In Place Sneak Peek

This August at Light Grey Art Lab, we are celebrating the summer 'sense of travel,' our yearning for new destinations, and curiosity about mysterious places around the world, as we gear up for our newest exhibition opening, In Place.

In Place incorporates the work of fifty concept artist, background and gaming artists, illustrators, and designers from all over the work to collaborate on a awe-inspiring and sublime exhibition and limited edition artist book project.

Here is a preview and the preorder for the In Place book

And a sneak peek at some of the amazing artwork:


Chiang Mai Jungle, Thailand Sunrise by Angela An
Cenote, Yucatan Peninsula Cenotes by Juan Carlos Barquet
Congo, Congo by Francesca Buchko
Northridge Shopping Mall, Paris by Andres Guzman

Each artist has done an incredible job capturing these larger than life destinations, such as Chief Mountain in Montana, the Illuminated Caves in Okinawa, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the icy tundra of Antarctica. Each piece is accompanied by a written piece about the folklore, history, 'magical healing powers,' influence, and dwellers of each of these magnificent places. We cannot wait to share with you!

To see more information about the opening reception see our facebook event!

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: Elisabeth McNair

Elisabeth and her dog Rufus

Our current exhibit, SMART, features a wide array of goofy, clever, and intelligent art. To showcase some of the artists we're particularly excited about, we conducted a series of interviews. Our first is with illustrator and zine author Elisabeth McNair.  She kindly took time out from her schedule to tell us about herself, her creative process, and her inspirations.


Where are you from, and where do you currently live?
 I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and that's where I'm currently living.


Where/how would you ultimately like to live?
I'm not really sure where I would ultimately like to live. My goal is to freelance full-time, and I think I'd actually be happy living anywhere if I could just work for myself and set my own hours.

The Optimist

How would you describe yourself? (or how might someone else describe you?)
I'm not very good at describing myself, but I love personality tests, especially the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The profile of the INFP personality type describes me really well.


How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I try to make art that is intelligent but not pretentious, funny but not stupid, and nostalgic but not kitschy.

Good Taste

As one of the artists in our upcoming SMART show, how are you interpreting this title? 
I gave it a lot of thought, and ended up deciding to interpret the title literally, and so I created an illustration about the desire to be "smart." A lot of people, myself included, are plagued by the anxiety that we will never know enough. Information is so accessible and easily-attained through the internet that we consume it faster than we can really absorb it. The piece I made for the show is an observation of the way that we constantly devour culture and knowledge, and how that information becomes wrapped up in our identities, a process that can either bring us closer together or make us feel more isolated.


What materials/processes do you use?
I always begin with lots of sketches. Once I've roughly figured out how I want the illustration to look, I make a detailed pencil drawing. Sometimes I create just one composition, and sometimes I draw all of the elements separately and compile them in the computer. Once the drawing is complete, I either paint it with watercolor and gouache or scan it and color it in Photoshop. As much as I love the idea of something being completely hand-made and original, painting in Photoshop is actually very freeing to me because there's no stress involved--I can change the colors as many times as I want! However, it's important for me to at least begin with a real drawing. I would really love to start printmaking again.


On your website, you site the writer Flannery O’Connor as a major influence. Can you tell us about a favorite story or passage?
In "Mystery and Manners," Flannery O'Connor wrote: “There are two qualities that make fiction. One is a sense of mystery and the other is a sense of manners. You get the manners from the texture of existence that surrounds you. The great advantage of being a Southern writer is that we don't have to go anywhere to look for manners; bad or good, we've got them in abundance. ” I think this idea pertains to any kind of art, not just fiction. There is truth in mystery and humor in manners, and since truth is often painful, it's best to express it with humor.

How much of a story do you create behind your illustration images?
There's usually an elaborate story that no one will ever really hear. Coming up with the story is more fun to me than actually making the illustration.



Are the people in your illustrations based on people you know, imagine, or see out and about?
I never intend for my illustrations to be based on real people, but it's possible that people I know sometimes sneak in!



There are quite a few animals in your illustration work. Can you talk about your relationship with animals? 
I've always loved animals, which is why I'm a vegetarian. Gandhi said that the "greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated." I think that animals understand more than we know, and I wish that our society did a better job of protecting them.


Do you have a day job? What jobs have you held? What was the best? The worst?
Right now, I don't have a day job because I'm attending school full-time; however, I'm doing freelance work and I also sell portraits on my Etsy shop. I have been a substitute teacher, an art teacher, a barista, and I've worked at a pet supply store. The pet supply store was fun because it was nice having dogs as customers. The worst job was substitute teaching.

from the zine 'Fancy Pants'

 You received your B.F.A. in Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking, and now, you’ve returned to school for Illustration and Design. Why did you decide to go back to school?
I've never been good at figuring out how to make a living with my art; in fact, just thinking about it has always made me a little squeamish. I have always had a "day job" and made art in my spare time. I went back to school in order to figure out how to support myself doing what I love.


