New Print available at Fangamer

Just launched this weekend is my new print at Fangamer! It was a few years ago that I stumbled upon Fangamer's booth at Pax Prime, and I was in love with their company ever since. They provide great quality t-shirts, prints, and other fun stuff inspired on the video games you know and love. Fangamer's goal is to celebrate, encourage, and advance the art of gaming.

Flora of the Kingdom is available for purchase: here

These photos are via Fangamer.

PAX Prime 2012

Here are photos and my take on PAX Prime Seattle. PAX is the Penny Arcade Expo created by Mike and Jerry of the comic Penny Arcade. I tried to find just how many people attended this year and couldn't find an answer, but 70,000 maybe 100,000? I don't know the real number but that's a lot of people brought together to just have fun. People are pretty courteous and everyone is excited to be there which makes for a good vibe.

 While waiting outside for the doors to open for the keynote and Q&A with Mike and Jerry, we got to meet our fellow nerds. I found Mario and a Shy Guy who were happy to pose (and I gave them some Shy Guy buttons I made).

At this point you may be wondering, "buttons?". Why would you give people buttons? Well this year I decided to be part of the Buttoneering group who trades buttons with other members, and just to hand out for fun. A lot of exhibiting venders also have buttons to collect and add to your PAX swag.

Here are some of the buttons I traded and acquired. One of my favorites is the white one with the blue triangle. It's my guild for the new Magic the Gathering card set coming out. 

This year the questions during the Q&A were way better. Sometimes the hugging, and weird requests, and randomness is just, um....uncomfortable for everyone involved. But Mike and Jerry always do a great job keeping it light. Jerry even "married" a cute couple (who were told a year before that they would not be married in the eyes of nerds until Jerry officially did it), so they kept him to his word and he came up with a great little ceremony on the spot.

Walking around the expo hall with the new games coming out was pretty exciting. It's always packed with people but the New Mario Bros. game with the Wii U looks interesting. Anytime there is Yoshi's involved I'm there.

These were the banners at the Pikmin booth for the new game coming out. The creatures and game play look amazing. It was fun watching people playing the new game (we didn't wait around to give it a try).

We ate again (actually twice this trip) at So-Ban Restauant which has one of my favorite dishes Bibimbap. This restaurant was called 820 Pike Asian Cuisine last time we were here, but it looks like maybe the place changed owners or something, but the food was still great.

Another of our favorite places to eat while here in Seattle is Blue C Sushi. The conveyor belt with moving sushi is amusing and I like just being able to grab what looks good. This time around we were a little concerned about Matt being able to find gluten-free dining options. But everywhere we went to eat either had clearly marked gluten-free options or the server just talked to the chef to make sure an item was wheat-free. It was a bit of a contrast to where we live which has just a couple places in town with gluten-free options.

One of my favorite panels we went to was with some of the creators of Magic the Gathering card game. They were showing peeks of the new cardset coming up this fall - Return to Ravnica. I wasn't playing MTG at the time the first Ravnica set was released, but this is an interesting card set that brings new players up-to-speed on the Ravnica world with guilds and color combinations. Isperia, the sphinx above is really awesome, AND it's an upgraded version of a card I'm already using in one of my card decks. Plus she looks fierce!

The most action packed event of them all, for me, is the Dungeons and Dragons adventure with Mike, Jerry, Scott, Will and "Celebrity DM" Chris Perkins. Here they make their grand entrance as their characters. Each time they meet for PAX Prime they continue the adventuring story.

This year they decorated the set with a giant mural. Pure awesomness. I wonder what that errie figure could mean?

It means it's the scarry set they're characters have been thrown into! This amazing little set is complete with somewhat working fire cauldern, acid pit (oh no!) removable floor and glowly ruby demon eyes on the statue. I can only wish we had this awesome setup when we played D&D (we had used lego buildings and figures which are pretty cool too).

Speaking of D&D, this year I came with a little surprise. I painted Mike, Jerry, and Scotts D&D characters to give to them. (I didn't do Will's character because I wasn't sure if I would be able to find him to give it to him. I have since learned how to get one to him so that's on my list for next year).

Here I am giving Mike and Jerry their paintings and having them sign a Lookouts comic they created. Mike gave a good chuckle at his character, Jim Darkmagic, riding a dove. Jerry's character Omin Dran who is the CEO of adventuring party Acquisions Inc, so I illustrated his character doing CEOish things in a study with all their loot from past adventures.

I found Scott Kurtz at his booth and gave him his painting of his character Binwin Bronzebottom. Scott was super awesome and really nice. Scott is the creator of the comic PVP and also announced that he will be starting a new comic series which is really exciting! Meeting Scott and giving him a painting totally made my PAX. Thanks Scott!

Everywhere you look at PAX someone is cosplaying their favorite character. I feel like more people dressed up this year, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention last time. Anywho, this fancy Link costume is super awesome. He would have gotten my vote for best costume.

We ended our PAX adventure at The Crab Pot with the lovely company of Meghan, Evan and another couple from Alaska. It was such a relaxing evening on the waterfront outside.

Half of the group went with the classic crab pot with shrimp, clams, mussels, and snow crab legs. I can't deal with antenna and various crabby parts so I went with the salmon fillet.

This PAX was definitely made by the people I met. Hanging out with friends and making new friends was really what this PAX was about. I can only look forward to seeing everyone again :)

"Afternoon on Yoshi Island" Auction Today!

Morning everybody! For those of you following Desert Bus my original painting "Afternoon on Yoshi Island" will go up on the live auction today at 2:15 PST (UPDATE auctions are running ahead of schedule, login early to watch)!

