Hello and welcome to the Immeritus Fandom Blacklight! This feature puts the Blacklight on the giants of the Harry Potter fandom. These are the people who have written the best fanfics, created superior fanart and composed the finest fanpoetry—and we're finding out more about what makes them tick. In our interviews, we ask for their views on the Harry Potter books and the fandom and learn what inspires their creativity. We're interested in their methods of working and their favourite characters. And then, we ask a few more questions!

This month, we are very excited to bring to you none other than Ms. Laura Freeman herself. She is known as Nasubionna to the fandom, and is a popular fanartist with a style all her own. She is 25 and currently lives in the Pacific Northwest while she takes a seat and answers our questions...

I: Which (real-life) authors and/or artists do you most admire?
LF: Tamara de Lempicka and Patrick Nagel's styles, if not subject matter, captivate me completely.  They did what I wish I could achieve, but they beat me to it, haha!  I also admire Mercer Mayer, who can capture expression and whimsy better than anyone, Edward Gorey for his morbid sense of humor and style, and Aubrey Beardsley's swooping lines and fabulous design skills.  There are lots more, but those are the biggies.

I: Have they inspired your own style in any way?
LF: Definitely.  I frequently look through books of their works when I need some inspiration, encouragement and ideas, as well as some practical help with anatomy.

I: What advice would you give to novices wanting to start writing/drawing?
LF: Look at art. A lot. Many artists recommend you copy and reference works, but that's never really appealed to me personally. But just constantly viewing artwork, exposing yourself to new artists and styles and maybe trying out ideas and styles that appeal to you. Study the human body and pay attention so you don't make silly and avoidable mistakes like putting hands on wrong (a mistake a used to make a LOT).

I: Why did you read your first Harry Potter book?
LF: I was starting to hear more and more about them in the media (this was just before book 4 was released, I believe). My younger sister owned them, and I liked Mary Grand Pre's cover art. I figured I should see what all the fuss was about, and was hooked from the 1st sentence of the 1st book.

I: Which is your favourite HP book and why?
LF: Every time I read one of them I'm convinced it is my favorite. So it's impossible for me to choose. Sorry, cop-out answer, I know.

I: What do you like most about the Harry Potter series?
LF: Hmm.... this is hard to answer. I don't really know... I suppose the characters somehow mean more to me than the characters of any other book I've read, and I love reading their interactions together. I love the world J.K. has created and all the little clever details she comes up with. I love that she can almost always keep me guessing what will happen next - I've found I'm usually wrong when I try to guess what she's got up her sleeve, so I've stopped trying to predict and just enjoy the ride!

I: What do you like the least?
LF: Well, the deaths of certain characters, while necessary, were/are extremely painful to read. It's also a bit distressing how much behind-the-scenes stuff and more information and detail isn't able to be included in the books. So I'm hoping for that Hogwarts Encyclopedia she's mentioned....

I: Who's your favourite canon character to read about and why?
LF: Naturally I love to see Harry growing and his journey progressing... and I have enjoyed reading about Snape throughout the series and am just dying to know the whole truth behind him!

I: What would you most like to see in the final book?
LF: There are lots of things I *hope* will happen, but most of all I want something to happen with Fawkes. I just can't deal with the thought of Fawkes leaving Hogwarts forever, so I would love to see him come to Harry's assistance, or give comfort somehow. Because Fawkes is tied to Dumbledore, who I miss terribly, and I know it would comfort *me* to have his presence in some form.

I: What would you say to someone who referred to the HP books as childrens' books?
LF: First I would ask if they've actually read them. If not, I would tell them I disagree with the label "children's book", and that they should read it and decide for themselves. If they have read it and *still* think that, well, then I probably don't have a whole lot to talk about with them.

I: How do you view the gender divide in the HP series? Do you find the female characters as engaging, well-rounded and strong as the male characters? If not, why not?
LF: I think that basically the gender divide is *fairly* balanced in HP as far as strong characters are concerned, although it seems that more of the main characters are male. The female characters that *are* there are just as engaging as the males, in my opinion. Of course it would be nice to see more female characters as engaging, well-rounded and strong as McGonagall, Mrs. Weasley, Luna Lovegood and Hermione.

I: When did you first discover the HP fandom and fanfics/fanart?
LF: Hmmm..... probably shortly after I started drawing my own fan art and became interested in posting them online. So, probably around the year 2000....

I: How would you say your work has improved since you first started out in the fandom and how instrumental has feedback been to that?
LF: I feel my work has improved astronomically since I first started. Feedback has definitely been helpful, both in encouraging me to go on, and also pointing out strengths and weaknesses I was not previously aware of. It has also helped me grow a tougher skin as far as criticism is concerned... ;) Also, just the sheer volume of different artists participating in the fandom is very inspiring, and has been extremely educational.

