Dream Arcade - Call for art

Over the last couple months I've been steadily working on developing a series of games called Great Personality for Light Grey Art Lab. They're visual novel stories based on the Myers Briggs personality types. It's been fun learning how to code with Renpy as well - which is a python based open source program. It's been thrilling (and weird) to wear the programmer's hat for these, not to mention writing dialogue and storylines for each of the 32 characters. I'm currently working on the second game and it's going well! I can't wait to release it--- but until I can, I've been working steadily with the rest of the Light Grey team to get a couple other things underway.

So, while we at Light Grey Art Lab were dabbling in videogames, we started brainstorming some other crazy things, and what started as an off-the-cuff remark turned into a full fledge exhibition concept. The call for art is ending in just a couple days and I thought I'd post about it here in case you know anyone that is interested participating. If you know anyone that has ever wanted to make a platformer, send them to the call for art HERE to sign up.

Here's what it is:

DREAM ARCADE
A Platformer's Paradise
Opening September 12, 2014 at Light Grey Art Lab!


Hyper-shifting has never been a problem for you. In fact, because of your ability to flex between the spacetime fabric, you've been singled out to covertly infiltrate a list of alternate realms to seek out a handful of top secret energy sources that have been scattered throughout time and across dimensions. You will have to shift between worlds, take on new forms, fight deadly enemies and navigate dangerous environments -- all to collect these essential celestial artifacts. If you're unable to find them all, the universe as we know it will cease to exist.

Light Grey Art Lab is turning into an actual arcade.

Seriously.

We've had some amazing help from David Washington, a programmer from Microsoft, in figuring this all out. Not only is he going to help us publish to the app store, but he's been helping set up the whole prototype, and will help code the final games. The idea is that each participating artist will be able to craft their own world -- they're in charge of the bad guys, the hero, the pickups, the background assets... all that stuff. And we help build the level and make it work!

These games will all be woven together into a larger BIG game, which will tie the individual levels together with a story about a time, space, and shape-shifter.
It'll be intense, and incredible. The details for the call for art are HERE on the Light Grey blog... and if you'd like to play the demo, here you go!


CLICK HERE TO PLAY A MINI SAMPLE GAME!

So, that's what I'm up to. I've got a lot of behind the scenes work to do to get this thing polished and ready for the show in September, but I'll post some previews and some process work here for the show when I can. It should be incredible. Here's the call for art link!

Matte Black

Over the last couple months I've been indulging myself in a new hobby. I just recently started going to ceramics classes at the Northern Clay Center this past January and after my first class I was absolutely smitten! There's something really meditative and incredible about sitting next to a potter's wheel and just moving clay around with your hands. I was talking to a friend the other day and caught myself trying to explain the process --- though it's still a creative endeavor, it's nothing like drawing. It's more like you're there, and just letting the clay make it's own shape. It's nice to be able to pick up a hobby where I don't have to stress about making something super technical with every turn!



I've probably made at least 40 teacups by now and have gone through two five week classes. I am really looking forward to going back and taking another once teaching is over and I've freed up a little more time in my schedule. Though I'm far from being a master, I'm really very proud of the things I've done.

I just re-opened my Etsy shop the other week as well, and today, during the wonderful 70 degree weather, Chris and I opened the windows and did a little photo shoot with my teacups!



Here are the first four in all their glory! If you'd like to see the other photos of them I'll be posting them on my Etsy shop as I go! I can't wait to get to the point where I can paint things on them!
So exciting!

Design School Wisdom! Exciting!

I just got home to a super exciting package in the mail.
Last fall Jennifer Tolo Pierce sent me a super exciting email and asked me to be a part of the new Design School Wisdom book for Chronicle Books.

I am totally flattered and really thrilled about the whole thing... more than you could know.

I have always been a huge fan of teaching -- I even found out that this is my 10th year teaching at MCAD. I've absolutely loved every minute of it and I'm really grateful for the time my students spend with me, the things I've learned, and my chance to give something back.

Here are the quotes that they featured. I stand by every single one of them! So excited!
What a happy day to end a Tuesday!

