Lara Addams: Biography

How did you get started?

My "career" as an artist began late in 2000. A local Art Store was holding its Christmas exhibition of amateur artwork, and for some reason I can't recall, I thought I'd have a go at showing a few drawings.

I chose to produce some very tame nude figure studies; because I felt they might sell. I had no expectations of success, but to my amazement all my pictures were bought. My success inspired me to draw more frequently, and a few months on, I had enough images to publish my first web site. Once again, my humble expectations were exceeded, and almost immediately my site got around a hundred visitors a day. More significantly, I started to achieve sales, and receive "fan mail".
When I sold my first couple of drawings, it was heart-breaking to part with them, but I seldom feel this way today.
Being an artist was not planned; it all happened by accident, and has continued to develop that way. Every once in a while, some new and unexpected opportunity has presented itself, and so I've kept on drawing nudes, as and when I have the time to do so.
I still describe myself as an "amateur artist". Although I derive an income from artwork, I am not dependant on sales. I have a full time day job that pays the mortgage, and which I am happy doing.

Did you have any training? Who has influenced you?

No, I've never had any training. I have always drawn for pleasure since childhood, but I never took my artwork very seriously. I guess I've just figured-out for myself how to achieve the results I wanted (but I'm still working on the problem of how to get the results I would really like to achieve!).

I have always loved artwork, especially the paintings produced by the pre-Raphalite Artists of the Victorian era. It's the exquisite attention to detail that does it for me. I have no time for modern art.
In the field of "erotic art", I adore the work of Erik Drudwyn. That's the standard I want to achieve one day! The problem is, Erik just keeps getting better and better, so I don't think he is ever in danger of competition from me.
The pictures that hang in my home are mainly pre-raphalite prints on canvas, plus I have a few Erik Drudwyn's (prints). I don't think I have ever put one of my drawings on the wall.

How do you work?

The one question everyone always asks is - do I work with models and draw from life, copy from photographs, or draw from my imagination?

Sadly the answer is the least exciting option; I mainly copy from photographs, but usually exercise a little imagination to change some of the details. It's the most practical way for me. I am occasionally my own body stand-in; when I need to restore a missing limb for example. Yes, there are bits of me in some of my drawings! If I ever became seriously successful, I would most definitely work with live models.
I don't use any fancy equipment. Drawings generally take about 10 hours to complete, and the work is usually spread over a couple of days. I'm not sure that the Internet does complete justice to my pictures. The subtle detail is lost when the image is reduced to 8" high and 72 dpi.
I receive a steady trickle of requests for advice on technique, and I always try to answer these. People often ask how to achieve "smoothness". My answer is shade and "smudge"; then shade and smudge again.

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