Lombi: Hey there and welcome to the interview. How are you today?
Erik: I'm doing fine, thanks.

Lombi: Alright, let's start off with you giving us a little bit of background info ... who you are, what you do, where you are from, how old is your inner self, what your foot size is... that kind of thing :}
Erik: My name is Erik Larkens, I study Multimedia, I'm from The Netherlands, I'm 21, my inner self didn't want to tell me it's age ;)



Lombi: How would you, in your own words, describe your style? What and who were your major influences in the development of that style? Does your soulmate have any bigger influences in what you do? Which artists do you admire and respect for what they do?
Erik: My style, I don't know, it's just there. A bit dark, some comedy, a bit of madness, etc mixed together. I guess there weren't much influences int the development of it, it's just something I seemed to have allready just waiting to be used. My friends and family influence my work most of all I think, and I have a lot of artists I admire and respect ;)

Lombi: What kind of music do you listen to, when you work? What are your favourite bands/artists?
Erik: I like a lot of music, from rock to metal. But when I'm working on something I usually listen to either black or death metal (keeps me awake at night and gives me energy). But When I look at the music I have on my hard disk and in my small cd collection it seems that two bands really stick out; Iron Maiden and Bruce Springsteen. So there you go, from black and death to the 'classic' and rock ;)



Lombi: A question everyone wants to know these days ... at what point did you want to become the artist you are now ... was there any breaking points or such? How did you get started in digital art?
Erik: I guess when I was young, I always loved to paint, draw, sculpt etc at school. But I became an artist when someone said I was, I still don't really consider myself an artist though ofcourse I am, hehe. I got started in digital art when I found a copy of photoshop, making doodles. When I got my first digital camera I really started to get interested in it though, I made a lot of photographs and decided to try and have a bit of fun with them in photoshop, the rest is history.

Lombi: The second most common question out there (hehe) ... what software do you use in creating your artworks, how does the common process look like when you are creating a piece? Do you just see that software as purely a tool used to create or as something more? What kinds of media and techniques do you commonly like to use when you create a piece?
Erik: At the moment I use photoshop, acdsee (to find the pictures I need, fast), 3ds MAX 6, painter 8 and winamp. The common process; sketch, think, make. I always sketch my ideas first, think about it some time and after a while open 3ds/photoshop take the photographs I need (I never use stock) and start to work. My techniques are rather simple, cut/erase/paint basic photoshop stuff.

Lombi: When you create a piece what normally inspires your work?
Erik: Usually a thought, something that comes to mind, or some concept that I like. The thoughts behind some movie, or book, etc. And sometimes the people around me.

Lombi: When you are working on a piece, when do you know that it's finally done?
Erik: It's like an art teatcher once said to me; when it's finished you'll know it, it's like a microwave, when you hear the *ping* it's done ;)



Lombi: Haha, I'll remember that one for sure. OK, tell me how was it like breaking into the digital art scene ... i know it's very hard for young and unknown artists to get their name out nowdays ... how was your experience like? What's the best advice you could give to someone who wants to break into the scene?
Erik: In one word: fantastic. I didn't even try to break in to the scene, I just made some photoshop stuff... and some people liked it, so I posted some new stuff and people still seemed to like it... after a while I posted some new work called 'digital' at deviantart it got to be a daily deviation, and after that I really got in to it. My advise; don't try, just do, and do, and do. Eventually you'll hit it.

Lombi: I've asked you to choose 5 of your favourite artworks to be featured here along with this interview ... so tell me ... why do you like these 5 so much, what are the stories behind them?
Erik: Digital, of course because of what I just said. It was my first big piece and I still like looking at it. The others because they were all a bit of an experiment, mixed media, illustration, etc. I love all my works so it was hard to choose 5 that would be my favourite, hehe.

Lombi: So tell me ... how would you describe the digital art scene roughly around your location? I've heard many artists complain about almost complete ignorance towards digital art ... especially from traditional artists, galleries and such. Your two cents?
Erik: I study multimedia, so a lot of my friends and fellow students are really into 'digital' - they like it (though I hear 'sick' way to often) even some of my teatchers like it, people acccept digital art here I think but only as something that's digital. I don't think they look at a digital painting the same way they would look at traditional painting. They are a bit ignorant, but that's only because digital art is still fairly new to them. It's up to us to make digital art bigger, better etc... Make them accept it, just like photographers did before us.



Lombi: What do you think about the whole online art community thing at the moment? Where would you like to see the future of art go? What are your plans for the future?
Erik: It should get a bit more serious I think, though I kind of like it at the moment. There is a lot going on. As for myself, I'd love it if I could continue creating digital art. As far as I can see that shouldn't be a problem, so expect new stuff from me from time to time.

Lombi: You have a very nice website (larkie.deviantart.com). Tell us a little bit about it ... what will we find there?
Erik: At the moment my website is offline, and deviantart is the only 'portfolio' of my works online. I am working on a new site though and that should be up... some day. I am a bit lazy, so, well, someday, I promise. You will find my digital art works there next to my photography and graphic designs. It will be a portfolio of my works.

Lombi: You wake up one day and find out that you have amazingly cool superpowers. What are they?
Erik: Invisibility, hehe yes, invisibility, I'd love that. But only if I could become visible/invisible on command though.

Lombi: You find out that you will be relocated on a desert island tomorrow. You can only take one thing with you. What is the one thing you can't live without?
Erik: I thought about this, first I wanted to say: my Computer, but there won't be power or internet on the island I think, so after that I thought about my camera, but well since it's digital it will be fun, until the batteries will die... So I think I'd bring an axe or something, to chop down trees for a house/fire and to hunt/defend myself. But most likely if I found out that I would be relocated tomorrow, I would run or hide haha.



Lombi: LOL! Err ... umm... any questions for me?
Erik: You could ask yourself the same questions you just asked me, would be fun to see you interview yourself ;)

Lombi: Hehe, I've thought of that and I ran the interview in my head a bunch of times ... comparing then what I would answer at each question. Yet so far that's like still just in my head. Like most other stuff, hehe. Well, that's kinda the end of the interview. Thanks for taking the time, my friend. Any final words of wisdom you would like to share with us?
Erik: No Problem and thank you, the only final words I will share are the ones I'll speak before I die, until then, keep creating works.