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!

Snowy Day

I wrote a post about the snow with a couple cute pics for the Light Grey Art Lab blog and wanted to share them here as well!
We had a ton of snow last night and it is absolutely beautiful here! Here you go!


10 inches of snow and counting

I thought you guys might appreciate seeing what it's like out today. I know that most of us have seen a snow storm, but man, we got hit hard last night and everything looks amazing with all this snow. It started last night as I was teaching over at MCAD and just kept going. I got the chance to chat with Teagan White, a wonderful person and very talented illustrator, last night over coffee. She came over to MCAD for a bit to talk to my product design class about her work and process and afterward we headed to the Spyhouse (a local coffee shop down the street from Light Grey) with Francesca to sit down and warm up.

It kept snowing even after we parted ways and I dropped Francesca off at home. Even so, I was still surprised to see all of it this morning.


A view down the block towards the prestigious Minneapolis College of Art & Design. The streets are super quiet.

Commuting to work today wasn't that difficult because Minneapolis has this snow-removal thing totally under control. I'm thankful for that, for sure. Still, it was amazing to walk the block or so up to work and see that absolutely everything was covered and looked really beautiful.

It's strangely quiet on the streets because of the snow, too. So it's almost like being wrapped in a cold, white sweater.


Chris and Atari head inside to get to work

I'm going to try and enjoy the snow for as long as I can while it looks this good. I know that city snow doesn't stay beautiful forever!


Twinkle, our other studio dog, is a little black blip amongst all the white

Crystal Studies

Over the past couple nights I've been livestreaming a series of crystal paintings that will be shown this weekend in the Tarot, Mystics and the Occult Show at Light Grey Art Lab. I'm really happy with how they're turning out and I'm really excited to do more!

Here are five of the eight I'm hoping to put in the show. The whole process for putting together this show has been really interesting. It seems my life has taken a turn for the mystical -- in that I've been spending a lot of time researching some of the meanings and symbolism that's come with the project.



While I was visiting my parents this summer I went to a local gem shop and bought this fantastic book filled with gorgeous photos of crystals and rocks of all types. I've always had a fascination with gemstones. Francesca was with me this time and (because of the upcoming exhibition) our gem-radar was on and becoming ever more fine tuned.



As far as I know, people have been using gems for a million and one uses -- besides their symbolic use as birthstones and besides wearing them as jewelry, there's a whole universe of energy, healing and mystery around them.



For the show I've got these studies paired with their healing properties. I'm hoping that we'll all find one that can help us out a little, whether it's for creative, love, energetic, calming purposes or to bless us with successful endeavors.



I'm really looking forward to it. If you have a chance to visit these (and me!) in person this Friday, you should come on over! We're throwing a big party for the reception of the Tarot, Mystics an the Occult Show. It's from 7 - 10pm this Friday, October 26th. Just in time for the holiday.

If you're interested in seeing a livestream of the last two crystals. Here you go!
You can see a little of my process!

Watch live streaming video from paperbicycle at livestream.com

Rose Quartz Livestream

Watch live streaming video from paperbicycle at livestream.com

Lapis Lazuli Livestream

Street Fortune!

We're super excited to invite everyone to the Opening Reception for our new show, "Street Fortune", on Friday May 18th from 7 - 11pm! Street Fortune is a collaborative show between Bill Rebholz and Llew Mejia, featuring a subversive, humous look at the seedy characters and underbelly on the Twin Cities.

There's a ton of awesome shenanigans and free stuff to be had, so check out the post on the Light Grey Art Lab blog for all the details!

Pokémon Battle Royale Opening!

The Pokémon Battle Royale show at Light Grey Art Lab was a huge success! Read more about it on the Light Grey Art Lab blog, and check out all the pictures on our flickr set!

