even shared their own words of wisdom.



Thanks to all the artists involved, and everyone who came to the opening! You can see all the photos in the You Can Do It flickr set.

The artwork will be on display in the gallery until July 5th. All the artwork is for sale, and can be bought in person or from our online store. And as always, you can see the artwork now and forever in the gallery on at lightgreyartlab.com.

Podcast: Back In Action

After a few weeks in Iceland, Chris, Lindsay and Francesca are finally back in Minneapolis and raring to go. Jenny held down the Light Grey Art Lab fort admirably, and we headed straight into the opening for You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It, wrapping up the In Place book, and catching up with artists, clients and… life.


A scarily destructive storm nearly derailed this week's podcast after knocking out the power and internet in most of Minneapolis, but we found a space to record at the 11th hour! Enjoy!

Download the MP3 or Subscribe via iTunes!

Back In Action
Length: 01:02:56
Synopsis: After an extended stay in Iceland the gang is back together! In true Light Grey Art Lab fashion, we hit the ground running with a series of non-stop deadlines, huge projects late, late nights. On this week's podcast Jenny, Francesca, Lindsay and Chris talk about the struggle of getting back into the swing of things and how we get(and more importantly, stay) motivated.

Words of Advice

Whether it’s finding the strength to roll out of bed in the morning or climbing a mountain, everyone needs a little bit of motivation from time to time. Here at Light Grey Art Lab, we asked many different people all around the world to share their favorite uplifting quotes with us through our You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It show. From silly to spiritual, everyone was able to bring something exciting to the table.

At our show opening, we reached out to the community once more, and asked those who visited to give us “the best piece of advice they had received or heard.” As thanks for these extra bits of inspiration, we’re giving two lucky advice-givers a print from our show, for the best words of wisdom we received. Here is what they said:

-Giveaway Winner-

“If you want things to change you’ve got to change direction.”
-M Weitz

-Runner Up-

“Don’t pay attention to what people say; rather, pay attention to what they do.”
-Louta

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Never put things in boxes.”
-Anon

“Stay calm, and make art, even when it’s frustrating.”
-Kyle And

“Sometimes you just have to start.”
-Dana Caprio

“If you don’t want it bad enough, you don’t deserve to get it. (Roy Griak, 2007)”
-Mike Linnemann

“Dream things that never were and say why not. (Shaw)”
-Elena

“Never kill yourself. There is always an easier alternative to death.”
-Dennis

“Be content but never be satisfied.”
-Jason Loettler

“Live like a puppy would.”
-Nicole Huebner Briese

“It is more important to be happy than it is to be right. (My mother-in-law)”
-Jade Patrick

“Bet on the horse that poops last/Count to 10.”
-Steve Robbins

“Never Give Up! Trust Your Instincts! (Peppy Hare)”
-Josh Olson

“The first step to achieving your goal is showing up!”
-Anon

“No one is responsible for you. You’re responsible for yourself. Don’t feel guilty, just feel responsible.”
-Analaura

A big thanks to everyone who stopped by for the You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It opening, and congrats to M Weitz and Louta! Be sure to check out our website, and stop by our store for all the wonderful art featured in the show.

Station Zero Opening Reception

There’s no mistaking a vintage sci-fi novel the second you pick it up from a dusty used-book bin. There’s the perfect blend of a dead serious but at-the-same-time ridiculous title. The faded cover art depicts any number of sleek spacecraft, muscular space warriors and crystal utopias towering above harsh martian landscapes. The plot synopsis is filled with names like Zarak, Trask and Arzor.

And if that feeling warms your heart and puts a smile on your face, make sure to come visit Light Grey Art Lab for the opening of Station Zero on Friday, July 19th, from 7-10 PM. It's an amazing celebration of everything sci-fi, where we asked over eighty artists to reimagine the cover art for classic sci-fi novels!

See the full list of participating artists here!

RSVP via the Facebook event page!

Remember, the opening reception is Friday, July 19th from 7-10 PM! We're located on the corner of Stevens Ave and 26th Street. Street parking is available on Stevens, 26th and 1st Ave.

See you there!

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.