If you want to bid you need to sign up for a doner account on Desert Bus for Hope's website and log in to their chat system to place a bid. 100% of the auction will go to Child's Play Charity and provides children in hospitals games and toys. As of this morning over $70,000 dollars has been raised...amazing!

 

Afternoon on Yoshi's Island

by Nicole Gustafsson

Based on the video game "Yoshi's Island"

7.5 x 7.5 inches

Original Painting - Gouache and Ink on paper

Click here to view the auction listing. 

(Live auction on this painting starting today at 2:15pm PST)

*UPDATE* Piece is sold for $1,800 at Desert Bus for Child's Play Charity!

Stay tuned to Desert Bus to follow auctions, giveaways, and lots of awesome other nerdyness!

Old School Video Game Art Show at Gallery 1988

Tomorrow is the opening for The Old School Video Game Art Show at Gallery 1988. 

Looks like a really awesome lineup of artists to reminisce about their favorite games.

The Old School Video Game Art Show

Gallery 1988 Venice

Reception: Friday, September 16th 7:00pm

Show runs Sept 16th - October 8th

Hide and Seek, 7 x 14.5 inches, Gouache & Ink on paper, © Nicole Gustafsson 2011, SOLD

One of my favorite video games is the Legend of Zelda series. My personal favorite from the series is Windwaker which influenced the style and characters in this painting. I am very much looking forward to the new game coming out this year. I got a little peek of it at PAX and it looks awesome!

I become quite fond of the  Bokoblin's (little green guys with torches) when working on this piece. I want to think of myself to be somewhat-like princess Zelda, but really I think I'm more like a Bokoblin just hanging out, enjoying some of the scenery and being a little puzzled :)

If your in the area this is a show not to miss! Say hi to all the little game sprites for me :)

Super iam8bit opens tonight!

 

SUPER iam8bit show in LA opens tonight!

I really want to be there and see everyone's work, but I'm a bit landlocked in Nebraska at the moment.  

(I'd love to see some gallery photos of my pieces in the show...email them on over to me if you happen to be attending!)

Upcoming Iam8bit show!

I am super excited to be participating in the upcoming Iam8bit show in LA. Over 100 artists will pay tribute to their old school video games days in this amazing artshow. Paintings, plush, sculpture, and interactive art will be on display in a brand new space at Iam8bit productions.

SUPER IAM8BIT

August 11 - September 10

2147 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Opening Reception: August 11, 7 - 11pm

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When developing ideas for pieces to contribute to the show, I immediately thought of Super Mario Bros. It was my first love of video games, and the original games for the NES hold a special place in my gamer heart. 

Below is one my paintings for the show, inspired by Super Mario Bros. 2. The game is full of fun creatures, and Shy Guys are one of my favorites!

Shy Guys, 9.5 x 9.5 inches, Gouache & Ink on paper, © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

Detail of Shy Guys, © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

Detail of Shy Guys, © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

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My second piece I did, Lazy Day in the Magic Kingdom, featured a mix of the different parts of Mario Bros that I enjoy. I always loved the silly spotted mushrooms and the daft looking fish in the water worlds.

Lazy Day in the Mushroom Kingdom, 5.75 x 9 inches, Gouache & Ink, © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

Lazy Day in the Mushroom Kingdom (detail), © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

Lazy Day in the Mushroom Kingdom (detail), © Nicole Gustafsson 2011

And here they are all framed up! Check out Iam8bit's website for more information leading up to the reception on August 11th. After the reception the pieces will be available for viewing online.

Update: Desert Bus & Mario

"Super Mario Galaxy", 5x7, Gouache & Ink, 2010

Back in November, Desert Bus for Hope had a fundraiser for Child's Play. The event raised a grand total of $208,349.82! They beat last years goal and raised money to give toys and games to children in Hospitals this holiday season.

One of my donations for Desert Bus's silent auction was a custom 5×7 original gouache painting on paper, featuring the winner bidders favorite video game. (I also threw in a t-shirt & custom painted ornaments to sweeten the deal).

The winning bidder choose Super Mario Galaxy for the inspiration behind their piece. Now I had never played this specific game but I am a HUGE Mario fan. So I did the best painting "research" ever and borrowed the game and played away. It is an amazingly beautiful game and joy to play!!! It certainly helped me do this little painting above with Mario and a little star "Luma".

I just want to say "Thank You" to the winning bidder for their generosity and helping raise money for Desert Bus & Child's play.

Desert Bus for Hope!

I love playing video games. I grew up playing Mario with my friends and sisters and lots of fun times then and now. I was happy to donate a piece of art (and a custom piece) for Desert Bus for Hope to raise funds for Child's Play who provides games, books, and toys for children in hospitals.

Child's Play was created by web comic Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik of Penny Arcade.
"Since 2003, we’ve set up and organized Child’s Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in our network of over 40 hospitals worldwide. In four short years, you as a community have answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars."

"Treasure!" 5  x 7, Gouache & Ink, 2010

My pieces on the silent auction go live tomorrow. One of my favorite games was "The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker", and I based my painting around Link treasure hunting for rupees.

Bid on my painting "Treasure!" based on the video game "Legend of Zelda: Windwaker" here! SOLD for $1,500!

Bid on my custom piece (original painting based on your favorite video game) here!  SOLD for $1,702!

There's lots of great artwork artwork and bid get some really cool stuff, while providing children in hospitals with gifts to brighten their day.