A cluster of flowers for Natasha!




Here's a great saying courtesy of Nina P. Loved making this one!

Well, I'm back at work! The day after the holidays. Yes, I know there's still a holiday left to celebrate, but for now, It feels good to be cranking away and getting back on track. I had the most wonderful holiday with my family. Between playing board games and eating a very non-traditional meal, it was really a fun experience. It's been quiet at the studio- I imagine that most people are still sitting around in their food comas and catching up on movies / trying out new presents and enjoying the company of family, friends and pets.

I spent the greater half of Christmas Day coding the Great Personality game. (Yeah! I've got this thing DOWN!) And I have to admit that I'm pretty darn proud of myself. It's become easy to add interesting and exciting things -- like animated frames (Non-stop rain was a big one!) and some really fun twists!
Hopefully I'll code up a little teaser so you guys can see what I'm up to.

Happy Holidays, everyone. May your new year be filled with adventure!

Happy Holidays!

I am almost at the end of my commissions for this year! This is one of the last ones and I'm really happy with it. I've had the pleasure of drawing tea plants a couple of times for clients in the last year and this was a nice treat!

Speaking of treats, today was an incredible day. I was really lucky to have spent it in the company of all of my great friends. My friend Ryan just moved back to town and has been spending his afternoons with us at Paper Bicycle. He was able to join us for our end of the year Paper Bicycle / Light Grey holiday party. We were also blessed with Jesse Riggle and Ian Gorton as well, and Francesca, Jenny, Chris and I shared presents and great times with everyone around a tiny silver tinsel tree. I'm quite a sentimental person -- so there were a couple cards, and a couple presents today that made me tear up (with happiness!). I am really happy to say that this year has shaped up to be something incredible. I feel like I've been really lucky to have spent it with great friends, doing so many fun things.

I am planning to finish it off with a bang as my parents and siblings come into town. Happy Holidays to everyone out there! Thanks for watching my blog and saying hello throughout this year. I appreciate every one of you guys. May your holidays be amazing. Hugs to all of you!

Bouquet for Megan C.

I just finished this little illustration for Megan C. -- who is a huge sweetheart and such a generous person. I have been finally getting to the end of my commissions from Oliver's fundraiser and it feels good. My goal is to send out the last ones by the end of the year and I'm almost there!

Over the past couple weeks I've been trying to plow through teaching finals at MCAD, finishing up my postcard for Light Grey Art Lab's 6 Degrees exhibition, doing all of my daily work at Paper Bicycle, and getting ready to code the dating sim for an upcoming Light Grey show. It's been incredible. There are some days I feel more productive than others, but when I actually have time to sit back and reflect on what the last year has been like -- I'm quite proud.

I guess I'm most proud of keeping up a pace that I thought wasn't possible. I'm proud to have spent all this time with ambitious, incredible people. I've been introduced to new friendships and people that really push me to work harder and look for the next challenge. It's been great and as I finish some of my 2013 things, I'm looking forward to a new list, one that makes 2014 as incredible, and exploratory, as this year.

Chinese Bell Flowers

I hope everyone had a really fantastic holiday weekend!
I have been grateful for all of the craziness, the visits from my family, and the projects that I have going on.

In fact, here's one of them.
Here's a little floral study that I did for the wonderful Wendi Chen.
I've had the pleasure of feeling pretty productive over the last several days despite having the holiday-lag following me about!

Besides preparing for the upcoming shows at Light Grey Art Lab and finishing the rest of my commissions (thank you, everyone!) I've been swamped!
MCAD ends in just about two weeks and I'm feeling like, despite how much work this past semester has been, I'm really going to miss it when it's over.
I'm looking forward to sitting down, getting a ton more work done and really cranking out a ton of the stories and code that is for the upcoming Great Personality Exhibition (happening in January!)

Well, wish me luck! Francesca and I had the opportunity to update the website on Friday evening, and we've recently included some projects that I'm really proud to add! Here's a link if you're curious!

Quick Drawing of a man!