Artist Interview: Chris Hajny

Artist Interview with Chris Hajny
by Lindsay Nohl


Meet Chris. He’s the stealthy part of Light Grey Art Lab—the behind-the-scenes guy. He works for Paper Bicycle LLC and Light Grey Art Lab, and spends his free time playing video games, making artwork, petting pets, and hanging out with friends. He is a funny, quick witted, and super tall guy.


Chris, can you describe what you do at Light Grey?

I am the photographer, podcast producer, press contact, dog walker, errand boy, Dungeon Master, and IT support. I also move all the heavy things that need moving and reach all the high things that need reaching.


What are your other claims to fame? (What else are you doing with your days?)

I’m not sure fame is the right word, I try to keep a pretty low-profile. I work as a product designer at Paper Bicycle with all my bestest buds (both of them!). That consists of concepting, design, illustration, pattern making, and production-work.


Tell me a little bit about the art you make? Any favorite subjects? Materials? Themes? Do you have some defaults?

I love drawing, although everything I do ends up digital in the end. One thing I’ve found, which took some time to actually come to understand and appreciate, is that I value mark-making and spontaneity over refinement and precision. I don’t differentiate between sketching and a finished rendering; it’s all just drawing. I try not to treat anything precious. Material-wise I don’t really have any special tools, I’ll draw with (and on) whatever I can find.




Conversely, I also love working with illustrator, where I mainly use the pen tool and mouse. It’s obviously a very different experience than putting pencil to paper, but I enjoy them both.

Subject-wise I tend to make things that are very cute or very ugly, but lately I've been really into on-site observational drawing. People, architecture, nature; it doesn't really matter. I find it soothing and rewarding, which is only odd because I didn't enjoy it much in my younger days.


When you travel, what do you like to do and where do you like to go?

Traveling is a love-hate relationship for me. I hate to plan ahead and think about the bad things that can happen, and all the work I’ll be falling behind on while I’m gone. So getting out the door is the challenge. But once I’m there, I usually fit in and get lost in the experience pretty quick.

I’ve traveled a fair bit and there’s definitely a theme to what I like. I like cold climates. I’ll take mountains, glaciers and bulky jackets over beaches, oceans and swimsuits any day. I also don’t like schedules and plans. I’ve been to Japan a couple times, and I spent my days on the trains without much of a plan (apart from hitting all the arcades) which was great. In Iceland, we rented a car and hit the road with no plans or places to stay. My favorite thing about vacations is discovery; coming across things you didn’t know existed, and you feel like you might be the first to ever see it (even though you are most certainly not).


One of the things that I think is really interesting about you is that when you get into something, you get really into it. For example, the podcast. Or D&D. You also have an encyclopedic knowledge of what’s going on in the videogame industry and encyclopedic knowledge of movies before 2000. How often do you find a new obsession? What kinds of things have you obsessed over in the past?

I’m not sure. I don’t find a new obsession often and I don’t actively look for them, either. I don’t have enough time to spend doing the things I love as it is, so adding more to the mix isn’t something I usually seek out.

But when I do find something I actually care about, I tend to research and learn as much as I can about it as fast as I can. It’s not something I consciously do, I just can’t help myself.

Previously I've been obsessed with Printmaking, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Film & Video, Street Fighter, Hip Hop, and musicals.


I also know that you are a pretty good dancer. How did that happen?

It did not happen. It is a gift. I do not dance, I am but a conduit for the jams to express themselves visually.

What is your favorite song to sing in karaoke?

It was ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ by Poison, and that song still holds a special place in my heart. But it’s so cliche that some karaoke places won’t even play it. So I guess Meatloaf’s ‘Paradise By The Dashboard Light’ or RUN DMC’s ‘Tricky’ if Ryan Michlitsch will duet with me. Or anything from any musical ever.

Name something that is intense.

Camping. Circuses. Boners.

 

Thank you, Chris!
You can see more of Chris's artwork on his hilariously out-of-date website here and follow his slightly more up to date blog here. 

Artist Interview: Rory Phillips

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, meet Rory Phillips: illustrator, graphic designer, printmaker, animator, and all-around art enthusiast. His work encompasses quite a bit, from character design to typography. You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It will be the third show Rory has participated in here at Light Grey, alongside Macro + Micro, and Girls: Fact + Fiction. His dynamic compositions, detail, and bright color choices are featured in a wide variety of projects, both collaborative and independent.


