Lady Orlando – Interview

Today, I’m chatting with my dear friend and worst enemy, Yoda Navarette aka Lady Orlando. I’ve killed her a dozen times in our wizarding duels but she always comes back to life. Just like the Cullens.

KS: Hi Yoda! The first thing I just HAVE to ask you is, why on earth did you come up with the name Lady Orlando? You’re the un-ladylikest lady I’ve ever met!

LA: In my late teens, I started to read Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and it became one of my favourite books. The idea of Lord Orlando got stuck in my mind for a very long time, so when I was to create my Flickr account I needed a name, something simple that people could remember easily; I remembered the novel and thought “Lady Orlando” would make a great name. I thought I was being really clever, but over the years I’ve got messages from others telling me they intended to use the exact same name and came across—ta-dah!—me. But yes, I truly am un-lady-like once you get to know me. Maybe it’s because one day I’d really like to be one… or maybe not. We’ll see.

KS: Another thing I wonder about is, why do we battle so much? I like you, you like me, and still we Avada Kedavra each other every other day. And, who’s your favourite Harry Potter character, and why?

LA:  I battle you because I like you. If I didn’t I would let you be, carry on with a non-battle days. The best of all is that we know many tricks and it doesn’t matter how much we Avada Kedavra us, we manage to survive, and that makes you a fine opponent. I think, if we were real wizards I would battle you, but never kill you, how boring, unless we had loads of Horcruxes.

My favourite H.P. character is Hermione Granger. She’s the brain of the trio, always in control and serious, which is the opposite of me. I also loved Snape. I think he is a well written character, very complex and strong.

 

KS: I love the way you handle black ink. Do you work with an ink pen or a nib? I suppose it’s a pen, considering how fine and accurate your dots look. A piece like “Bearspirit” (one of my favourites), how long does it take you to finish it?

LA: I use a technical pen. Because of the use of computers and its programs, some supplies are no longer being produced, like the technical pens I used to work with. Those were items used by architects but now they don’t need it anymore. They don’t, but I do!  I found another brand but it is very expensive, so when one of mine dies it’s pretty stressing. I use nibs every now and then, still it is always a mess since I don’t know how to use them properly.

Bearspirit took me about two weeks to complete, since it is quite big (9.84” x 13.78” aprox.). I work on small formats because they’re easier to work with, but now that I think about it, some of them took me a long time to finish… so I guess, at times, size doesn’t matter but the level of details in the works.

KS: Tell me more about your life in Mexico. Is there an art scene? Do you feel accepted as an artist?

LA: We do have an art scene but I don’t know much about it. Of course, there is always gossip, but I’m not patient enough for it. My life is more quiet. I draw all day and that’s it. My life changed loads when my father passed away, from a fast life, going out much and traveling, to a “I don’t move” one. Now it is starting to change again and things are moving. I think that’s exciting.

At times I don’t [feel accepted as an artist] because I stopped painting some time ago and only make drawings. Sadly, to draw seems too be solely under the “illustrator” category; I say this because I don’t see many popular drawers out there. I really don’t know if I should feel like an artist, an illustrator or a lion tamer. I could be all and none and it wouldn’t make a difference. If the media wants me to be an artist or a fluffy bunny, it wouldn’t matter much how I feel at the end, would it?

KS: You are one of the funniest people I have met on the internet. Are you just as outgoing in real life?

LA: Well, thank you. I am, when I feel comfortable enough to. I don’t like to be rude and treat people badly, I leave that to when I get to know them better. Ha! Joking. I have changed loads in the last two years. I was diagnosed with chronic depression that started when I was a child, that made me a strange dark character. After the treatment I started to be more outgoing and especially more patient with others and with myself. I think now I’m funny because I feel good and relaxed.

KS: My last question is, why did you join an artist collective? What are your hopes/expectations?

LA: I joined because it is something I’ve never done before. I’ve never come across a collective that caught my attention, though I’ve been invited to some, but they didn’t seem like the thing I was looking for, not only as an artist but as a person.

My hopes and expectations as a group are to make the best we can and more. Just for me, to get my work out there for more people to see. World domination!

KS: Thank you so much for this interview, Yoda! And last but not least… AVADA KEDAVRA!!!!!

LA: Wait! Not fair! You didn’t even give me the chance to reply, but hey! What’s this? It’s one of my many Horcruxes! Ha! CRUCIO!!!