Pokémon Battle Royale

We've been preparing for this show since January and it's finally here! With a breath of relief we're excited to announce that the Pokémon show is tonight. If you're in the Twin Cities area drop by our gallery for Pokémon art, themed snacks, and an art giveaway! You can check out our submissions to the Pokémon show above. Can you tell which Pokémon is which?


Francesca


Lindsay


Alyssa


Chris

Stay tuned - this weekend we'll be launching an online gallery and store so if you can't make it to the opening you can still revel in Pokémon fandom!

Pokémon Battle Royale Group Show!

We're super excited to invite everyone to the Opening Reception for our new show, "Pokémon Battle Royale", on Friday April 20th from 7 - 10pm!

Check out the Light Grey Art Lab blog for more info! It's going to be HUGE!

Succulent Terrariums Class!

The first official Light Grey Art Lab class, Lindsay's Succulent Terrariums Workshop, happened this Sunday! Thanks to everyone involved!

For a bunch of pictures and a rundown of the class, check out the Light Grey Art Lab blog!

Light Grey Art Lab + Daily Pattern!

We have some exciting news this week!



First off I'd like to say we're doing great with our Light Grey Art Lab Kickstarter Project, and appreciate everyone who's contributed thus far, but we've still got a long way to go, and we need a big boost!

So we're going to have a series of limited, exclusive prizes to get some new people to contribute ASAP!

I'm pleased to announce our very special 'Daily Pattern' reward tier! For the next week, anyone who donates $40* dollars or more to our Light Grey Art Lab Kickstarter Project will get to choose a Daily Pattern topic and have a Daily Pattern made just for them!

All of us at Paper Bicycle and Light Grey Art Lab really want to hit our goal of $10,000 (remember, if we don't hit the goal, we get nothing!!), so we wanted to do something super special to get you to contribute! In addition to your own, personalized pattern, you get a special 'thank you' shout-out when it's posted on the blog! And you get a high-res file to use as you'd like!**

Print it out and frame it! Use it to make wedding invites! Print out fabric and make a quilt! Make it a background on your blog or twitter page! Print out wrapping paper to wrap presents for your mom! It's totally up to you!

This is a very limited offer, both in quantity and time! We're only doing 50 custom patterns and when they're gone, they're gone! Starting as of right this second, you have until Sunday, April 2nd to reserve your pattern!

Please hurry over to our Kickstarter page and contribute now!

Then you can have your own special Daily Pattern to impress your friends with!

*If you'd like to donate more than $40 and still receive the custom Daily Pattern, please email chris(at)paperbicycle.com to arrange it. We'd be more than happy to oblige!

**These Daily Patterns are for non-commercial use only. Once the Kickstarter campaign wraps up, we will contact you about what pattern topic you'd like. We will begin making the patterns at the close of our Kickstarter campaign, doing at least one per day, so please be patient until we get to yours.

***Please note this is a Limited Time Offer to entice new contributors. This reward does not apply to previous contributors.

Work. Back to normal.

"Work" by Lindsay Nohl - part of the People & Patterns show at Light Grey Art Lab's Grand Opening

What a sigh of relief.
Today was my first day back in the office after a couple days out in beautiful, grey, Portland. (I'll tell you ALLLLL about it tomorrow).

Man, it was a strange day. After nearly six weeks of non-stop working, we finally had a day of relaxation. Alyssa and Francesca had a moment earlier this week to soak it up, but Chris and I finally are feeling it, too. Despite having the normal Paper Bicycle things to do at the office, we're definitely feeling a lot more at ease.

Now that our sister company, Light Grey Art Lab, is up and running, we're breathing a nice sigh of relief. The studio looks awesome - the space is great, the classes are running, and we're doing it! Two businesses at once! Both in full force!

There's something to be said about working hard. I know it might seem absolutely crazy at times (for those of you guys that know us) how much we work, but wow, when you actually get down to it and work your butt off, it's a great feeling to see something happen. I live for it. I love seeing things happen - not just for myself, but for everyone else. I love it.