Rory Phillips, hard at work

How would you describe your work? Your favorite thing to draw?
Magpie-ish, I'm really curious and have a wide range of inspiration that influences my work. Also I am lucky enough to work on a lot of different kinds of projects for a wide range of audiences and that adds a lot of diversity to my work. I say lucky because I really like new challenges, and get bored if I'm not pushing myself. As a graphic designer I'm used to adapting my style to the needs of the client/job and I find I bring that approach into my illustration and printmaking as well. While I know I have a certain style, I think it is process that defines my work more than anything else. My favorite thing to draw are people, they are infinitely interesting to me.

How do you plan your compositions? What’s your sketch process like?
I start by exploring a concept with a bunch of really quick thumbnails in a sketchbook. When I think I have explored the idea enough, I usually do a few more just to be sure. I pick the concept I am most drawn to and I explore it with more thumbnails, these won't be as rough, but I still don't spend more than a minute or two on them. When I get something I like I will start laying out the actual piece using the thumbnail as a reference, this is where I usually struggle with preserving the loose feel of the thumbnail. Once I have that larger sketch I just start rendering it out in what ever medium I'm using.


Progress shot for Rory's You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It piece

What sparked the idea behind the Versus series with Fred DiMeglio? What’s your favorite piece you’ve done so far?
It started when we both attended a WeMake SketchXchange here in Portland that focused on a collaborative project between Jon MacNair and Santiago Uceda. After a few beers that night we decided we should collaborate on a project that; involved the community, was based on screenprinting and got us out of our comfort zone. Soon after we brainstormed over a few more beers and came up with the concept for Versus, a print series of Heroes and Villains each print in the series based off the last print by the other person. To get us out of our comfort zone we decided no computers, everything would be done with a variety of analog screenprinting techniques. To involve the community we decided we wouldn't see each others work and would let volunteers give us four words to base the next print on.

My favorite piece from Versus is probably "The Bad". But I was really excited about the "MS Gundam" print because it was the first time I'd played around with oiled photocopy in my screenprint process. Even though I don't think it's necessarily reflected in the end print, my process was a lot looser and organic, which is something I've been striving for.


"The Bad" by Rory Phillips

What are your top three book recommendations?
Only three!? That is super hard, it probably would vary from day today, but right now. Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, because everything Gibson does is thoughtful and smart, plus it specifically appeals to the designer in me. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, because it's hilarious, and I can recommend two great authors with one book! A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, It probably doesn't need my recommendation but I feel it would be wrong not to big-up it, since I'm reading it again for the third time.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My wild uncle told me when I was a kid something to the effect of "The greatest danger in life is to not take chances". It's advice that I've lived by and it has lead me on many great adventures.

What’s the worst weather you’ve ever had to bike through? The best?
The worst would be during hurricane Georges when I lived in Key West, I foolishly went out in the eye to take some photos and nearly didn't make it back (seriously don't try this at home). I think the best, the one I remember as the best, was one fall night when I lived on Nantucket I left work early and rode through the quiet empty streets. The weather was mild and the leaves were falling, the only light was from the moon. I ended up not going home and riding for hours, it was very peaceful.

What brought you to the quote you chose for the show? Were there any other quotes you considered?
I did consider other sayings like "What is not started will never be finished", or "You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind". Something to help motivate the procrastinator in all of us. But I ended up choosing "Don't let the bastards grind you down" because it felt a bit more punk rock and irreverent, and I wanted to juxtapose that sentiment with something that is stylistically more sweet.


"Wonder Woman Redesign" by Rory Phillips

You’ve done several homage/re-designs of superhero gals, do you have a favorite superhero? Why are they your favorite?
I'm not sure I have a favorite superhero. Though I do really like sequential art, honestly when it comes to superheroes and comics I'm a bit of a dilettante. I've never really read them, I think because I didn't have access to them growing up. But even so they are such a cultural phenomenon I find myself really curious about them. For me those redesigns were more of a subversion of superhero aesthetics that have their roots in lurid boys' own pulp illustration (which I still really like). But I wanted to get away from that and depict characters that visually reflected the strong women I know in my life.

