First of all, thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to interview you.

So, let's start this off right.
Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?</b
My name is Louisa (or, it’s really Louise but I’ve always used Louisa as kind of my artist name), and I’m from Denmark (sucky little country on top of
Germany). I’ll be moving to Japan in about four years from now – I study Japanese and I will go there for a year to study Japanese at the University and
then hopefully I’ll get a job as an English teacher. That’s my dream. Else, besides drawing and Japan, my interests are language and writing (which is
also why you can find some fanfics and short stories here, also, written by me).



Ok, now that we know who we're talking to-
What first inspired you to pick up a pencil and draw? And why?
Well, I wanted to draw realistic portraits after one day seeing a pencil portrait that just blew me away. I don’t remember
who or why anymore but I remember it being stunning beyond words; I was just so in awe over the fact that a simple pencil could actually create such
life - such feelings and such depth. And I realized that I wanted to do that and so I started drawing portraits that very second (without much success, but
okay).



Did you always draw photo-realistic portraits?
If not, how long have you been doing that?
Actually I’ve only been drawing realistic portraits for… about four years now. I’ve been drawing my whole life (of course), it’s always been my biggest
passion, but before I realized that there was something called ‘realistic portraits’ in the world I drew everything else – cartoon figures, landscapes,
cutesy animals, that sort of things.




"I noticed a sort of recurring theme in your gallery. You feature portraits of lots of Asian celebrities. What about the subjects you choose inspires you to
draw them?"
I draw people I admire for who they are and what they do. I don’t believe in drawing someone because they’re popular or have a beautiful face - I could
easily do that and it would probably get me more watchers, pageviews and comments - but to me it’s not a reason to draw. You need to be inspired and you
need to crave drawing someone or something (even if the result isn’t the most beautiful thing ever made, it will still mean the world because your
heart was in it). ''l'art pour l'art'' – art for art’s sake. That’s what I believe.

I draw the people I love - to show my love and admiration.

And since I study Japanese it’s also an ‘of course’ that a lot of Asian artists means a lot to me and influence my life in a way that no one else does.
Of course certain things about the reference photos (lighting, a spark in the subject’s eye, what have you) also inspires me and makes me want to draw the
photo at hand (hence my emotive drawings of ‘unknown’ people - many here from dA), but mainly I draw my subjects as a silent tribute to them and that’s
also an inspiration.



"You are on your second gallery showing, right? How do you feel about that?"

Oh, well, I really… have mixed feelings about it. I mean, I like the exposure and it’s really the only reason why I’m doing it – I’m hoping it will kick-
start my commission-sales and sales of my drawings (for now I have a small, loyal clientele but I’d like to expand it).
But at the same time it scares me to no end – I have this irrational fear of people seeing my drawings. I really don’t like it at all (yes, I’m weird
like that). Maybe because my drawings are such a big part of me, so personal and emotive. I guess I’m always afraid people are going to tell me how much
they suck.

However, the first exhibition was a success, and when this opportunity presented itself, when they wrote and asked me to have a gallery showing at their
place, I had to except. I hadn’t seen the extent of it all (newspaper interview, press announcements, big posters all over town), but I think I can survive
those five weeks.







Alright, I have to know- how do you come up with the titles for your drawings?
Eh, that’s… hard to explain. But okay, at the risk of sounding totally peculiar, I would explain it like this; my drawings comes up with the title
and not me – I look at a photo and instantly a title pops up in my head. Almost as if the title is also my inspiration, but only said in words and not drawn.
If I don’t have a title instantly then it means that I’m not deeply enough inspired to draw the photo (at that moment), so that’s also one of the ways that
I choose my reference photos.

… And I know it makes no sense at all. Yeah.


How long, on average, does it take you to draw a portrait from start to finish?
Well, of course it very much depends on the reference photo (details, material etc.), and seeing as I’ve never timed a single one of my drawings (why stress
myself like that?), I cannot really be sure. Normally, when asked, I say that they take, on average, between 15-25 hours.


I would like for you to choose one portrait that is particularly special to you, and tell us a little bit about it.
Okay, that’s a tough call since they all mean something special to me in their own way, but I would have to go with my Uruha, of the Gazette, drawing called
“He’s What Dreams are Made of”.

I suffer from an evolving chronicle disease and I get these setbacks, periods where I’m sick beyond words (I’ve described the feeling by the drawing so no
need to refresh it), and normally I don’t have anything to drag me out of that despair – yet last time one of these periods took hold of me, the worst
setback of my life, I dreamt about Uruha every time I was able to fall asleep. And when I got just a tad better I had to draw him, it haunted me (in a
positive way, mind you. When I’m inspired, if I cannot draw a photo instantly, it will haunt me night and day), and if it hadn’t been for that it would have
probably been a long time before I would had the strength to draw again.


Do you have any artistic mentors/artists you are inspired by?
I’m inspired by all the artists I come across – be their talent realistic drawings, photos, computer paint or whatever, because every artist wants to say
something with their work and that is a very big inspiration.
I won’t say that I have one particular artist within the artsy creations (dA have so many talented artists who is all an inspiration), but I’m very much
inspired by artists like singers and people from bands (hence my Japanese celebrity drawings, as written about above).

What does "art" mean to you?
‘Art’ as a term means, to me, living your passion. Whatever this might be. It means giving yourself the time to do the thing you really love. And it’s a way
of expressing yourself, of showing the world something that you might not be able to put words on. It’s a state of mind where you’re fully at ease and where
you create something to reflect your thoughts and feelings. It’s hope and dreams.



And finally, what is your favorite piece of art here on DA?
Ugh, again, I have to say that there’s not a particular artist or piece of artwork that I cherish above others – of course some works leaves me more in awe
than others (talent comes in different varieties) – but I appreciate all that I come across because the artist made the piece, wanted to say something, feel
something.

*A note from the interviewer~
is a particular favorite of mine. Her pictures contain so much life, love, and effort. And the best part- she is open for commissions!
Commission away readers!
For more info on the artist, including FAQ's and Tips visit her website at [link]