Our last Inner View interview for this series… sort of… is with my friend TJ Lubrano. She has an awesome blog: http://tjlubrano.com/blog-2/ and a Facebook thing: https://www.facebook.com/tjlubranosillustrations She lives in Holland, and she is an artist. Her drawings are awesome. I haven’t had a chance to explore all her stuff yet, but I am going to.
Let’s get to the interview.
————————————
What do you like best about my blog?
The conversation threads that starts below the posts! And the fact I saw pirates, too.
(I must admit, the conversations in the comments are some of my favorite parts of the blog. I have the best commenters. I have two posts that have over 1,000 comments on them. And I totally stole Captain Jack Sparrow’s hat… I have proof… I did a post about it)
2. Do you like monkeys?
Why, yes. They can be slightly annoying to draw though.
(I did have some trouble doing the illustrations for my children’s book. I wanted to make the monkeys cute, but I had to do monkeys that were part people… or people who were part monkey… also. That was hard)
3. If you won a free, month-long trip to Paris, but each day for one hour you had to stand under the Eifel Tower naked, would you still go?
Hell no. What if it’s super hot? Raining or freezing? Then you’re standing there and then BAM!, you’re sick for the rest of your holiday. Not fun.
(That was the best-thought-out answer to a stupid question ever)
4. What makes your blog unique?
I like to take people on a journey through how I see ideas in my mind and how I tackle them. It’s main focus is art, but I write about more than that. I hope that by doing this I can make the artistic world more approachable. Creating art is a selfish thing, but for me it really comes alive when I can share it with the world. It makes everything that much interesting.
(Art that you don’t share is just wasted. When we share it, we can show people new ways to look at the world. We can create entire universes and let other people see them. It is possible to do that with just words, but then everyone imagines your idea in their own way)
5. If you were in charge of the universe, what is the first order you would issue?
“Let there be tasty fooooood!!” At least, I think I would say that. Oh the possibilities! But, I can obviously issue more orders after the first one, right? Okay, let’s just stick with the food.
(Good answer. And I am going to assume that you mean an end to world hunger and good food for everybody, and that you aren’t just ordering a nice meal from your new personal chef)
6. What is the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
I don’t have one specific thing. But this one time, I started with a presentation without turning on the powerpoint. I only noticed it when I eleganty (in my head it was elegant) pointed to the sheet behind me, which was pretty floating logo of Windows. The national TV crew of Lithuania was present as well. There was laughing and me mumbling stuff while I shifted around the papers… Also, I slid with my shopping cart through the store. Not on purpose. I was skipping and apparantely the floor was wet.
(Well, unless the Albanian news media got footage of you sliding through the store, let’s stick with the first one)
7. Would you rather spend the day with an adult, a kid, or a baby?
A kid! Big enough that he can walk by himself and I can have fun conversations with him too. And I have an extra excuse to order from the kids menu in restaurants. Seriously, they usually have tasty things. Obviously the kid can also be a girl. Just saying.
(Using the kid so you can order macaroni and cheese for a cheaper price. Brilliant)
8. What, in your opinion, is the worst thing that Dick Cheney ever did?
I had to google that dude. The name sounded vaguely familiar. Usually when this happens the person did something so absurd nonsical that it didn’t deserve a space in my mind. To answer your question, I googled him and…let’s just move on as I’m pissed off here. *zen mode*
(How does the whole world not know about this guy? But I approve of your anger)
9. What is the worst thing that you ever did?
I can’t tell you as people are reading and listening. If I did, I’d have to haunt you all down.
Ninja style.
(So there are people out there that you did bad stuff to, and if they found out about it, you would have to do more bad stuff to them? And maybe us too? That is just badass)
10. If you could have dinner with one fictional character… including cartoons… who would you pick?
I can’t choose between Wonder Woman, Phoenix, Dory ehm…I can’t choose just one.
(That is the thing about the artistic mind… it tends to run around like… a herd of crack squirrels)
11. If you were locked in a room with a knife, a barbeque, and a living cow, would you die of starvation before you could bring yourself to kill and eat the cow?