Thanks, Rory!

To see more of Rory's work, check out his website, and don't forget to check out his piece for the upcoming show You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It!

Podcast: Iceland Diaries - Part Three

Lindsay, Chris and Francecsa are back after two adventure-filled weeks in Iceland. The audio diary continues in this third, and final, installment! Thanks to those of you who made it through our entire trip with us! It was a blast!



Download the MP3 or Subscribe via iTunes!

Iceland Diaries - Part Three
Length: 01:56:02
Synopsis: This week is the third, and final, installment of our Iceland Diaries! Francesca, Lindsay and Chris left Jenny in Minneapolis to hold down the LGAL fort for two weeks while they travel around the beautiful and remote Iceland landscape. Not wanting to leave the podcast in the lurch, we've decided to do a series of daily audio-diaries from the road. This week starts picks up where we left off last week in Berufjörður and continues all the way back to good old Minneapolis. Once again, forgive the audio quality and any pronunciation errors as these are the raw, uncut ramblings of some weary travelers!

Podcast: Iceland Diaries - Part Two

Lindsay, Chris and Francecsa are still in Iceland this week, and the audio diary continues! A lot of adventures were had and some of the daily recaps got a bit longer overall, so we've decided split week two into two separate podcasts! So look forward to Part Three of the Light Grey Art Lab's Iceland Diaries next week!



Download the MP3 or Subscribe via iTunes!

Iceland Diaries - Part Two
Length: 01:57:56
Synopsis: Week two of our Iceland Diaries! Francesca, Lindsay and Chris left Jenny in Minneapolis to hold down the LGAL fort for two weeks while they travel around the beautiful and remote Iceland landscape. Not wanting to leave the podcast in the lurch, we've decided to do a series of daily audio-diaries from the road. This week starts picks up where we left off last week in Ísafjördur and continues east through Akureyri. Once again, forgive the audio quality and any pronunciation errors as these are the raw, uncut ramblings of some weary travelers!

Sneak Peek: You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It

Let's all get motivated, get back on the horse, put in some elbow grease, and sharpen those pencils!

Next Friday, is the opening reception for You Can Do It, Put Your Back Into It. This is a motivational poster show featuring work by a talented group of type-loving designers and illustrators who have taken their favorite motifs, words to live by, and inspirational phrases to create large-scale art prints.

The entire space will be filled with these inspirational beauties! There will also be print give-aways, many words of encouragement, and musical jams to hype our creative enthusiasm. Hope to see you there!

The opening reception is Friday, June 14th from 7pm-10pm. 

You can see more about the opening reception on our facebook event here

Here is a sneak peek at some of the incredible work. The entire collection is available for purchase and viewing on our website and online shop.

>

Love Conquers All by Taryn Gee

The Grass is Greener by Jen Mundy

Take Courage by Blok Magnaye

Reach for the Stars by Leonardo Peng

Ask For Help! by Carey Pietsch

You Will Make It Through the Night by Aimee Fleck

Artist Interview: Teressa Ong

This week we had the pleasure of getting in touch with our Smart show artist Teressa Ong. Teressa currently lives in Singapore although she likes to pretend she's a fish living in a well. Teressa works with a range of medium from 3D Animation to felted toys. She also illustrates children's books and designs astounding characters. Her enticing illustrations are just a sample of her vibrant fun world. It was great to find out more about her process and development as an artist.

 

You’re a graduating animation major, what school did you attend? What was your experience like? 
I'm actually already a graduate! I attended Nanyang Polytechnic for Digital Media Design (Animation), though it was a tough three years of sleepless nights and trying to be friends with 3D softwares, everything was very refreshing for me. I knew close to nothing about animation before I entered [school] and we had lecturers who had been in the animation industry for many years. It was really cool that we got to ask them for advice, critique, etc

What made you start illustrating?
My mum used do lots of crafty things, like making cards, so I guess that is what made my six-year-old self decide to start drawing and be artsy. I only got serious about illustrating when I was in high school, thanks to an incredibly talented friend of mine.