Between finishing my commissions for everyone and getting everything done before the Holidays I've barely had a chance to myself!
In a moment in the middle of the night a couple nights ago I started what was, at the time, as sketch of this man and over the last day or so it's turned into this guy. Sometimes you just need to do some self indulgent stuff, right? It's rare that I get the chance to just sit down in Painter and sketch!

Also! I wanted to let everyone know that I also just got a tumblr! I know, right? Late to the party, but very excited to have one.
If you want to follow what I'm up to there, please do! :)

Quick Update on Commissions & Oliver!

One of the commissions I've been doing for the kind people that have donated to Oliver's treatment

So this past week has been really tough, but amidst the craziness and all of the anxiety, we had a great day so far today.
Last Sunday we took Oliver into the emergency vet because he had stopped eating and was very weak. One of his medicines gave him a stomach ulcer and was making this whole ordeal much more complicated. Side effects are so confusing. One medicine heals, but causes something else that needs another medicine to counteract. I don't understand it all -- I am not sure if anyone really does!

Today, though, I'm hopeful! We went into our regular family vet, talked with them for a while about how Oliver is doing. He had a tube to help get him some food while he was sick and they were able to take it out today. He almost instantly perked up, ate some food on his own, and explored the office (we brought him to Paper Bicycle for a little bit as we were on our way home) after it was out. It was such a relief. Seriously. I have been on pins and needles for a week hoping he'd do well!

Now I am just hoping for a speedy recovery and that his appetite gets better, and he can go back to cuddling and roaming the house with his normal chipper attitude. It's always a scary thing when your loved ones are sick - especially from complications of one of the things that are supposed to help heal them.

I wanted to write a quick post to thank everyone that has been super sweet to me during all of this!
As you can imagine - running Paper Bicycle, Light Grey Art Lab, teaching and trying to keep my regular life together on top of all this is a juggling act, and people have been so wonderful and understanding.

I am hoping that the craziness is over for now, and that we can go back to "normal". Cross your fingers for us!
We are still fighting the battle, but for today, things are looking up!

I hope to post more of the commissions I've been doing, too - thanks to everyone and their never-ending patience!
I am finally getting around to tackling some of the later ones! Thanks again!

Everyone go hug their loved ones! :) Hug them all for me!

Postcrossing and Sendsomething.net - Mail Time!

I got a bunch of cute postcards in the mail today!
Wow, does it feel great to get something other than bills! I am a member of sendsomething.net and love sending packages, postcards and things to people any chance I get! Just recently a friend from Light Grey Art Lab introduced me to Postcrossing as well and I've been in love!

Thank you to J.Tills, Jacqueline, and the mysterious sender from Singapore! You guys made my day!

There's something so awesome about learning little bits about other people, cultures and languages. I love seeing the postcards that people pick out for me, and I adore seeing their handwriting! I know I have particularly cryptic looking handwriting, with it's weird twists and turns.... More scribbles than letterforms...
It's just so interesting!

Join Together, PDX!

My piece for the upcoming Join Together show in Portland curated by Meg Hunt!

I'm really honored to have been asked to do a piece for Join Together, a really cute art show in Portland. My good friend Meg Hunt is getting married to her long-time love, Mike, and in celebration of their union, She's curated Join Together to be about love, partnership and just ... joining together!
My little piece is a combo of the natural subjects I love. I was thinking about it as I was making it --- that it's really fun to see how many types of foliage can co-exist together in one little space. A little gathering of all types of greenery.

If you're in Portland, try to make it out to the reception on the 9th! (Just a couple days away!)
Congratulations, Meg! I wish you the best!

Sketchbook, you are growing on me.

One of my latest sketches

I've made some progress lately. I was paging through my sketchbook and realized the other day that I've had this one for about a year and a half. I've become painfully aware that I am a slow sketcher. I have always had this problem with trying to make everything in my sketchbook perfect rather than just embracing some of the weird, bizarre or spontaneous things that come with just trying things out.

