Screams of Terror Interviews

Horror Artist

Dennis W. Thomsen

 

Name: Dennis W. Thomsen

Born: October 17 1975

Birth Place: Golden BC Canada

Currently residing in Edmonton AB Canada

 

I've always had quite an interest in art, but I've not always had a clear idea where I wanted to go with it.  My first interest was in comics but that was fleeting... I did not have the patience for sequential art.  Next I gave tattoos a passing interest but the idea of always copying others work to somebody's skin did not interest me either.  It wasn’t until I bought my first computer and around the same time my parents had bought me a camera that things started to develop to what I do now.  A few years of trial and error as I self taught myself... it had taken awhile before I began to yield the results I achieve now.

 

SOT: Your art is very dark, can you tell our readers where your ideas

come from?

 

Dennis: My ideas just seem to be a natural process.  I have dark

interests and thoughts.  I suppose the art just reflects these things

within me and the images just form themselves.

 

SOT:  When did you first realize that you wanted to be an artist and

why did you choose horror art?

 

Dennis: I wanted to work as an artist since before graduation, I

remember drawing since being a young boy, not always as morbid mind

you... but black had always been a favorite color.  I don't think I

chose to just work in horror, I think perhaps it maybe chose me.

 

SOT:  Who is your favorite artist?

 

Dennis: There are many great artists whose work I really admire.  A few

are H.R. Giger, Luis Royo, Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazzetta, and Simon Bisley.

SOT:  What is your favorite horror movie?  Favorite Horror novel?

 

Dennis: I don't like the cheesy Hollywood horror movies that they make

now left and right.  The only ones that do sorta have a chilling effect

are the ones that are worked around religion.  I liked the Exorcist.  I

liked the X-files and before that Twin Peaks.  As for novels I read

more Sci-Fi and Fantasy then Horror.  I like Lords of the Rings and Conan type stuff.

 

SOT:  Where should our readers go to view your art?

 

Dennis: Readers can view my artwork at my website

www.blacklodgearts.com

 

SOT:  Can our readers purchase your artwork?  If so where?

 

Dennis: Nothing is set up for sales yet.  But perhaps with enough

demand I would look into it.

 

SOT:  Do you do contract work?  Could a reader get his/her motorcycle

or car airbrushed by you, or could a band get you to design cover art

for them?  If so, how would they contact you?

 

Dennis: I do not airbrush Vehicles.  Bands and Publishers however can

contact me through my website if interested in my work and we can go

from there.

 

SOT:  What does a horror artist do to relax?  Any hobbies?

 

Dennis: Well I create more art to relax; it's stressful not being able

to create.  My girlfriend and I both ride Harley's, that’s the real

freedom.

SOT:  Could you describe a day in the life of Dennis Thomsen?

 

Dennis: My days are one of two ways, I’m either at home where I spend a

great deal of time lately working on this art career I'm trying to

launch, or I am out of town working at the Hazardous waste plant that employs me.

 

SOT:  Many of the names of your works have a very Lovecraftian sound to

them, am I close or is there another method of naming your art and

would you care to share how you come up with the names?

 

Dennis: Some projects I just give a simple handle, others I feel like

giving a more disturbing name.  These old devil names can be found from

many sources, easy enough really.  The names are not really that

important as they would never really go with the art anyways when the

art gets published on a book or CD cover.

SOT:  What’s your favorite kind of music?  Do you have a favorite band?

 

Dennis: Black Metal is my passion.  Music is a part of my life.  I need

it on all the time.  There are so many bands that I like the list would

be too long to name them all for here.  What’s in my CD player right now

is Dimmu Borgirs death cult Armageddon, Ulvers songs from William

Blakes marriage of heaven and hell, and Emperors Scattered ashes a decade of imperial wrath.

SOT:  For all the ladies out there that may be looking for a deep, dark

artistic person, can you tell us if you are married, single or dating?

 

Dennis: I have a committed relationship to my girlfriend Jody.  She’s

been a great supportive pillar in my efforts to succeed with my art.

She has also been the main model in most of the work.

 

SOT:  What style would you call your works?

 

Dennis:  Well it's mostly digital work made on the computer with

photography being the backbone. I call it the Hellbound style and sorry

if looking at it drags you down there with me.

 

SOT:  Dennis, I keep a collection of autographs of everyone that I have

interviewed framed and on the wall here at Screams of Terror, what do I

need to do to get a autographed print or original from you for the

wall?

 

Dennis:  I would have to find a printing place and get a copy made and

sign it I guess.

SOT:  Have you ever thought about doing illustrations for horror novels

or magazines?

 

Dennis:  Yes - Of course I would be more than happy to have work appear

in any publication, magazines or novels.  Anyone that wants to buy the

publishing rights can do so by contacting me.

 

SOT:  What medium do you use for your works?  Are they all computer or

do you do some works on canvas etc?

 

Dennis:  Everything is pretty much done on the computer.  Freehand

stuff might find its way into the art for experimental reasons... but

mostly the computer.

SOT:  I am sure that there are many aspiring artists out there that may

be reading this interview, can you give them any advice to help with

their works?

 

Dennis:  I still consider myself to be aspiring I suppose, as I've

never really yet made a dollar off any of my work... everything's been

done for free so far.  My advice of course is the same as I've always been told,

“just keep trying”

 

SOT:  Dennis, thank you for your time and allowing us to interview you

and display your artwork; we look forward to seeing more of your works

in the future.  Is there anything else that you would like to add before we go?

 

Dennis:  Thanks for this opportunity to be in Screams of Terror.  I

appreciate the positive reactions to my work, and I also invite all

those interested to visit my website at www.blacklodgearts.com to see

the work itself.