You trade off a lot between traditional and digital mediums. Is there one specific medium that you like working in most for your illustrations? 
It's tough to pick because I love the different mediums all the same! But if I had to choose, it would definitely be watercolours. 

What are you working on right now? How is it different from your past work?
I'm currently messing around with felt to make plush toys and badges that are similar to the characters I draw. If by past work you mean days before polytechnic, then the content differs as well as the mediums and styles of characters. All I drew was semi-manga style people back then.


 

Who/What is inspiring you right now?
There are a lot of artists that I'm inspired by currently, but I'd say Louise Evans aka Felt Mistress since I'm working with felt for now.

What are some other things you enjoy doing?
Besides drawing, I very much enjoy sewing, reading comics and children books, and watching cartoons! If sitting around doing nothing (except listen to music while looking at whatever is going on outside) is counted as a thing, then I'm adding that to the list!

Who would you consider the smartest person you know? 
That would definitely be my younger sister, because she reads the news, is very into literature and knows a lot more than I do in general. I have a mind of a six-year-old. 

What is your work environment like?
It has to be quiet except for music. If I'm dealing with traditional mediums, I like to surround myself with art materials to keep me hyped up about painting, so it's always a big mess. I don't have a proper workspace so I usually hang around the living room or dining area depending on whether I feel like sitting on the floor or the chair.


 



Thank you so much to Teressa for sharing her "mind of a six-year old" with us! Check out her process on her SMART piece "All Hail The Wall." You can also find more of her work on her Website and Tumblr. She also accepts questions on her Ask FM page. Teressa's piece is also available for purchase in the Light Grey Art Lab Shop.



 
Process for All Hail The Wall







All Hail The Wall

Artist Interview: Maria Ines Gul

Maria Ines Gul  / "MARJAINEZ"

Age: 22

Favorite blog/website: http://www.retronaut.com

Favorite song right now: Daughter - Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)

Where are you from, and where do you currently live?

I’m from a small town in Poland. I’m currently living in Poznań, but I’m moving to London over the summer to study at Royal College of Art.

How would you describe yourself? (or how might someone else describe you?)

Introvert, ambitious, witty.

What is your educational background?  How do you feel about your schooling?

I attended a secondary school for the arts for 4 years, and now I'm finishing up a BA in Graphic Design at Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań.  I've always been the best and the worst student at the same time.  Some people don’t need school at all, but when I started working on commissions, I wasn't confident in my skills or ideas, so my BA has been a good warm-up.

When did you realize you wanted to be an artist?   Does your family support your career choice?

My family is very supportive. When I was 6, they bought me a Mac computer with Kid Pix studio software. It was so expensive, they could have bought a car instead.  It was the right choice though;  that’s how my whole adventure started, and I will be grateful about it forever. They understand that it’s what I love the most, even though it’s not the most financially stable path. I’ve never really considered a different career for myself.  Choices like going to a secondary art school and then to the Academy of Fine Arts came very naturally. I've been drawing since I can remember.

Sketchbook Drawing by Maria Ines Gul

You are one of the artists in our upcoming “Smart” show.  How are you interpreting that title?  

For me, smart means simple. I’m highly inspired by the Polish School of Posters and the simplicity of children’s drawings and naive, primitive art.

What materials/processes do you use most frequently?

I stick to very basic techniques - I mostly draw with pencils, crayons, and ink. Since I’m very familiar with digital techniques, I do a lot of things on my computer.  I know how to cheat with my Wacom tablet, but I try to spend as much time as I can with a real pencil in my hand.

You have a really beautiful series of portraits, entirely of women, on your website.  How did you choose your subjects, and what inspired you to illustrate them?
Some of them were commissioned for magazines. The others were just inspired by the amazing, talented ladies themselves. Most of them are songwriters whose lyrics inspired me a hundred times over, and I thought I owed them portraits. Each of them is a kind of little, personal shrine.



You also work as a photographer, make-up artist, and stylist for ROOKIE magazine.  Can you tell us how you got involved? What’s fun about this work? What’s frustrating?

