DUPE chats with Illustrator Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy about Goths, where she goes when it gets dark and Japanese horror.
. Describe your work in 4 words?
Precise, descriptive, dry, humorous
. Pen vs Digital. What side are you on?
I'd go with pen, but I don't mind digital unless it starts to look soulless.
I use photoshop a lot to clean up my drawings and add colour but I never solely rely on a program. It's great that the internet makes sharing work so easy, but I really hope print doesn't get phased out too.
. What is your worst nightmare?
Being forced to watch a musical, featuring a cast of magicians, for eternity. That and damaging my right arm so I can never draw again.
. If you could collaborate with any other artist, who would it be and why?
That's a tough question. There's so many artists I love but I can't visualise a collaboration. I'd love to work with an animation team one day and make a short film.
Where do you go when it gets dark?
I never really go to sleep before 2am. Sometimes I work better at night as there are less distractions. Other than working, probably a bar near where I live (east) or soho.
. Who has been your favourite person to draw so far?
William S Burroughs was really fun to draw. He had such an amazing face, you can definitely tell he had an erm..eventful life.
I also really enjoyed drawing portraits from the London tattoo convention. Some of the facial modifications of the subjects were really unusual.
. If you weren't an illustrator, what would be doing instead?
Probably something to do with protecting human rights.
. What is the scariest film you've ever watched?
When I was around 13 I used to record horror films on my parents VCR without them knowing (they didn't know how to use the timer setting). So I ended up watching loads of pretty extreme films like Driller Killer and I Spit on Your Grave but none of it really scared me back then.
Now I jump so easily, but once I see what the killer or monster is in a film, it usually ruins it. Maybe the original of The Ring? And the original Dark Water, that genre of Japanese horror can be pretty terrifying.
. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I'd like to live somewhere out of the UK for a year or so. Or travel more and draw people I meet along the way.
I really love Pat Perry's blog, his sketchbook work and photos really make me want to jump on a train and draw more from life http://patperry.net/blog.
I'd also like to work on more narrative projects. I'd love to create another book of illustrated shorts, or a graphic novel.
. Your work is appearing in DUPE's next issue, the Dark issue. What is the first thing that comes to mind when i say the word 'dark'?
Dark humour.
. Emo's or Goth's?
Definitely goths. I'll always have a soft spot for them, and I guess I'm borderline. I'm in talks with the organisers of AltFest about doing a reportage project there in August. That'd be a dream job.