Hey! What if the cow dies a natural death before I’m starting to starve? That would solve my major dilemma as I wouldn’t be able to kill the cow. I could milk it as well, so it would save me from starving a bit longer. The horror.
(This question seems to be the one people have the most trouble answering. The thing is that starvation is one of the slowest and most painful ways to die, and sooner or later, that cow is going to get it… I guess that isn’t funny, but I did want people to have to think about things a little. Vegetarians always say we shouldn’t kill and eat the cows. If we all stopped eating them, what do you think would happen to all the cows in the world? Ranchers wouldn’t keep paying to feed them. If we let them all go, most wouldn’t survive in the wild. I’m just pointing this out… for no real reason at all)
12. What one word describes your blog best?
Magical Happiness. I know they are two words, but say it quickly and it sounds like one word!
(I just spent five minutes saying them together really fast, and I am going to allow it!)
13. Is there one celebrity that you would leave your family for if they declared their undying love for you?
You make me wonder here. Would I have this “undying love” back? In the end, it doesn’t matter as I would never ask that from someone, so if someone asks this from me, I’d probably say “Sorry, nuh uh. So ehm…bye.”
(I was going on the assumption that they would love you forever and you would be happy… except for the horrible, crushing guilt of having left your other family)
14. If I got my hands on a photo of you and did funny things to you in Photoshop for a whole week, but you had no input into what I actually did to you, and I posted everything I did, would you be okay with that? And can I have a picture of you?
What would you do??! I’m a control freak like that and I rather have some control or knowledge with what it’s done to a picture of mine. *eyes Art suspiciously*
(Why does everybody react like that? I am not some kind of perv. I have done tons of pictures of people on the blog. I just do funny stuff. I am starting to think that you all have dirty, suspicious minds, and I am the only one here that any of you should trust)
15. What makes you cry?
A lot, really. I can be very tough, but the sight (well, sometimes I just read it on Facebook) of friends who are hurting or animals in pain just get to me in seconds. My empathy towards others can be very high.
(I have that too. I am a big softy. I am glad to know there are more of them out there)
16. If you could cuss out one famous person, living or dead, who would that be?
From the top of my head, I’d probably go for Kanye West and then I’d curse in my mom’s language, Sranan.
(Ooohhh… now we are learning stuff… where is the Sranan language from? I could Google it, but that would require effort… I only learn things if it requires no work… I am an American, dag nab it)
17. Tell me the truth, do you really like me?
Yeah, I do, but I’m still eyeing you suspiciously about the photo question…
(Sigh)
18. What kind of circus trick would you like to be able to do?
An aerial ballet balancing act in the air! I answered a similar question on my blog a while back and this is still high on my list.
(Draw us a picture of you doing that… oooohhhhh…. what if you gave me a drawing of you and let me Photoshop it? Please please please please please)
19. Which drug side effects from those TV commercials disturb you the most?
All those commercials disturb me! I hardly watch TV, but when I catch a glimpse of one, I’m even more disturb. So the general side effect that disturbs me is how these commercials keep people glued to the screen.
(Now that is a good answer)
20. Who the hell do you think you are?
Well, I like to think I’m a magical…wait. You could use this information against me. Do tell me, who are YOU?
(I answer that question every day here… this blog is me, I am this blog… I am art, and art is me… If you read this whole blog, you will know me better than anyone in my family or any of my friends that don’t read my blog)
21. Now tell us why we should follow you…
Because the art world doesn’t consist out of pretty pictures alone. There’s a lot more to this and since I ventured onto this artistic path without a degree, I’m figuring things out as I go along. I write about my process, tips and tricks and random observations that aren’t arty at first glance, but they do influence how I grow as an artist. 2014 will consist out of regulary writing and a lot more fun things! You really have to hop on one of those fluffy clouds and join me on this adventure.
(You have me convinced… it sounds like we have a lot in common)
22. What is the craziest thing you ever did there? (amsterdam question…)
*sigh* People probably think that everyone smokes pot in Amsterdam. I didn’t. I never did drugs. The craziest thing I did was probably tripping over nothing.