I joined the staff the year ago.  They were looking for a new illustrator, and I was recommended by a friend who had previously worked there. It’s a perfect job; the girls are always enthusiastic about ideas and happy with the results.  Tavi, the brain behind the mag, is just so talented and clever.  I can’t believe she’s only 17!  The only frustrating aspect is that all the incredible girls on staff live in so many different places around the world.  I'll never meet them all in person.

Work for ROOKIE Magazine by Maria Ines Gul

You seem to be involved in so many different projects. Can you describe a typical work day or week for you?

I know it’s bad, but I don’t really have a proper schedule. Some days, I don’t do anything.  I read books and go get groceries.  Other days, I maniacally fill tons of blank pages and sometimes spend entire weekends at my desk. One good thing about school is that it doesn't let me forget which day of week it is on planet Earth.

Where do you turn for inspiration?

Everything in life is so inspiring! People, stories, places, images..  My sketchbooks are like visual diaries. I’m often inspired by song lyrics, and my sketchbooks are filled with them. (www.marjainez.com/indexhibitv070e/index.php?/sketchbook/)

What art, design, or societal trends are particularly interesting to you at the moment?
I really appreciate how collage is in demand again these days. It's everywhere now. On my last trip to London, I've bought an amazing book about Matisse and his cut-outs. Blew my mind! I also love the returning trend of handwriting in graphic design. I'm really tired of excessively clean, vector, graphic design. Maybe I'm just too emotional about stuff from 50 years ago.

How do you spend your time when you’re not making art? 

If I’m home alone, I might watch some old movie with Anna Karina and then prance around the room to some 60’s French ye-ye songs. It’s spring, so as you're reading this, I’m probably riding on my beloved bicycle.

What’s the most encouraging feedback you’ve ever gotten about your work?

I’ve received a lot of really great feedback from ROOKIE readers across the world and, of course, when my drawing was favorited by [fashion designer]Paul Smith himself! The best feeling is when your favorite fellow illustrators keep saying nice things about your work.  Also, I've recently been invited to exhibit my works at Illustrative Berlin (www.illustrative.de/).

What would be your ideal collaboration/commission?

I'd really love to do a children's book, and design a poster for my one of my favorite bands. Besides that, my dream is to collaborate with a fashion designer and draw some cool patterns for textiles, or draw or paint window displays and interiors. I'm excited like a little kid when I can draw on a different surface than just plain white paper.

What other artists working today are you a fan of?

 Laurent Moreau, Carson Ellis, Jean Jullien, Bjørn Rune Lie, Paul X. Johnson, Riikka Sormunen, Ada Buchholc, Olimpia Zagnoli, Ping Zhu, Roman Muradov, Emma Lewis…. There are so many young and talented illustrators out there!

What’s the best advice on being an artist that you’ve ever been given? 

Draw everyday. Stick to your path. Don’t compare yourself to others too much.

We have another upcoming show about inspirational quotes.  Is there a quote that inspires you?

“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.” Pablo Picasso

Red Glasses by Maria Ines Gul
Smart Exhibition

Check out Maria's work at:  www.marjainez.com/
You can also see her work for the Smart Exhibition here

Artist Interview: Francesca Buchko

Artist Interview with Francesca Buchko
By Chris Hajny

Meet Francesca Buchko. She is a talented watercolor and digital artist, an avid book reader, and a sketchbook lover, as well as a great colleague and friend. Francesca graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with Illustration. She works as a product designer at Paper Bicycle LLC and and a curator and assistant at Light Grey Art Lab. She is one fascinating lady!




Hi Francesca! What you do at Light Grey Art Lab?
Hey! I do a lot of odd things! I update the Light Grey Tumblr. I have been doing artist interviews lately, too–it’s been great getting in touch with artists. I am at all of the shows, often manning the sales table and cutting fruit, sometimes I help edit writing, or I’ll make a sign if we’re missing one, or I’ll take a picture if we need one and there isn’t anyone doing that, and on a rare occasion I’ll stay in the gallery for gallery hours. I might be a professional intern.