Keep working hard, you guys. Anyone that is out there trying to get things done, you're doing it right! It's worth it.

Now we (and by we, I mean, I) just have to learn how to take a break every now and again!

Light Grey Art Lab Kickstarter!

It's an exciting time at our new venture, Light Grey Art Lab! Our first Grand Opening is this week, and we're working super hard make everything perfect!

As awesome as this first event is, this is only the beginning for Light Grey Art Lab! We've got a million things planned,and we've still got a long way to go, which is why we need your help!

We just launched a Kickstarter Project which will allow you to help us make Light Grey Art Lab shine as brightly as we know it can!

We've already put a lot of time, money and love into making Light Grey Art Lab the best we possibly can, and it's looking great so far. The money you give to the Kickstarter will help cover some of the cost of the full remodel we're doing, but more importantly it will ensure we get the equipment and tools we need to help you learn, create and fully take advantage of the classes we are offering!

In addition to making Light Grey Art Lab bigger and better, you'll get all sorts of cool stuff in return! Prizes range from sweet tote bags, mugs and sketchbooks to amazing limited-edition screenprints, free classes (in-studio or online!) and even super exclusive private parties!

Over the next few weeks on the blog, we'll be featuring all the cool prizes here on our blog, so stay tuned!

Make sure to visit our Kickstarter page to read more about the project, the prizes, and all that is planned!

Light up my life!

We've been working on the new studio space! Check out these swanky lights! Check our more pics on the Light Grey Art Lab blog!

Ceilings. Yuk.

Putting new ceiling tiles up is hard work but someone's gotta do it... I guess. See which awesome friend (besides Francesca, Lindsay and myself) helped out on the Light Grey Art Lab blog!

Studio Progress: Lighting

Renovations are nearing completion here at the Paper Bicycle / Light Grey Art Lab studio. Floors are in, walls are painted, and furniture is all moved in! Here are a few shots of the amazing new lighting fixtures that were just installed. These fixtures will be beautiful statement pieces alongside the functional gallery track lighting!











Come check out the lighting and the new studio yourself at our opening March 16! See the post below for more info. We're so excited to officially open our doors!!

Light Grey Art Lab Grand Opening Artshow!

March is almost here, and you know what that means?! Light Grey Art Lab's Grand Opening is almost here! On Friday, March 16th from 7- 10pm, party down with us and our best friends as we celebrate the grand opening of our new space!

See tons of great art from the first round of Light Grey Art Lab instructors: Andres Guzman, Nic Skrade, Jesse Riggle, Francesca Buchko, Alsyssa Nassner, Lindsay Nohl and Chris Hajny!

There will be dope music, tasty refreshments, nice and stylish people and even free art!

Don't just enjoy the beautiful art, take some home with you! There will be a sweet raffle for some great artwork and products designed by us here at Paper Bicycle!

Make sure you're there and bring all your friends and family!

Remember, Friday, March 16th from 7- 10pm! We're located on the corner of Stevens Ave and 26th Street - right across from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design (Street parking is available on Stevens, 26th and 1st Ave).

And don't forget to follow our Light Grey Art Lab Blog for all the sweetest news and info about what's going on there!

Booked & Excited! NYC Trip Surtex & the Stationery Show!

A cute picture of Mary Nelson & Taisha Bosher from last year's NYC trip!

Well, we're booked! We had an overwhelmingly positive response to our New York City travel workshop hosted by Light Grey Art Lab!

We're headed to the Surtex and Stationery Show in May!! We couldn't believe that we completely booked up under three days and had to wiggle some things around to extend our original 8 slots to our now-11 person excursion!

So far so good! We're booked at a great hotel in Chelsea, and we're in the process of getting all 11 of them registered for the show, getting all of the workshop materials ready, and getting some fancy gift bags ready for all the awesome people attending our workshop!

We're planning a couple more excursions later in the year and we'll keep you posted!
Exciting news! I hope you guys can make it to next year's NYC trip!