I: Are there any topics which you think are taboo or out of bounds for the HP fandom? Are there any subjects that you personally would not address in your fanwork? Would you censor your work depending on who you thought your audience would be?
LF: Well, I'm a fan of free speech, and that includes expression that I don't care for. So while I personally dislike things like incest and slash solely for the purpose of being slash, and what I feel is character mutilation in art and fic, that's not to say I think it's out of bounds. I just don't draw it, and do not seek it out online. I also feel that such material should be treated with care online, with proper labelling and protection - adult fans must not forget that there *are* children who love HP as well. I'm not sure I would use the word "censor", but I do take care where my art is posted, and on the rare occasions I venture into non-canon work, it is usually not posted publicly.

I: What genres have you worked in? Are there any genres you would avoid and if so, why?
LF: I mostly work in with the canon... scenes and character studies. Yes, I am boring. :) I generally avoid drawing explicit fan art and non-canon pairings. That's not to say I don't take artistic liberties every now and then, though.

I: What styles do you like to illustrate in? Any preferred media?
LF: I'm a big fan of lines.  Lines are just about the only way my brain seems to work, though I'm attempting to branch out to plains as well, haha... some artists can work more with tones and colors and texture and shadow, but that's extremely difficult for me.  I love swooping curves and sharp angles, and art nouveau and art deco are my favorite styles.

I: Have you noticed a bias towards male slash in the HP fandom? If so, has this affected the kind of work you've produced (e.g. by making you less likely to write about/draw het or femmeslash)? What are your thoughts on the reasons for a mainly female fandom writing/depicting a lot of male slash?
LF: It's impossible not to notice the male bias in slash, even for someone who tries avoid it! I'm not sure how I feel about it... on one hand, it seems like just women enjoying and exploiting men's bodies, which goodness knows seems hardly happens outside of fandom... and that's shameful because men's bodies *are* beautiful and attractive and should be put on display equally with women's. If women find two (or more) men getting it on together sexy and interesting and empowering, than yay. On the other hand - and I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion - I'm a little disturbed by it because it almost feels like some women are not able to appreciate the sexuality of women, are not able to free themselves to write/draw sexual things involving and exploring the feminine (and I don't mean feminizing men or m-preg or something). I feel that's a bit sad and harmful, perpetuating the notion that men (gay and straight) are allowed and encouraged to be sexual, and women are pigeonholed into a virgin or whore role. It feels like a sort of self-directed misogyny. BUT, I'm not a psychologist or sociologist, so who knows? I think it's an amazingly complex phenomenon that I couldn't possibly address with any scientific accuracy.

Sorry, that was really long. :B

I: Do you keep your fandom life separate from your 'real' life e.g. do friends and family know that you write/draw? Why do you think so many people keep that divide - is fandom something people are ashamed of, in your opinion?
LF: My family knows that I draw HP, and they know I have a website, although they don't really visit it.  Ever.  They know I like to attend conventions, have done commissions, and have online HP fandom friends.  But they don't really care or think it's any stranger than anything else I do, haha. I don't really know why people keep their fandom life separate from their "real" life... maybe because fandom is primarily online, so it's naturally separate from the rest of your life.... or maybe because some people's activity in fandom is mostly erotica, and one doesn't' usually feel like discussing pornography with your family and co-workers, do they?  If that was what I was interested in, I probably wouldn't share that with my family, either.  :)

I: Who are your favourite fanartists/authors/poets?
LF: Hoooboy.... that is an impossible question to answer. I don't really know any authors or poets, but there are many, *many* artists I admire, both as people and as artists. I couldn't even begin to list them here, for fear of leaving out someone important. Maybe I should write up a list with links to them all and put in on my site.

I: What do you like best about the fandom?
LF: I love the sharing of artwork, and I love seeing the amazingly different works that all sprung from the same source - the HP books. I just love seeing the incredible variety, how people see things differently than I do from reading the same text, and the way that other people's visions can match, inspire or influence my own mental images (and when my vision matches or influences someone elses vision).

I: What prompted you to start creating your own fanworks?
LF: I've always drawn whatever I'm obsessed with... I believe my first fandom was Ninja Turtles and Disney's Oliver & Company, haha.... so, naturally, HP being my biggest obsession yet, artwork had to follow.

I: What preparation do you have to do to create your fanworks? How essential is it to muse on canon characters and storylines before putting forward your interpretation?
LF: Sometimes I'll just sit down and draw whatever I'm in the mood to draw, but often I will re-read the scene I'm drawing to remind myself of the situation, the mood, and of canon details. I usually try to stay pretty canon, but I don't flog myself for slipping up a detail (or intentionally changing details to allow for artistic license... ).

I: How would you describe your approach to illustrating? Do you sit down and plan out your entire piece, or do you let it develop on the fly?
LF: Both. It really depends on the drawing, although usually I do at least 2 drafts of something before it's finished. There's almost always a sketch and a final, but sometimes there are many, *many* drafts inbetween the two!