Where do you turn for inspiration?
The past.



What artists are most inspiring to you? 
Edward Gorey, Maira Kalman, and Yuriy Norshteyn are constant sources of inspiration.


How long does it take you to make an illustration?
It depends on when my deadline is! I can tweak things forever, so if I have the time I could spend weeks on a single illustration. However, if I am pressed for time I can complete an illustration a day.


Can you describe a typical work day?
Every morning while I drink my coffee, I get caught up on my reading. (I'm using Feedly now that Google Reader is being phased out.) If I come across something interesting, I might write about it on my blog. Then I walk my dog, and after that I spend the rest of the day at my desk, until late afternoon, when it's time to walk my dog again. After dinner, I work for several more hours.

'A Year of Not Reading'

I love to read. I also enjoy spending time with my dog, Rufus--I hate to think of how much time I would spend inside if he didn't beg me go on walks! Before I became too busy with school, I played keyboard in my husband's band, Noel Stephen & the Darlings.  (http://nsatd.bandcamp.com)



You have a blog called “A Fine Day For…” Are there any particular blogs you’re fan of? Some blogs I've been reading for a long time are Brain Pickings, Design*Sponge, Pugly Pixel, Swiss Miss, and of course Pikaland.



What’s the most interesting feedback you’ve ever gotten about your work?
Some people have described my work as depressing, which makes me laugh, because I try so hard to make it funny!



What’s the best advice on being an artist you’ve ever been given?
I can't think of a good answer for this, which probably means that I need some advice.


You say on your website that you are open to collaborations and commissions. What would be your ideal collaboration/commission?
My ideal collaboration would be to work with other creative people I admire to create and self-publish a quarterly zine. My ideal commission would be to do a cover for The New Yorker.


We have another upcoming show about inspirational quotes. Is there a particular quote that inspires you?
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
 --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Check out Elisabeth's work at:  www.elisabethmcnair.com

Blowout: a benefit exhibition for Tom Strom

Blowout: an exhibition and benefit show for Tom Strom. 

Let's get to know the man behind the ink. 

This week is our opening reception for Blowout, an exhibition that combines intricate line work, traditional paintings, and tattoo posters from all over the world, to celebrate the diversity and skillful artwork made by tattoo artists. It is not only about the artwork, but about the overall and overwhelming sense of family that comes with the tattoo community. This show exemplifies the profound sense of care, as tattoo artsits have come together to support fellow tattoo artist, Tom Strom.

This week, I got together with Tom to talk with him about his feelings of this exhibition, thoughts on the artwork, and about pieces he is contributing to the show. He is such an outstanding guy, and we are happy that we are able to transform his accident into a positive experience for artists, tattoo lovers, and Tom himself, as the proceeds from the show go towards the cost of his surgery and recovery. 

 

"Sewing the Seeds" by Tom Strom

Interview with Tom:

Q. What is the overall feeling of the exhibition? How did you select artists to represent all facets within tattoo art?

A. This exhibit was the idea of my friend, Nic Skrade. It was brought up as a way to help me through a really rough year after having a bicycle accident resulting in a pretty serious back injury. It left me in a lot of pain that made it impossible for me to sit, stand, or walk, let alone work . . .When Nic brought up the idea for the show, I was very reluctant. The more he brought it up the more serious things got for me, and the better the idea seemed. We came up with a list of artists that we knew would be able to help out and also able to show some great work. The response was overwhelming. 

Q. What are the pieces that you have in the show?

A. I have three pieces in the show, all are oil on panels. They are my favorite pieces to date and are very personal to me. They touch on topics such as eventual death, reoccurring health issues, and childhood.

Q. What is your favorite thing about tattoos and the culture?

A. I love that people are getting excited about tattooing these days and bringing it to an art form. I had no idea it would ever get this way when I started. It's definitely allowed me to grow as an artist right along with it. 

Q. What subjects do you enjoy drawing or tattooing?

A. My favorite topics to do are usually more science fiction related creatures mixes with nature. The weirder the better.

Q. What does this show mean to you? What does it say about tattoo art, you, the tattoo community?

A. This show really means a lot of me. It's great to know that I below to such a great community of friends and artists that are there for me when I need them. It really shows me that you get back what you put into tattooing. It has taken care of me for a good part of my life and brought me to a lot of great friends and places, all of which has made me into a better person.

Thanks, Tom, for being so open with us this week and sharing your thoughts on the show.

*For more about this exhibition and Tom's story you can look here or to purchase any piece from the 

upcoming exhibition, visit our online gallery and store here.