"Celestial Spaces" opening at Flatcolor Gallery

I am very excited to announce my new solo show Celestial Spaces opening at Flatcolor Gallery in Seattle this Thursday May 5th! This show features new paintings and prints of select pieces revolving around space and celestial landform theme. 

 

I will be there in attendance for the reception this Thursday, May 5th. The reception is from 5-9 in downtown Seattle in the Pioneer Square.

Celestial Spaces

Opening Reception: May 5th from 5-9pm
Part of the Pioneer Square First Thursday Artwalk

Flatcolor Gallery

77 S. Main Street, Seattle WA

Show runs thru May 28th
(Regular Gallery Hours: Wed - Sat 12-6pm)

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Here is the press release from the gallery about the show:

Flatcolor Gallery welcomes Nicole Gustafsson to Seattle for her first solo exhibition at Flatcolor Gallery entitled "Celestial Spaces" opening May 5th, 2016 5-9PM as part of the Pioneer Square First Thursday Artwalk.

Gustafsson's illustrative work features exquisitely detailed microcosms floating in the radiant ether of space. New laws of physics, gravity and perception are presented to the viewer as they explore the fine details depicted in these new worlds.

Show Statement

For Celestial Spaces I created landform and mineral studies as a visual for the infinite possibilities our universe holds. As we voyage further in our solar system, we discover more and more surprises, and reevaluate what we thought we knew about our universe. It's this idea of wonderment and discovery that I seek to depict in my work.

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Below are some work-in-progress photos of the paintings in progress. I used Holbein Acryla Gouache on wood panel for the show. 

Fangamer ♥ Attack Mode at PAX Prime in Seattle

This Saturday is the one night extravaganza Fangamer ♥ Attract Mode show in Seattle, WA. I participated last year (theme was "x" and I did a Animal Crossing print), and this year the theme is love. So I decided to do a piece based on my current video game love - Minecraft. Minecraft has been around for quite a while, and it was only when my guy put the game on my computer that I found out just how wonderful the game is. I can build to my hearts desire, I can dig for those lovely ore blocks and explore underground mines, create portals to other dimensions. It's wonderful and I can't say enough kind words about the game. 

Forever Mining

12x18 inch print

Prints available for purchase at the show in Seattle

1927 3rd Ave, Seattle, Washington 98101

(Available online in late November via Fangamer)

So I created a piece based on the various aspects of the game The End, The Nether, Overworld, and some of my favorite biomes and creatures in the game. When I set out to do a painting of this, I told myself that I wasn't going to do a piece with all the "blocks", but sure enough that's what I ended up doing. The square blocks are so iconic and part of the game, I felt like I needed to do it that way.

There are a lot of events going on this Saturday.  Games, music, live performers, food, drink, prints. If you want to see the complete lineup visit their website for tickets (It was very busy last year, and a packed house) and information: http://www.fangamer.com/products/fangamer-attract-mode

Here is a list of the other artists that plan on contributing prints: Scott Balmer, Mariel Cartwright, Georgina Chacón, Helen Mingjue Chen, Jason Cryer, Ashley Davis, Daniel Dussault, Jacob Ferguson, Kyle Fewell, Kari Fry, Zac Gorman, Nicole Gustafsson, Heart Machine, Tyson Hesse, Sean Husbands, Matthew Kenyon, Corey Lewis, Melissa King, Jon Magram, Mikey Mann, Nina Matsumoto, Minusbaby, Momo & Sprits, Asif Siddiky, Jacob Smiley, Kelly Smith, Kevin Jay Stanton, Wes Talbott, Babs Tarr, Elise Tiffin, Jesse Tise, Jovo Ve, Ian Wilding, Laura Wilson, and Drew Wise

I plan on stopping in later in the evening after 10:00pm when I get out of a panel (Acquisitions Inc is my favorite PAX Prime event and is in the evening this year). See ya in Seattle!

Pax Prime 2013 Recap

I've been a bit quiet on the blogger front lately, so much going on! Between preparing to move, getting ready for art shows, things have been interesting busy lately. So I'm going to backtrack a little and recap a little what's been going on. First up, our yearly trip to PAX PRIME in Seattle in August. (Sorry for the poor photo quality, all I had was my phone for the trip and, so yeah it's mostly instagrams)

PAX is the Penny Arcade Expo and brings gamers, board game enthusiasts, and fellow nerds to bask in the gaming community. 

 There are so many people that there's pretty much a line like this most places. But people are polite and sometimes you make a new friend just standing in line.

I love the colors on this art installation. It was by the hotel where we were staying, so I got to say "hi" to it often.

This is the first time I've had someone make a design in my hot chocolate, I almost cried...so cute!

Nintendo lived it up this year with the displays. Love this one with the Pikimin. I went to join their adventure.

Nintendo is also re-releasing Windwaker in HD. They had this sweet boat that you could get in and get your picture taken. I did that but I looked so dorky, that I later went and got a shot of just the boat.

One of the highlights for me was going to the Fangamer X Attract Mode show, where I contributed an Animal Crossing inspired print. I got to meet some fellow artists that I've only known online so that was pretty sweet. It was a packed full event and we left to make way for more people, but not before buying a few prints that were there.

Some more artwork from the Fangamer X Attract mode show. 

I was also pumped to see my "Flora of the Kingdom" print available at the Fangamer merch booth. (This print is also available online at Fangamer).