It’s rare to see you without a sketchbook in hand, how long have you carried one? Do you use it as a dumping ground for ideas? To test out techniques? Or is your sketchbook precious, and you think of it as a whole? 
I’ve had a sketchbook since I was sixteen–my first one was a present from a coworker. After that, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t kept a sketchbook earlier, because it’s exactly the thing I needed. I use it for everything—drawing from life, drawing characters, writing down the name of a song or a story idea or someone’s number. I guess it’s kind of like a journal, but it’s mostly pictures.






What about your more finished artwork? Any favorite subjects? Materials? Themes?
I really have been into painting lately. Watercolor and gouache are my favorite media right now, though at some point I think I need to reinvestigate digital. I loooove drawing people. I didn’t realize it until fairly recently, but I love drawing places, too. People in places is probably my favorite subject. I draw a lot of cats in my sketchbook.


 
Francesca at a Light Grey Lock In.


If you didn’t make art for a living what would you do instead?
I don’t even know if I’d be doing anything! When I was little I wanted to be an artist, a ballerina and a vet. I like to think that there is an athletic alternate universe version of me somewhere that is a stellar dancer. I imagine she would work very hard at it. 

What hobbies do you have outside of making art? 
Hm. HMMMMMMM... I like reading a lot, and biking around (though I am by no means a biker) and exploring. I also spend a considerable amount of time on the phone, thanks to having a lot of really good friends and family out of town. I really really like eating.

Your love of Minneapolis is widely known. If you had to choose ONE aspect of Minneapolis as your favorite, what would it be and why?
It’s the people! Aside from the fact that this is where my closest friends are, there are so many cool things here because there are so many cool people. Every awesome gallery and bike trail and coffee shop is thanks to a dedicated group of folks and some really devoted patrons. Those guys are my favorite.




And if you had to choose one thing you hate the most about Minneapolis? 
Hah! I wish it was harder...a year ago and I would have said not a thing. Sometimes it’s too snowy. Or a little too hot. Hate is pretty strong, but I might hate that snow.

Have you ever been anywhere amazing? Is there anywhere you just have to visit in your lifetime? 
I haven’t been out of the country yet, but I’ve been to a lot of places in the U.S. that were pretty incredible. I’m always blown away by mountains. When I was a kid I really wanted to see the ocean, and even though I love the ocean, the Rocky Mountains might be my favorite land feature I have seen. As weird as it is, I want to see cities. Maybe to compare to other cities? I love that a city is like a person that has been built out of a million people. I’m really curious about San Francisco. I mean, with a name like that, why not?

(This question was answered last week, before their trip to Iceland! I look forward to hearing how this answer changes- what her new favorites places and cultures are. )

 Do you have a favorite artist? It could be a visual artist, writer, director, musician?
It’s really hard to pick just one. I have mini art crushes. A little bit ago it was Mark Gatiss, a British writer/actor/producer (he wrote a few episodes of Doctor Who and Sherlock). I was listening to an audio commentary with him and I was impressed by the way that he talks about his work. He’s definitely a nerd—he’s writing for things that he obsessed over as a kid—but he has great integrity about it. I think that’s really difficult to do.

You always play a Ranger/Hunter in games. Why is that your go-to choice? 
I think that skill is cool; to just be so good at something that you can just pick it up and go. I also feel good about slowly whittling away at something. It suits my real-life strategy—pick a stance and be devoted to it.

If you stumbled across a bazillion dollars what would you do? 
I would for real pay off loans. Good thing they’re less than a bazillion dollars! After that I would set up retirement properly and put a good chunk of away. And then I would go on sabbatical, all around the world. And I’d eat everything.






Describe your perfect day.
It would be 67 degrees and sunny, I’d wake up at 7:30, go to a coffee shop for a hour of writing. Then I’d go home, clean, call my fam, eat lunch at 11. Take a bike ride to a bookstore or library. Draw outside for awhile–by this time it would be 75 degrees–then go to United Noodle around 3-4, buy a bunch of imported snacks and possibly dinner ingredients. Bike to your (Chris & Lindsay’s) house to visit for a couple hours and share some snacks. Then we’d call up the rest of the friends, go out to eat around seven and talk there for a couple hours. Then I’d go home and work on comics until bed. 

Thanks, Francesca!

You can see more of Francesca's work here and follow her blog too.