We’re looking forward to introducing you to Larkin Fordyce. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Larkin, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
For me, my art does that. I am not a full-time artist and only paint out of passion. Lately, I have also been finding a lot of satisfaction working with other mediums. I have recently worked with glass and tiles, allowing me to figure out new ways to incorporate other materials into my paintings.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
By looking at my artwork, it might not be easy to see all of the inspirations and influences that led to the picture on the canvas, but they are all there in some way. I think someone’s “brand” is simply the amalgamation of other “brands” playing an influence on the artist.
For me, that includes a wide range of things from artists and animators to shows, movies and video games. I come from the 80’s and I think that’s a key factor in what I was exposed to as a youngster. You see, the 80’s & 90’s were before the internet, so the pop culture we were exposed to as kids was A) largely the same as everyone else in our generation and B) also mostly the same, or in the same way of consuming it (TV, radio, movies, music) to previous generations. Because of that, I was exposed to things like classic Disney and Warner Bros. animated shorts, original, unedited Looney Tunes and movies from the 60’s & 70’s. All of that hearty Americana served up the “brand” you see in my artwork. I am heavily influenced by the pop culture I was surrounded by throughout my formative years. For better or worse, that means things like Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse play heavily into my work, sometimes being the subject and sometimes influencing color choices or backgrounds.
All of that to say, my brand is a product of the things that have stuck with me through other peoples art and creation. I make art that I myself enjoy looking at, and because of that, there is always at least one person who likes the work.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
For me, this is an easy one. My dad, is the easy answer here. He always, from a very young age, taught me how important it was to always do the very best work you could do, whether it be for yourself or your stuff, for other people, at work, or otherwise. He always made it very clear to me that taking shortcuts on things would inevitably lead to some sort of disappointment, from you or someone else, it was a product of not doing your best; at least that’s how it felt to me.
My dad was a military man, having served in the Air Force himself, and being largely raised by my great-grandfather, who served in the Army during World War 2. This shaped his appreciation and understanding of work. For him, those lessons learned while serving our country were important for him to pass along to me, and thus, he imposed on me the honor and pride that came with having a solid work ethic about you. Because art is not my profession, I do not have a strict working relationship with my projects. What my art gives me, is an outlet to the working world, where I can apply my passion and dedication to the things that I enjoy. With that, comes the dedication and pride I (similarly) get from a job well done at work or on a project around the house, and with the same level of care and attention to detail, I am able to make art that I am proud to have created and for others to look at.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Everyone deals with grief and pain throughout life, and everyone processes those things in their own way. Some things feel insurmountable, but in the end, you just have to find ways to keep going and push through the darkness. One of the greatest fears in my life was always the thought of losing a parent, but when it happens, you figure out ways to find strength and carry on.
In 2018, my mom took her own life. Unexpected and abruptly, my life changed in a major way. I found out while I was at work just like any other day, and the news came via a phone call from my dad. In a matter of minutes, the person who I was closest with my entire life had taken her own life without even saying goodbye to her baby boy. This was the most difficult thing I had ever had to deal with, and it was only the beginning of the nightmare.
What slowly started coming to light, was the reason behind her suicide and the lies she was juggling to maintain her existence. I won’t bore you with every detail, but over the course of the next year we would uncover that my mom had stolen the identity of my dad, my sister, & myself, as well as run up credit card debt in my dad’s name to the tune of almost six figures and embezzled money from her job, yet again. While all of this was going on, I welcomed my son into the world and had to be there for my wife and growing family. There were many tough days and rough patches, but I had a solid foundation and a family to take care of. Those things gave me the perspective and focus to keep my head right, not lose sight of what I needed to do on the day to day, and ultimately, taught me what not to do as a person to end up in a position where I could forsake my loved ones.
My mom took the easy way out, and that was her choice, but she failed a lot of people with that choice. In order to be the best husband and father possible, I have to make better choices and do things the hard way so that my family can benefit from the things I do, not be burdened by them. Being able to carry on and take care of my family has helped to heal the wound of losing a close family member.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The freedom of speech and expression of ideas without any consent. This is not only foundational to the USA, but also to art. Without being able to freely express ideas or create works of art, people would be confined and afraid to create without the fear of backlash or repercussion. The only way to protect any speech is to protect all speech, good, bad, or otherwise.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Communication. Something everyone has to do almost daily, yet most people have a hard time with it on some level. I am not saying I am the best communicator, but I value honesty over anything in communication, and that bothers a lot of people. That bothers them because A) the truth is hard to hear a lot of times and B) because it is hard for most people to deliver the truth to folks in fear of them being hurt by it. This goes for small little white lies we tell in generic interactions daily, to larger, sometimes societal things that are just too uncomfortable to say to most folks. I try to live my life in a way where I recognize the truth in most situations, and try to deliver that to folks in a compassionate way that is not meant to hurt or offend anyone, but expresses the ideas genuinely and honestly. It sounds simple, but it takes time to be able to communicate in this way and not take offense to those who are put off by it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.redbubble.com/people/Art-by-Lark/shop
- Instagram: @artbylark
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artbylark
Image Credits
all imaged owned by @ArtbyLark