We always like to explore new Gluten-free places to eat (my guy has an allergy), so we were super excited to find Biscuit B*tch with a whole gluten-free menu. I have to say that my taste buds miss their food, highly recommend it for gluten-free or non allergy eaters alike for a tasty breakfast.

It is also a tradition every time I'm in Seattle to go to the market area to a shop that specializes in Mexican handcrafted items and art. I picked up this cat...she was meowing to come home with me.

So much of this trip we didn't photograph, but my guy also got to demo and play-test his new card game Duelist. We also got super sucked into the whole pin trading thing for Pinny Arcade. I found that the pin trading aspect to PAX this year was a great way to meet new people and introduce yourself, it was a nice way to break the shyness barrier I guess. Also was great to talk to the Strip Search artists (recent comic contest/online show), and Matt got quite a few sketches from the artists.

PAX Prime 2011

I've been a bit quiet lately partially because I was getting ready for a solo show this last week and partially because I just came back from the giant nerd-fest known as PAX Prime in Seattle. It was a grand time...meeting people that were previously just internet buddies and lusting after new games soon to be out. Here are highlights of our adventures from the trip (Warning...my rendition involves mostly food and random comments. If you want a more comprehensive day to day telling of our PAX adventure head on over to Matts blog.)

Our first day we left Nebraska here at 5:00am for the airport which was way too early, but that left us a whole day to explore Seattle and get our bearings before PAX actually begain. After getting a little breakfast (Matt went with the Japanese breakfast (above) and a much needed nap at our hotel...we journeyed over to Pikes Place Public Market and got lost in an endless maze of shops and goodies.

 I had been to the market years ago, but I had no idea how big the place was or how the levels would randomly end or twist to a different section. It is someplace that I would like to explore more on a really quiet day...it was pretty busy when we were there.

 Whoever decided to add greenery to the buildings that hangs off the side is a genius....a plant loving mossy green genius...

Got up early the first day to get in line for the opening keynote speaker and question and answer time with Jerry and Mike. We were greeted by lines of nerds.....

After waiting in line for all morning we were super hungry so we stopped at 820 Pike Street Pan Asian Cuisine. I got the Bibimbap is one of my favorite dishes. Basically various yummy things with an egg on top. (Yeah...I'm thinking that most things with a fried egg on top is a good sign it will be delisious. )

Matt went with the Chicken Pho which came in a giant bowl.

Here is the Bioshock booth which was super sweet because it had a photoshoot with Elizabeth from the new game. Then after you get your photo taken you stand in line and look at concept art from the game and then answer trivia questions to win a t-shirt. Matt won one but I commandeered it :)

Banner for the new Legend of Zelda game coming out. It looks really fun and want it to be out...NOW!

Matt got to meet Scott and Kris and gave them some of my postcards, and also picked up a copy of The Best of PVP.

Yum Pizza! These are from Mod Pizza downtown Seattle. Really I think we could have shared one but went ahead and ordered two and ate it all.

While waiting for a panel to start we walked in on a cosplay competition. If I could hand out prizes this lovely lady as Vanille from Final Fantasy 13 would win hands down. It's crazy how good some of these costumes are....these people have some serious sewing skills.

Some of my favorite stuffs we got the first day. I LOVE all things Totoro so I freaked out when I saw this bag. Also super sweet was some older print Magic cards...and guess who pulled a mythic card...I did.

For day 2 of PAX we headed once again to this great little bakery Belle Epicurean which was a block from our hotel. This bakery is one of the things we miss most about leaving Seattle. We ate there everyday but this was the only day that we got photos of both our dishes before devouring them.

One of the panels that was a MUST SEE for us was Acquisitions, Inc, where Mike, Jerry, Scott Kurtz and Wil Wheaton play Dungeons and Dragons. Above is Mike as his character Jim Darkmagic.

The whole crew playing away. It finally occurred to me that PAX would be the perfect place to wear my handwoven green cape my Mom-in-law made me.... maybe I'll bring it next year permitting it will fit in my suitcase. Check out the amazing table and set that they are playing on. Someday I will have a table like that....someday.

Another favorite food place we found was Blue C Sushi, with the yummy moving belt of food.

All the plates are color coded according to cost. Was also nice that if you didn't see something on the belt that you wanted you just push a button and can request it. So of course I wanted green tea ice cream!


The Magic the Gathering booth had a great statue of Jace, but if there could be a giant figure of any character from the game I would totally pick Empress Galina. Really I'm working on how I could go as her for Halloween sometime....she's so badass....and has seal companions...awesome!

I admit I don't play the Pokemon series but these papercraft Pokemon figures were really fun.

Another really great cosplay figure from the game Journey. I'm still trying to figure out how some of these costumes are so good. The glowing eyes on this one were flawless, and I love how they will pose for you across a room full of people!

 For dinner we ate at our hotel and it was really very good. Matt got the salmon above and I ordered a big hunk of prime rib and got a bit of heckling from both my date and our waiter because we've got enough beef back home in good ole Nebraska!

We had a great time at PAX and this entry doesn't even begin to cover all the events and panels we went to. Again go check out Matt's blog for a more comprehensive documentation of our PAX adventure. I also had a super fangirl moment and tracked down Mike some of my postcards featuring some paintings. He momentary confused that I ambushed him to give him something but took it anyways. Looking forward to our next PAX trip in the somewhere near future.