In the last several months, though, I've been sketching regularly - both in my personal sketchbook, for fun, and for the upcoming Sketchbook Project 1703 Miles and Back Tour. Everyone at Light Grey got one and so we decided that we'd be working away at making something fun, while being okay with whatever interesting and crazy things came out of it.

This little bird was a doodle I made while I was playing D&D last Saturday with a group of friends. It had been a really long time since I sketched and hung out, and even longer since I played D&D. Hooray for sketching and hooray for hanging out. Two things I am excited to do more of!

I have a list of commissions (Thank you!) from some amazingly wonderful people that I'll be sharing here as I complete them.
Thanks to everyone that donated or comissioned me to help me pay for Oliver's (my kitty!) treatment.
I'm still taking orders! :) Here's a quick link in case you know anyone who might want a pretty drawing!

Custom Artwork Fundraiser- for my Kitty Oliver's Treatment

Oliver, my sweet kitty

Hi guys, It's Lindsay.
It's been a tough week. Chris and I have been in and out of the University of Minnesota Veterinary Clinic this past week and just got some really sad news. Our kitty, Oliver, has been diagnosed with having cancerous tumors in his lungs. We've decided to try to give him the best shot at fighting it, and he's currently getting chemotherapy to try to treat them. He's a tough boy and has a fighting chance since he's an otherwise healthy boy. With his chemo, he's got a chance of shrinking or stopping the growth of the tumors, and we're hopeful that it makes living happily with them a real possibility. He is happy, not in any pain, and has been racing around like a crazy cat regardless of his diagnosis.

I'm not a person that gives up easily, and though it's been very hard to understand it all and very expensive, I am determined to try to help however I can.

I have set up a small online shop where I'll be creating custom artwork for anyone that is interested or willing to trade a nice piece of art for help in offsetting the cost of his treatment. If you are looking for a nice gift for someone you love, or just would like a nice illustration for yourself, I would be happy to create one for you.

Please help me spread the word with anyone you might know that could be interested.
I have also set up a donation page on my website for anyone that is interested in donating whatever amount (if you are not interested in a piece of work) HERE.


Here are some examples of the types of work that I'll be selling. If you are interested in prints or patterns, I would be happy to make either!
Thanks so much, and if all you can do is share this post for me, I would be forever grateful.

A link to my custom art shop fundraiser can be found here.
I'll be doing these on a first-come, first-served basis and will try my best to create them quickly for anyone willing to donate.
Questions? Send me a note at my personal email, lindsay@paperbicycle.com

Here are some samples of my artwork.
Thanks so much, you guys, for your help. I appreciate it more than you can know.
--Lindsay


Custom Typography, Monogram, Phrases.


Custom Black and White Sketches


Custom Repeating Patterns


Custom Botanical Illustrations


Custom Crystals / Mineral Prints

He's got those eyebrows I like.

I drew this boy because I saw some great eyebrows today that I was like "YEAH THOSE ARE THE BROWS!"
The bigger the better! That's what I always say. Just a little pencil sketch before bed in my new giant moleskine!

April 22: Sprigs

Longing for a little greenery. It's supposed to snow all week and I am pining for some vegetation! The only greenery I see these days are the greens in my salad.

April 21: Snail Mail Night

I've been longing to write some letters and mail some packages. I used to be a part of a website called Sendsomething.net a long while ago and I had the inkling today to see if it was still there! When I saw that it was, I about flipped and started roaming through it to find some people to send things to!

Does anyone remember postcardx? I used to send a TON of mail back in the 90s. Everything from postcards to super long emails. It's amazing what kinds of things you receive -- and even more amazing the relationships you make! It's super easy to be a part of it. You just log on, fill in your bio and address and that's it! You can hit a button on top to receive a random person's address (or search by interest) and that's it!

It's a ton of fun just floating through it and reading everyone's interests. I find it amusing that most people are just as into cats, tea and art as I am. I'm sure we're all kindred spirits!

April 18: Snow.

Snow.

Yeah that's right. Time to break out the snow suits and the stompers.
We've got 12 inches, baby.

