Lasse Damgaard
Lasse Damgaard is a 19 year old photographer from Denmark. He is also one of RedBubble’s top sellers when it comes to wall art. Let’s find out what Lasse is doing so right.
Vitals:
Works on RedBubble: 41
Artwork descriptions: short and descriptive, no bling
Tags: 5-10 main key words per image
Groups: member of 1 geographical group
Journals: none
Other sites: personal site coming soon, deviantART
Christian Science Center by Lasse Damgaard
Tell us a bit about yourself as an artist and how that fits in with the rest of your life.
Well, at the moment, almost all of my time is being put into photography – I’m attending a photographic school, learning about the world of analogue photography, something I have never worked with before, so it’s nice to discover a whole new side of yourself.
During the last two years, I’ve been switching between working over hours for months, without having any time or energy to spare for creativity, and temporarily quitting my job to travel the world in search of beautiful pictures and portraits – until I go broke and have to take a seat behind the register at the supermarket once again.
European Portraits No. 10 by Lasse Damgaard
What about your sales on RedBubble? Do you have a best seller?
I think my best selling picture is one titled ‘Carousel’ – for that simple reason that it’s timeless. It’s a shot of a ride in a danish amusement park, but judging from the picture alone, it can almost be placed anywhere between the present and a hundred years back – and I think that’s what people like so much about it.
Carousel by Lasse Damgaard
How do you promote your art outside of RedBubble?
Apart from an upcoming personal website, I have spent an enormous amount of time and energy on deviantART.com, which was also the birthplace of my interest in photography. Although I don’t have as much time to spare now as I did when I first joined the site, I still check it on a regular basis, and still stumble over amazing photographers from time to time.
Luxembourg by Lasse Damgaard
As a photographer, what services do you offer?
I’ve been a volunteer photographer for a few events, latest one held by the Danish Cancer Society, and have done some freelance work for companies from time to time, just to make a little extra on the side. I don’t always enjoy it though, since it mostly puts a stop to the creative way of thinking, because you suddenly have all sorts of rules you have to follow! Oh, and I don’t do weddings. Never again.
ARoS by Lasse Damgaard
Imagine your at an exhibition opening and a potential buyers says to you “tell me about your art?” – what do you say?
I think my answer would go something along the lines of “Art? What art? I don’t see any art around here! Just pictures!”. I’ve grown so tired of the words ‘art’ and ‘artist’, that when I hear either, they both sound strangely like ‘bullshit’! I’ve seen too many stuck-up, self absorbed, talentless people use it about themselves and the crap they make, to take it seriously – and have simply decided to boycott it!
The Passenger by Lasse Damgaard
How well do your personal favourites sell?
My personal favourite has surprisingly not made a single sale. Others have strangely become some of my favourites after they started selling, not because I make a little money off of them, but because it’s nice to see that people appreciate them!
Winterdream by Lasse Damgaard
How do you price your work?
Well, to be honest, I’m not on RedBubble to make a living. I like the fact that something I have made is out there, making someone happy, or perhaps intrigued, so I tend to set my prices low so people can afford it!
Spring by Lasse Damgaard
How well do your limited edition prints sell compared to unlimited prints on RedBubble?
I just started selling limited editions and I have to admit sales aren’t exactly going as well as they are on RedBubble… But hopefully, with a bit of luck, I’ll one day be able to make enough off of it to quit my job and travel the world! Ah yes, daydreams are wonderful, aren’t they?
Discontent by Lasse Damgaard
Lasse will be dropping in on this thread so please feel free to ask questions in the comments
olechka
Thanks for sharing!
Karin Taylor
what an uplifting and refreshing article…...
a) quality work
b) sacrificial lifestyle
c) no bullshit
d) hard work
e) reasonably price affordable work
it works
Karin Taylor
i wonder if (being the painter rather than the photographer) people prefer less bling, so they can appreciate the work, perhaps it depends on the style…..mine is very very busy, and so my profile is very very busy, and people seem to like that too…..i hope i’m not doing myself a disservice by displaying all my work on my profile page….but it does seem to assist people who are looking to choose matching cards and groups of things i find…
Perhaps the plain and simple works so well for photographers, i wonder if plain and simple works as well for painters? Just wondering,................
