For Staff Appreciation Day (Oct. 16th) I've done a series of Interviews that will be posted through-out the week. I hope you all enjoy!

Interview with ^LawrenceDeDark.

1. How did you come up with your deviantART nickname?

My middle name, which is the name most people call me is Lawrence. I'm also a night person and feel more comfortable roaming about in the dark. I always turn my days and nights around on weekends or when I have time off from work.



2. What is your role on deviantART and what do you enjoy most about it?

I am one of the stock Gallery Directors. A single thing does not come to mind. Helping out new people, featuring artists and helping to keep the gallery organized are the things I enjoy most.

3. What drew you to dA in the first place?


I started collecting R. S. Connett ( aka *vmaximus ) paintings several years ago. After I had acquired a few paintings, he gave me a link to this site to check out the work he had posted here.



4. If you had to switch rolls with anyone on deviantART, who would it be and why?

Had to .. hmm. I honestly cannot think of anyone. Sorry.


5. Out of all dA’s achievements, which do you feel is the most important?

Communication. I remember a time when things would happen on the site and people would be confused and somewhat in the dark. The improvements in communication in the last year or so have changed all of that. If people find themselves surprised about something these days, they probably are not paying attention to information disseminated by core staff via journals and news articles.

6. What is your biggest pet peeve on dA? How about outside of dA?

On dA: It annoys me when I see people that create one type of art belittle those that do something completely different.

Outside of dA: Extremely negative people. They can suck the life out of you if you are not careful.



7. What first drew you in to your chosen art form?

Years ago, I spent a fair amount of time playing around with B&W darkroom work. I acquired Photoshop and just started messing around with my own photographs. Later I started using stock and became interested in photomanipulations. I also still enjoy taking photographs for my stock account.


8. What do you like best about your chosen art form? Is there anything you don’t like about it?

I like that I can save my files and revisit or alter anything that I created. There are many other art forms where that is much more difficult.



9. What are your 3 favorite deviations and why?




These are my current favorites. I like them because they express what I had in mind when I created them.


10. What have you struggled with most in your chosen art form?

Sharing them with others. I only post about 1 in 5 pieces that I create and end up scrapping works often as well.



11. What inspires you most and are there any deviations in particular that embody this inspiration?

Music. I always listen to music when I am creating. I sometimes loop one song and listen to over and over for hours. A few of my works are titles of songs.



12. What would you consider to be your perfect day?

It would start with rain and end up in some afterhours club.

13. If you had to list 3 things you think everyone should do in their lifetime, what would they be?


Do something entirely out of your comfort zone.

Stay in the present moment for a single day.

Ride down the coast of California on a motorcycle. Preferably at high speed.




14. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up and how does it relate to what you’re doing now?

I never thought that far ahead as a child.


15. Describe yourself in 5 words or less.

Dark, centered and somewhat elusive.