April 17 : Glacier

I have had an obsession with Iceland ever since my trip there three years ago. It was a magical, wonderful place, filled with lunar landscapes and incredibly incomprehensible changes in terrain. Of course, there are several glaciers in Iceland that took my breath away and I did a tribute to glacial ice for Light Grey Art Lab's upcoming Macro & Micro Exhibition (This Friday from 7 - 10pm at Light Grey Art Lab).

It was a really fun drawing to make and I got a kick out of giving it a warm, dusk-like lighting. It seemed that the sun set for hours while we were there, and that the sun didn't dip down until well after 10pm. I am taking a trip there with Chris Hajny and Francesca Buchko (who are also in the Macro & Micro exhibition) this coming June. I can't wait! It should be a real adventure!

If you are interested, this piece is for sale in the Light Grey Shop as an archival giclee print through the end of the exhibition! You can also take a look at all of the other awesome art by the other 90+ international artists, too!

April 16 : Sleeping birdie

He's worn out from a day of hunting worms and gathering twigs.

April 14: Never-ending moss field!

Never-ending little moss tufts!
It's like a puffy field of dreams!

April 12: A Bird Friend

This little guy looks hungry!


This guy looks hungry, too. For ADVENTURE!
(Found this amazing book at the Half Price Books by my house. I'm not sure if this was the original story for THIS, but you should probably watch it anyway.)

April 11: Never let me go.

It feels like a quiet night. Here's a small, quiet drawing to fit the mood.
Created in photoshop with my tablet, just for fun.


A little detail of the bird

April 10: Script

Sketchbook view

It's getting closer to April 15th and all I can think about is how much I hate doing my taxes. Seriously. It feels like I've been doing them non-stop for the last 9 months. What's up with that? I guess that's the part where I have to thank myself for becoming a self-employed business owner. There are seldom times when I think back fondly about working for someone else's company, and tax time is one of them. Ah, when things were easy. I remember those days.

I guess you trade some perks for other perks, right?


Here's a straight-on view

I got to forget all about my tax woes around 6:30 when I headed to MCAD to teach my Illustration in product design class. Man, I love that class. Let me just tell you (again) how much I love teaching. It's ridiculous. This semester's class is full of geniuses. Every single person in the room is full of amazing ideas and inspires the crap out of me twice a week. I am very lucky that I get to spend time with these guys and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think that. It makes me want to bring them a box of doughnuts every time I come to school. Of course, I can't do that because I'd give them all heart-attacks and I would eventually run out of money, but it's the thought that counts.

Tonight I had just a minute to do something in my sketchbook before I call it a night and I chose to do some hand-type. I have no idea where this came from, but sometimes I just like the feeling of this fancy pen I have. It's called a Kuretake Fudegokochi. It's one of my favorite pens -- it's half brush pen, and half felt pen. I'm not even sure how it's possible that I love this pen so much, but leave it up to Japan to make more amazing things.

My two favorite pieces of script from tonight say "only the lonely" and "nothing matters but you". With a chose third for "Fortune Favors the Brave".

April 9: Big Eyed Dolls

I hear it's snowing outside. It's so black I can't see. I have been absorbed in talking to my parents and looking at celebrity gossip on the internet. (What a way to spend a Tuesday night!) I took a trip down to Half Price books after work and indulged in three new vintage books. You know when they tell you not to judge a book by it's cover? That's all I do. I have a gem from the 50s, and another two from the 60s sitting in front of me. One is called "The Palace of Eternity", and another "The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu" (yes, that is a real book), and the last one is a pulp novel called "The Tattooed Rood".

The other day my pets broke my scanner that I use for posting things from home (which is why you get to see my sketches via photo!) and I'm desperate for my new one to come in the mail. I know it'll arrive any day, and as the forecast predicts, I am sure I'll find it buried on my front porch under a half a food of snow when it finally arrives. Once that scanner arrives I'll be sure to show you these fantastic covers. Oh, how you'll love The Tattoos on that Rood!

