Feature Artist - Laini Eckardt
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Artist: Laini Eckardt
X Profile: @LainiEckardt
Artwork: Lilith's Garden Animation: https://t.co/lWvStuko1i
Artwork: Falling/Song of Love #7 Animation: https://t.co/gcDGSoY2s1
Artwork: Daydream/Song of Love #4 Animation: https://t.co/CwMmAjO3o6
Artwork: Sister Sky Dreams of the Stars Animation: https://t.co/AGYYmSpaan
There is such grace and beauty in Laini's work, with the serene figures, their bodies communing with elements of nature. The viewer is transported into a sacred place where the artist seems to caress the boundaries between femininity and divinity. She captures something mystical with her chalk sketches, and cocoons the female body in vine, tendril and leaf. This seems to be a conversation of essence, the oneness of creation depicted in both human and plant form. Blossoms and soft thighs, hair and stars, flesh and fern frond seem to kiss one another in a gentle and spiritual way. Laini's art is both a lesson in the artists skill, and a conversation with the viewer, that is both captivating and metaphysical. The animated aspect of these pieces add another, beautiful, facet to the artworks, and it is in this way that digital art can offer something new and exciting to the traditional artworld.
What medium do you enjoy working in the most?
I like expressing myself in different mediums both traditional and digital, and love to combine them. But my all- time favourite medium to work with is old-school Chalk Pastels on paper. I find them really beautiful and tactile to work with and I love how they can help me capture the nuances of light. I paint occasionally and enjoy film photography too, but the chalks seem to be the one medium that allows for the truest expression. I love to combine my drawings with vintage illustrations and other elements using photoshop. It has been my goal this year to teach myself how to animate, so my new favourite tool is after effects, which I use to bring parts of the work to life.
What inspires you to create?
I am always inspired by the models/muse that I draw. I have connected with all of them through social media and am honoured that they allow me to draw them and am especially thrilled when they love the outcome. The inspiration comes when I look at them, to me they embody something greater, in them I see an inner power, something more than just a face or a body, a divine feminine strength in the glint of an eye or a gesture that speaks to me of their/my/our power as women. Sometimes to me they simply embody an emotion.
I also find great inspiration in nature and have more than a passing interest in mythology, two themes that I also like to include in my work.
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
I think I am a bit of a magpie really, taking a little influence here and there….I love Mucha’s ladies, surrounded by flowers and nature, Klimt’s opulent and detailed backgrounds, Schiele’s raw emotional lines, and Brett Whiteley’s sensuous gesture, I don’t think anyone can quite capture the sexy curve of a body in one line quite like he does.
How long have you been in the NFT space?
I started in the NFT space in December of last year. It was perfect timing really, because just prior to that I had started creating blended physical and digital works that only existed as digital objects. I was creating them purely for pleasure with no end game in terms of selling them or displaying them. The NFT space proved to be a perfect arena! What was unexpected and wonderful too was the community that I found, I have connected with so many wonderful fellow artists here.
What is your vision for your future in NFTs?
I am really excited by the possibilities of AI as a tool and am looking forward to seeing how I can combine my drawings with AI generated imagery. I am also keen to push forward with learning animation and would like to play around with 3D modelling. So much to explore…so little time!!
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