I: Who's your favourite canon character to write about/draw and why?
LF: Hrm... that's tough to answer. Snape is fun because he's all angles and darkness and sneers... but Lupin is fun because of the colors and tones I imagine him to be, and the challenge of giving him an "old-yet-young" face. So I'd say those two are my favorites.

I: Of all your work, which is your favourite piece and why?
LF: At the moment, it's a tie between my portrait of Hagrid & Norbert in Copics, and my second attempt at Sirius falling through the veil. Hagrid because I think it is one of the best portraits I've ever done, period. And Sirius because of the pose and movement in the picture, as well as the emotions I was feeling while making it. Pretty intense experience, and it turned out surprisingly close to how I saw it in my head.

I: JK Rowling commented on a marauder piece you did when she gave Immeritus' its fan site award. What was your reaction to her feedback?
LF: Utter shock. A friend called me and said, "Congratulations on the J.K. Rowling thing!" and I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. Then I went online, saw it, and sat there stunned for literally several minutes. Then a big, stupid grin broke out on my face and wouldn't go away for days. Seriously. Then I went out for sushi and shared the news with my sister and her boyfriend. It's still incredible, surreal and amazing to me, and easily one of the most awesome things that's ever happened to me.

I: She was never specific as to what piece she liked. Which one do you think she refers to in her comment?
LF: Well, I've narrowed it down to what I think are the two most likely possibilities: the color one of just the four Marauders from the chest up, arms around each other, or maybe the one where Sirius is sticking dungbombs down Snape's robe. I think it's one of those two based on the date she made the comment, and based on which of my artworks were on Immeritus at the time. I could be wrong, though! Believe me, I wish I knew which one she meant for sure...!

I: A few years ago, you started a project so huge, that you have yet to finish it. In fact, you seem to have completely started over again! What made you start on your Tarot Card project, where are you with it now, and do you foresee finishing it in the near future?
LF: I stumbled across Qaimlyn's site, where she was brainstorming a HP-themed tarot deck and was looking for someone to illustrate. I didn't know anything about reading tarot at the time, but loved the idea, so I volunteered.

I only did a few pictures when I decided that I kind of wanted to branch out on my own. So, I did some research, planned some ideas, and started drawing. I was never really satisfied with the cards, though, because at that time I didn't have a full color medium that I really *liked* and could use easily. I was stuck between cruddy-looking computer coloring or cruddy-looking colored pencils! But then I was introduced to Copic markers, and found the perfect tool at last. So I started all over again. Hopefully this will be the last version!!! I'm just a little under halfway finished.... it's hard for me to get cards out regularly, though, so I honestly don't know when I'll complete it. Could be years. :(

I: Most of us know how much you enjoy canon, and how you dislike fanfiction because you "find the canon works entertaining enough on their own". How do you feel about how your artwork inspires others to write fanfiction and/or poetry? Are you able to enjoy the work even if you don't really like fanfiction or poetry?
LF: Sure! If my art inspires another artist/writer, then that's flattering and fine by me, fanfiction or no. I'm pleased if I've aided someone in stretching their creative muscles a bit. :) I probably won't read anything my art may inspire, though.

I: Do you happen to know what your most popular pieces are? Why do you think they are so popular?
LF: I think that the two most popular one is Snape in his Death Eater outfit. I've gotten more comments about that one than probably any other, and it's been adapted into tattoos, shirts, and other bootlegged items (most of which were not created by myself!). I really don't know why it's as popular as it is.... I suppose because it's very graphic, very simple, and boils down the concept of Snape-the-Death-Eater-who-isn't-what-he-seems.

I: On Immeritus, most of your really popular pieces show the Marauders playing pranks on Snape. What do you think this says about our members? Why do you like drawing that so much?
LF: I think it says that you Immeritus fans love your Sirius!  And who could blame you?  It's just so fun to think of possible pranks, and especially against Snape because he takes himself so seriously (no pun intended).  People who are incapable of laughing at themselves are the easiest to poke fun at and infuriate, and Snape's buttons are (or were) out a mile long, whereas Sirius and the other Marauders seem much more capable of taking themselves lightly.  Not to say that they didn't have their dark sides... but Snape is such an easy and fun target, that's it's hard to hold back.  :)

I: And finally, fill in the blank: Sirius is _________
LF: one seriously hawt puppy!  I'm sorry, that was corny, but I'm feeling pressured to come up with something witty here and obviously am failing!  :B

We want to thank Laura Freeman (Nasubionna) for taking the time to answer our questions and we hope that you all enjoyed reading the interview. If you would like to review her Sirius Fanart here on the site, click here. If you would like to visit her Harry Potter Tribute Site, click here. If you want to comment on and/or discuss this interview please follow this link.