Tonight I drew some girls. I have been drawing characters in my sketchbook for a couple weeks now. It's rare that I get to draw people for work, so I figured I'd indulge today. For some reason I was thinking 'big eyed dolls' all night, and this is what came of my inspiration. Just heads for now... but I think I might just color these ladies up and give them some bodies and post them one of these days. The one on the top right looks like my sister, Victoria, a little bit. Not because of the scowl, but there's something about her!

April 8: Night time and fire-flies.

Full repeat

I started creating this pattern last night by playing with watercolors. I had done these guys in greyscale first and then decided to color them in the computer.
I wanted to make something that had a glowing look and that was reminiscent of a field with fireflies, without actually drawing fireflies.


Detail

It's getting closer and closer to spring and I can't wait until it's nice enough to go outside and see some real flowers. It's funny. I draw foliage so frequently, yet it's been a long while since I've gotten to see greenery around my neighborhood! Soon, right?

We're working on a patterns project in the class I'm teaching. I am really excited about it. My students are geniuses and I'm totally looking forward to seeing what they make!
We went through a bunch of different types of patterns today in class and I taught them how to make damask patterns, toiles, radial patterns and chinoiseries! I'll have to try and keep up with them!

April 7: Black watercolor

Tonight I'm working on a couple patterns and I decided to bust out the watercolors. I have a project that I'm doing tomorrow that involves making flowers that need to be able to be shown in various palettes, so I'm doing all of the painting in grey-scale. When creating patterns I usually create assets like this on a page and then toss them in the computer. It's funny to see them all in a blob like this -- there really is no rhyme or reason for where they're placed or why some match and some don't!

April 6: Raspberries!

A quick and loose sketch of some raspberries for the night! Thinking of raspberry jam, smoothies and all things summer. Too bad it's rainy and only just springtime!

April 5 : Space!

Space is the topic of the night! Here are some doodles that I made during the Light Grey Lock-in! I did a couple type drawings based on the sci-fi books I've been ordering off of eBay!

April 4: Silly Doodle Cats!

I've been playing this game on my phone called Megu, and every week or so, my tamagotchi-esque creature morphs into something new. Most times it changes into a kind of funny, bean-shaped animal or a piece of food with a face. All of which are great. I had been playing with my brush pen and decided it'd be fun to do a grid of silly bean-cats. So, here they are! Bean cats for everyone!

April 3, Frogs for Sam.

I made something sketchy today and I'm dedicating this post to Sam Basques, who asked me to draw a frog. So I did! And I'm really happy with it.
Just a little guy nested in a patch of leaves. I stuck with a pencil-in-my-sketchbook drawing today. It's quickly becoming one of my more favorite mediums for quick drawing. I've got this really nice Pentel 0.9mm lead pencil that's a gorgeous yellow ochre color. It's my pride and joy and I've taken to using it almost exclusively for sketching in my little sketchbook.

I actually just sat down a little bit ago to relax while Chris plays Bioshock Infinite-- after a long day of designing notebook covers and hosting interviews with two very fascinating people, Mary Jo Hoffman, founder of Stillblog.net, and Nic Skrade from Uptown Tattoo. I have to admit, it's certainly hard to get meditative in my sketchbook while the room is filled with gunshots, yelling and explosions. I'm actually really enjoying the story and it's been fun watching him play. One of these days I'll have to actually learn to use the controller and pick up a game myself. For now, I stick to story games on my phone. Those aren't too hard -- it's just me touching the screen now and again to advance the plot.

Beyond that, I've been thinking of starting a couple drawings that are sci-fi in nature. I've been surfing all over Ebay recently, buying vintage paper items like I do, and amassing this amazing collection of books from the 50s, 60s and 70s. I'm actually considering scanning some of these covers and sharing them, as I've got more vintage paper things than the average person -- and some of these illustrations are crazy awesome. There's one that came today with the title YEAR 2018, by James Blish. (He has an awesome name). I'm considering plowing through that book just to see how much 2013 differs from the world Blish created back in 1959, when he wrote the book!

If I get the chance, I'll make sure to write a full book report. Some of these paperbacks look like I could tear through one in an evening.