Who DAt? It's lollycavalier!

Have you ever seen a staff or volunteer symbol or ambassador badge and wondered "Who DAt?" Welcome to the interview series that's hittin' DA streets to find out more about these very deviants.

Featuring a Wild Card question which is selected at random from a pool of questions. If you have a suggested random/fun question to add to the list, please feel free to comment here.

For a short while we held a space in a captivating bookmark shop...

Ahoy! If you'd be so kind, what is your preferred name? 

Preferred name depends on your relation to me

But officially, my name is Liat.

Also, do tell, what is the delightfully devious story of your username?

lollycavalier is a combination of 2 parts. Lolly is a nickname that my friends have called me since childhood, and Cavalier is after my beloved dog Bailey, a King Charles Cavalier.

How did you first discover DeviantArt and how did it connect to your heArt?

I first discovered DA in a design class when I was a student studying architecture. I was looking for inspiration online and a classmate introduced me. 

And I have loved DeviantArt since the first time I scrolled through the stunning digital art, eclectic creations and beginner marker drawings all jumbled into a single feed of pure chaotic beauty.

I then reconnected with DeviantArt many years later when I was working at Wix and the company acquired DeviantArt.

As an admin of DA, what is your title and what are your responsibilities?

I’m the Chief Revenue Officer at DeviantArt. 

One of the things that excites me most about what I do is how we’ve fundamentally transformed DeviantArt’s business model to support artists. Over the last few years, we decided to focus our business around artist monetization and building a true creator economy. This shift went hand-in-hand with the decision we made back in 2023 to remove 3rd party ads from the platform. Instead of promoting advertisers, we use our real estate to promote our creators.

I’m so proud that today, DeviantArt only makes money when our artists make money.

Enabling creators to succeed is a far better business model, a more rewarding mission, and something I am incredibly proud to help lead. 

Generally, what does your day to day look like in regard to DA?

Our north star is the DeviantArt community itself: millions of creators and art lovers, each with a distinct voice, identity, artistic vision, needs, and challenges. They guide the direction of the platform and inspire every step of our evolution. 

These days, we are focused on giving artists the tools they need to publish their work, build their audience and monetize their work - all directly on the platform where their fans and supporters already are. 

Serving such a global and varied network is an increasingly complex balancing act that involves many moving pieces, but one we embrace and work on everyday.

Was art an integral part of your childhood? If so, how?

I have always loved to draw, from a very young age. My mother is a talented artist, so I grew up watching her draw and paint, and learning that from her. These days, I try to continue that tradition with my own children - drawing and painting together with them. My youngest son definitely inherited his grandmother’s talent, and is already a talented artist in his own right. 

Who or what is your inspiration in life and/or art?

I try to take inspiration from the world around me and experience art wherever I am. I love to travel, to enjoy nature and to visit art museums, galleries and exhibitions wherever and whenever possible. There are so many beautiful places and things to see, and I try to enjoy those moments as much as possible.

Of your own work, which has the most meaning to you and why?

I don’t consider myself an artist - more of a hobbyist and an art lover.

For me, it’s about the shared creative experience and the memories - so anything that I get to create with my kids is what I value the most.

The classic superpowers (flight, invisibility, super strength, etc.) are no longer available.

What wildly random superpower would you choose and why?

My deepest wish is to be able to speak as many languages as possible.

I want to be able to go anywhere and just talk naturally and easily with everyone.

If only I could get my hands on a Babel Fish! 

(If you don’t know what that is, I highly recommend reading Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.)

Is there a movie/TV series/documentary that you just can't stop thinking about?

I recently watched Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel again for the third time, and I just can’t get enough of it. I adore its aesthetic and unique style - every frame looks like a colorful, meticulously detailed painting.

What music gets you into your groove? (Specific groups/artists?)

I have very eclectic musical taste, so it very much depends on the day and my mood.

I love everything from jazz and opera, to rock, metal or country.

At my core though, I’m a 90s grunge kid. I celebrated my 40th birthday at a Pearl Jam concert, and my ultimate favorite of all time is Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York.

A book that had a powerful impact on you?

I’m a big fantasy fan and I love to read.

One of my all-time favorites is Roger Zelazny’s The Great Book of Amber. 

I actually took it with me to the delivery room when I had my first son. Spoiler - that did not work out as planned and I did not actually read very much at that time…

I am waiting for my next vacation so that I can read it again - I need a dedicated window so I can get through it without disruption. Only problem is it weighs a ton so my backpack is going to be super heavy. 

What is a dish that when consumed always provides you with a sense of pure joy?

My mom’s potato salad.

Well, really any of my mom’s cooking - she is a great chef.

What question or topic do you wish you'd get to discuss more often? And, please, share a few highlights about it!

Plant cuttings.

In recent years, I have taken to propagating cuttings and I am always looking for advice on how to do it and new plants I can try.

I love having random jars and glasses about the place with something growing in them. The green makes me happy. 

What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Don’t hold your sneezes in.

Wild Card: What’s the most “you” object you own?

Bookmarks.

I love to read and I love art, and I think it's the most brilliant way of bringing these two passions together. 

I have an obscenely large collection, and have no intention of slowing down.

Also, if anyone ever needs to buy me a gift, I will greatly appreciate another one.

Thank you for your devious time today! Do you have any final thoughts to share?

Thank you for having me.

Stay devious!

Who DAt? She is Liat (officially ). She is @lollycavalier!