Natalie Tyler
Wow. I might be able to ask a question or two once I pick my jaw back off the floor. Amazing work. I’m not surprised Lasse is doing so well ;)
RachelJayne
He is a brilliant photographer, capturing the details in mundane and showing how interesting they are. Outstanding artist!
Darren Stones
Hi Lasse. Interesting to read your thoughts about pricing and what you feel people can afford when purchasing online.
What specific RedBubble products have you sold since being a member of Redbubble?
Jane Keats
I second Natalie! The tone of these photographs is beautiful, too. “Discontent”, for instance – is it HDR or photoshop processing? I apologise for asking so boldly, I’m just so fascinated. Stunning work Lasse!!
Thanks Jo for asking the right questions, too!
waitin' for rain
The “Carousel” is really one of the top images here on RB
i’m in love with the last one !
so emotional
Keith Richardson
Thank you $ for sharing “Lasse Damgaard” with us all. His work is simultaneously simple yet deep. I spent a long time just absorbing each of his photos, wondering what I would have seen confronted by the same situation, camera in hand. Our photography explores how we see our world I think, and we say a lot about ourselves by what we choose to photograph and display for others to view. Perhaps photography, serious photography that is, is a journey of self discovery, no bullshit, as Lasse would say, but for real. I too have no time for hypocracy…
As happens so often, you have inspired me to ‘look again’!
All the best for the future. Keith
sjem ©
Utterly beautiful work. A real talent.
I’m thrilled with Lasse’ opinion of the word ‘art’ and ‘artist’. I feel exactly the same way.
Mel Brackstone
Lasse certainly is an awesome talent, I’ve loved his work since I first saw it, back in my first days here :)
Lasse Damgaard
First of all, a big thanks to everyone who read this :)
Now let me see if I can answer a few questions…
Karin Taylor:
I think people just like very graphic, simple images in general. At least that’s what my experience has taught me so far! Especially when selling it online – it needs to be something that jumps in peoples’ eyes and gets their attention right away. If it’s a photo that needs too much focus and attention for the viewer to ‘get it’, it’s often overlooked – and I’m sure that applies to other medias as well.
Darren Stones:
I’ve sold a few mediumsized prints and whole bunch of postcards recently (since postcards has been the only purchase option lately, due to a situation with the limited edition prints I’m working on, but bigger prints should be available again soon). Apart from that, I have ordered over 40 large, mounted prints myself that I needed for exhibitions, and – without sounding too much like a RedBubble propaganda-commercial – I have to say that I’m completely in love with the quality!
Jane Keats:
It’s all a bunch of Curves and Dodge & Burn – I’ve only tried something like HDR on one photo, was a painstaking process and I’m not sure if I have the patience to do it again! And no worries, I love bold questions, I ask a lot of them myself! ;)
sjem:
I’m glad someone shares my view on ‘art’! :D
Mel:
What can I say, other than: Thanks again, Mel ;)
If you have any other questions, feel free to bubblemail me :)
Cheers, and thanks for all the feedback!
Lasse
Clare Forder
Hi Lasse – I love your shots and your refreshing attitude! Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Which one is your personal favourite?
fashionforlove
Amazing Work !!! Congratulations !
Lasse Damgaard
Hey Clare!
My personal favourite is the one titled ‘Winterdream’ – the father holding his daughter in the snow : )
Elana Bailey
Lasse, huge fan of your work and even more now that I have read your interview above. You are truly inspirational, even though you are much younger than me. Keep up the fantastic work. Cheers Elana Bailey
BettinaSchwarz
wow … an eye-opener in many respects … thank you for sharing your thoughts and viewpoints and attitude! Very generous of you. I have learned much in the reading of this, so thank you for having taken the time.