(I have been to Amsterdam twice… and I almost got shot once… but I don’t want to talk about it here)
Just for you…
1. Why do girls like to do those sideways-looking, from the back pictures like the one on your gravatar… not that it isn’t a nice picture, and is that really you?
Haha! Not sure if it’s a typical pose, Art. But it was the one I liked the best when my sister snapped some pictures of me. Oh and I hired someo…I mean. yes. It’s me.
(You are so mysterious. Now we will never know if that is you or not. But we respect your privacy… now give me a picture of you!!!)
2. Tell us your entire life story… take as long as you want…
Oh my gosh! You really shouldn’t give me that much space to ramble. The short version is, I have always been a daydreamer that’s awake. I’ve walked through life with a book of fairy tales in one hand and dreams in the other. They slowly hid behind a wall of responsibilities and gloominess until I decided to break that wall down again. 🙂 How’s that for a short-ish, slightly mysterious life story?
(Ummm… I don’t know if you need to say ‘daydreamer that’s awake’… I think that is how that works… but that is beautiful and you have captivated me just a little)
3. Who… besides me… is the biggest influence on your life?
Hehe. Besides you…I’d say the biggest influence, artistically speaking, would be Kei Acedera. She’s a super talented artist from Imaginism Studios and while I have a bunch of artists that I admire, I actually got a real comment from her while I was struggling with a difficult choice I had to make and I was no where near the art skills I have now. Her simple words “never stop drawing”, made a huge impact on me and it’s something I’ll always remember. Who knows! Maybe I can do the same for someone else.
(I am tempted to do a joke about how ‘Imaginism’ sounds like a pretend orgasm, but I am much too mature for that)
————————————–
Well, I hope you all enjoyed that. Go visit her. She is a dreamer and an artist and a woman of mystery who may or may not be looking back over her shoulder at us as she dreams her dreams and draws her drawings.
Pouring My Art Out 
Pingback: Once Upon A Time, I got Hooked. | The Whimsy Art of TJ Lubrano
yay… thanks
I knew it! I knew you replied to the pingback again haha!
You’re welcome. I forgot to add it on my “TJ in the limelight” page. I have to rearrage that page anyway. Too much stuff to do!
you rock
Pingback: The Moving Artist: Prioritize & Postpone. | The Whimsy Art of TJ Lubrano
Ha… thanks…
You replied and I didn’t even got a note!
You’re welcome 🙂
yay?
There’s always time for a cheer, Art. Remove the doubt from your yay and just go for it!
(now I’ll really stop.)
My younger daughter is a cheerleader… I know about cheering…
Hehe. 🙂 Cheer away, my friend!
Be of good cheer.
What an awesome interview, Art. It makes me wish I was an artist.
Everybody is an artist. You just need to find your art.
Yes!!!
ha
Hi Cimmorene! Thanks so much for reading and I had a quick peek on your site and you’re definitely an artist, maybe you meant artist as in creating images with paints, but for me…it takes skill to create images with words alone. I love storytellers!
And the love continues to spread
What a nice compliment. Thank you.
What a fantastic and unique interview! Loved it!
Thanks… I did a bunch of those, and they were all hilarious.
Mine was hilarious too? Oh my gosh ^_^
Just sit back and let the love wash over you… uh… so to speak…
HA! Funny image in mind now hehe
now now
Hehe.
Thank you so much for reading, Lovely Katy! xox
See how my idea is spreading the love throughout the universe?
I liked my own interview! Hehe. I really liked reading your little replies, Art. I usually take silly questions seriously and give a proper answer…haha. You never know what you can use in a story! This is also one of the reasons why you should point out stuff for now reason at all. I never made that link with vegetarians. Also, there are people who say they are daydreamers, but they are really dreaming or sleeping. I had to add that I’m awake, because I am!! Sort off. Zzzzz…Zz…
And you did make that joke about Imaginism indirectly! Oh my gosh, my mind never went that direction. Look what you did. Rude. You also made me curious about your Amsterdam story and your book about monkeys!
