Anthro Artist Feature and Interview - Lingrimm

INTERVIEW Q#1

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself! What first perked your interest in the Anthro community and Anthro art itself?

"Lingrimm" is in fact a co-authorship of two Russian artists: Olga Lashmanova (Lins) and Alexandra Kurbatova (Grimm). We got acquainted on one of Russian art resources, approximately in 2008. Since that time we’ve been not only co-authors, but also best friends and our creative work is inseparable- we live together, draw together, think over our universe and write together. Thus we prefer represent ourselves as one person.

Hard to say what our interest towards anthro-art started from. Most likely it comes from the very childhood, as it happens with most young artists that devote their art to animals. We enjoy drawing people, still-life as well - but anthro and unusual mythical and imagined creatures have always been our main priority.

INTERVIEW Q#2

2. What is your favorite medium to work with? Why?  

Our preferred medium is CGI. We always have plenty of ideas which have to be brought to life as soon as possible. For us digital is more convenient and quick way to operate in this case than traditional media.

INTERVIEW Q#3

3. What is your favorite piece from your gallery? Why?  

Difficult to choose some concrete piece, but we guess we’ll name this one

It depicts a moment from our own life - nothing special, we were just heading home after the exams. But the mood, lighting and other little details have formed specific image which just had to be drawn.

INTERVIEW Q#4

4. You have such a unique frame of color and concept for each of your pieces. I love how you manipulate the world around you in seamless flat, yet engaging detail beauty. Where did you develop this style?  

In our case development thanks to each other and by means of each other is typical. We share artistic experience, mix our styles and techniques - our current style is the result of perennial development and search. We can hardly call it "fully developed" - there is still a lot of self-improvement ahead but, thankfully, main conceptions have been found and caught on.

INTERVIEW Q#5

5. Where does most of your inspiration come from for your artwork?

Such artists as Kandinsky (especially his abstract works), Levitan have played a significant role in our vision of color. Bosch and Mucha influenced our style. We can also name MattRhodes and Oxide from modern artists among other influences. Sometimes inspiration comes from most unexpected sources - from observing photos of animals, insects, equipment or architecture. Strangely enough we may be inspired by magazines for stylists and hairdressers. Very often we are inspired by our own pets - basenji (Kujo) and parson-russel terrier (Micky). You don’t even need to visit a zoo X3

And of course let’s not forget about our co-author, RayEtherna! Now that’s the person, who is truly an inexhaustible source of new ideas. Without her our own art wouldn’t have formed the way it did.

INTERVIEW Q#6

6. Being an artist we always find ourselves improving and growing from our old works. What is your least favorite piece in your gallery? Have you learned a lot sense this piece artistic wise?  

Oh, there’s not only one or two, but we don’t have such works in our gallery currently (we conspire carefully!). Anyhow we learn something from each and every of our works and always try to exceed the limits even a bit and raise the bar. We strive to prove ourselves that we are can do even better. It is the thing of dire importance for each artist, writer or musician - as sustainable self criticism is truly an engine for progress.

INTERVIEW Q#7

7. Being an Anthro artists what do you find to be personally challenging about the medium in itself?

We’d say that feet and facial front views may become a major stopper at times ( and for Grimm it may be getting hard to draw tip of the nose of canids for some reason). Especially if it concerns animals that are "difficult" for us.

There may also be such days when drawing as it is becomes hard, but it’s a rare event.
We’d like to improve backgrounds as well but it’s another topic that doesn’t concern anthro subject X3

INTERVIEW Q#8

8. How long have you had a passion for Anthro art? Was there someone who inspired you? A group of people?  

As we’ve already mentioned, our interest is rooted in childhood and also books we’ve read ("Alice in Wonderland", "Chronicles of Narnia", "The horse and his boy"), movies and cartoons we’ve watched, favorite illustrations. We’ve always been surrounded by cats, dogs, rodents and birds at home, and so our affection towards nature and "natural themes" constantly grew and strengthened. Strangely enough, furry art-resources didn’t influence us at all - our love towards anthro-art has already been formed by the moment we discovered them.

INTERVIEW Q#9

9. Is there anything that you are working on, project wise / art wise, that you want to share with the community?  

We have certain project but it’s too soon to share it. Putting it briefly - it’s going to be a series of literary works of different formats with illustrations included. We hope to have at least some plans realized in the nearest future - and share everything with you asap!

INTERVIEW Q#10

9. Is there anything that you are working on, project wise / art wise, that you want to share with the community?  

In spite of the fact that anthro-community has been formed long ago and exists for years already, there is still plenty of space for original ideas. Whoever tells you that everything has been stroke out before you - don’t take it to your heart. If this statement was true, we’d be surrounded by a mass of dull unremarkable art. However that’s not how things are, right?

As our mother says - there are only 7 notes, but every composer’s music is special.

Just apply a bit more imagination and effort and don’t forget - anthro art (and art as it is) requires lots of close attention to real animals and many hours of practice. Try to devote at least a tiny part of your free time to it, as often as possible - that’s our advise. )