Artist Interview 

Lauren berg, 20 years old from Barry. Currently studying illustration at USW (university of SouthWales)

How long have you been interested in art?

LAUREN: Ever since i could hold a pencil! I have a really artistic family so ive just always been around creativity

Who in your family influenced your art the most?

LAUREN: mainly my dad and my big sister. My dad recycles drift wood to create furniture and 3D things. My big sister is a very talented artist! she specialises in realism portraits. As a kid I would sit and watch her, this one time, she was finishing her a-level final piece. I thought it would be a good idea to try help her finish it… without her permission… Let’s just say she wasn’t very happy her little sister messing with her important art work.

What made you want to go to university?

LAUREN: I wasn’t originally going to go to Uni because of self-doubt. I was encouraged by my family. I feel happy to have good support from my family, I like the sense of security, I think it is important to have support when entering the creative world.‘Obsession with people and lack of understanding of them, I’d always watch instead of talking’ – Lauren Berg

What do you like to represent in some of your work?

Lauren: I’m into girl power! Mainly focusing on women and their bodies, i don’t like to glamourize the female form all of the time. It’s fun representing all of the in-flattering things females have to go through, I like to over exaggerate these features sometimes.

Where do you like to promote your work?

LAUREN: I only share my work on my Instagram account, its my favourite thing to use because it opens up possibilities to show other amazing people my work, it also helps me out a lot when researching artists and finding inspiration.

What clothes do you like to wear?

LAUREN: I like to dress in ways that expresses myself, I like vintage fashion, 1950’s etc. But it’s all too expensive! My favourite colour is blue, my favourite films – girl interrupted and true romance.

I see you have been working on animations recently, why is this?

LAUREN: All of my work so far has been 2D, so I felt like I should start branching out to 3D creations. I’ve always loved 3D art due to my dad’s influences! I tend to steer away from realism as it is too demanding, it’s also too much pressure! I am no perfectionist, I work fast.

What materials do you like to use?

LAUREN: I use loads of different materials, but i basically live of Pentel brush pens

Do you spend a lot of money on materials?

LAUREN: I spend the same amount of money on food, so quite a lot.

Do you have any tattoo’s?

LAUREN: Yes, I have tattoo’s, I have even designed some of them myself.

Can you talk me through some of your tattoo’s?

Lauren: With pleasure!! LAUREN: This lioness Nina, after the Ed Sheeran song. This was my first ‘legal’ tattoo. It represents female strength and is also a tip off to my dad’s shit tiger tattoo, because I’m an asshole!

LAUREN: ‘Fingers’ I drew this tattoo myself. I have an obsession with hands, I was originally going to get the rock and roll hand gesture but I decided that was too ‘assholy’. It represents good luck/Fake luck.

LAUREN: This Is from the front cover of my favourite book, Messenger of fear 2.

LAUREN: This is another one of my designs, it’s the devil woman, Magdalina, after the Pixies song. This one

represents another side to my personality which is fiery and confident. LAUREN: I got this tattoo before the legal age, it is Travis, the drummer from blink 182… I love drummers.

Can you show me the Children’s book that you illustrated?

LAUREN: Sure, it is called that dog has a beard! It is about a dog that has a beard haha. I really enjoyed illustrating this book, although there did come times where I got frustrated but just soldiered through and got it finished.

Natalie Ann Beattie, the author of the book originally asked Laurens tattoo artist to do the illustration but Laurens tattoo artist declined the job and recommended Lauren!

Where do you see yourself in the future?

LAUREN: I’m Very up in the air about what I want to do as a career because I think that it is too dangerous to pigeon hole yourself, or your dreams as life is so un-predictable and best things are unplanned. I’m trying to get involved in other creative outlets like skating and music to broaden my options.

Favourite joke?

LAUREN: What do you call a magic Labrador? ….. A Labracadabrador.