Thanks so much for the interview. I have to read it again to check if I didn’t miss any of your replies, because…there were a lot of questions!! They were fun to answer. 🙂
I am glad you had fun. I tried to make these funny but still let us learn about each other and meet some new bloggers. And I think we should do some art stuff together…
I know! I saw your e-mail, will respond later as I have to edit a gazillion of stuff now. Okay, not a gazillion for real, but it’s a lot.
No rush… I have aliens to interview…
Oh my gosh, you interviewed a magical fairy – and she’s funnier than you! Just kidding, you are funny too. I liked the life story question, that was a nice twist.
I do try to mix things up. usually my own brain… but still…
We are okay with the contents of your brain.
That is because you see it from the outside. I don’t let everything out… I can’t type that fast.
We are okay with what we see on the outside relative to the contents of your brain. We also like to eat brains. I’m serious, one of my co-workers wants me to try brains… I mean, really. Forget it.
Oh, just do it… you are what you eat.
Dude, gross.
ha
Haha! Why thank you kindly, Trent 🙂 You have to keep it a secret though. We still don’t know what Art really is…
Honestly, I think he’s a canoe. A wooden canoe navigating a sewage canal on the way to a rainbow in space. As he floats, he’s drawing, painting, making tikis (what’s a tiki????), writing, singing, basically all the stuff I can’t do. All I can say is: here’s to canoes.
Do I at least have a paddle???
I’ll bring a couple. I was hoping to grab a ride.
Okay… and beer… we need beer…
I always have beer! And wine. And scotch. And rye. Those are my favorite tasty things.
Don’t overload the boat.
Hmm that makes perfect sense! I want to see the rainbow in space, but I think Art needs to float through the jungle first. Isn’t a tiki one of those wooden mask statues? Or is it someone that wears a skirt made of straw and a bra coconut. I don’t discriminate the dude can wear the coconuts too. *raises a glass in the air* To canoessss!
*echo*
sigh
You’re going to look fabulous, Art. Fabulous, I say!
uh huh
FABULOUS.
I had to say it again.
yay
This is an excellent reply. I think the bra coconut is on a loop in my head, though. I agree, such clothing should be open to males too – this is 2014 you know!
I’ll raise a glass after I get out of this insane corporate workplace – to canoessss!
May they always ride high in the water and remain pointy at both ends!
Hello! So did you raise your glass after you ran out of the insane workplace? 🙂
And yes! Everyone should be able to wear what he/she wants. Although Borat’s bikini was a bit…ehm…well…no comment.
I did indeed. The last bits of a malbec. I love Argentina.
Borat… small secret, I love that movie. It made me howl, even though I knew I shouldn’t be laughing.
That says… something about you…
That I watch movies?
yes
Haha. I never got around to watch it and then I saw the bikini. Is it called a ‘bikini’? I just mentioned “borat-kini” to Art.
Argentine! I have the urge to yell “Ole!”, but that isn’t right.
It might be right… with an accent…
accents are always good!
yeah they are.
I could pull that look off… either one of those… I got great legs…
Do you shave your legs when you wear the Borat-kini?
No…
Do you use some gel to smooth the hairs down?
I don’t even do that on my head!
I figured with an outfit like that you’d go all out.
I never go all out…
*sigh*… -_-… *puts away 80s headband and leg warmers*
The 80’s scare me…
I’m an 80s kid mwhuahaha
I’m… uh… a little earlier than that…
Hehe. ^_^
sigh
You don’t want to know how much I was laughing when we were talking yesterday haha!
Hey, I’m funny… what can I say?
I could also blame the time…and the fact you could use gel for your legs.
I could, but I don’t.
Sigh.
I let my leg hair speak fro itself…
Disco time!
Sorry. I’ll stop now and continue with my work.
It might be for the best… think about my legs too long and your mind might stray…
Alien, advanced life form, being from another dimension where the future is the past… there are no easy answers…
Would that make the present a twilight zone? Are you fluffy too? A fluffy alien would suit you 🙂
I might be a little fluffy…
FLUFFY!
Okay… fine…
Thank you 🙂
no… thank you…