#38508
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

Hi…

I’m narrowing down the choice of an artist. I plan on doing a sleeve of a stylized totem pole. I don’t want it to be “tribal” though the subject matter may imply that’s where I’m heading.

Artist #1 on my list is Jessie Hopeless. She’s got a 10-month wait to get to see her. If I get in with her now, I can be seen in late October. Check out her work at http://jessiehopeless.com/tattoos.html if you will.

Artist #2 is Roman Costa. He’s a former student from the high school I teach at. You can see his work at http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.5315236996.11491.690176996&type=3

Here are a couple questions:

1. Do you see anything that would make you drawn to one over the other or to steer clear of one over the other?
2. Do you know any other artists I should be considering?

I’m anxious to hear your thoughts.

#121069
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

C’mon. We’re up to 33 views, and no replies? I’m eager to know what you think.

#121076
SpideyFan
Guest
@

I liked the first link. I’m not even going to waste my precious time looking at the second link. But the first one is nice. You’re welcome.

#121081
ChrisvK
Participant
@chrisvk

I like m both, however the first one seems to be more of a portrait specialised person and in her portfolio is nothing that looks like the idea you’re describing, the second artist has all kinds of work in his portfolio so he might be a better to work with your idea. However the only way to really find out is visit both shops and talk to the artists;)

#121124
ArniVidar
Moderator
@arnividar

Well the big question is really in what style do you want your totem pole? These two artists have wildly different styles between them. How, precisely, is the totem supposed to look?

#121127
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

If I knew “precisely” how it is to look, I wouldn’t be in this situation. I really like aspects of each of these artists’ work. I have a very generic guideline I would give them, but I want them to use some of their creativity to make my idea come to life. Jessie’s work looks very comforting, natural and alive. Roman’s work looks rugged, purposeful and in-your-face. I like all of those desriptors (although I don’t know how they translate to traditional tattoo talk).

Ultimately, I want the totems to integrate into one piece that captures my free spirit, my passion for Mother Earth and my appreciation for Native American lore. It doesn’t have to be too totem pole, as I think an American traditional interpretation would make it very unique.

I asked this question because I don’t really know what I want, and I am certain using my loose instructions, both would take me somewhere different. I guess that’s why I want feedback. I’m NOT an artist, I just know the message behind my madness…I just want an artist that will make it come to life.

#121132
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

What style would you call this one?
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150299081756997&set=a.5315236996.11491.690176996&type=3&theater
I’m not a fan of the skull, but the artistry of this one is something like I’m thinking…I guess.

#121133
ArniVidar
Moderator
@arnividar

Well, Jessie seems to be fairly proficient at B/G portraits, but I’m not overly impressed with her lettering and banner work

Roman, however, bothers me somehow. Some of his pieces are okay and others I really hate. There are quite severe blowouts in places and poorly executed lines all over the place, and then you have other pieces where he does good lines. He truly sucks at anything relating to anatomical correctness (including faces), but his strong suit seems to be the more traditional/Japanese kind of work. I find his (lack of) color blending skills bothersome, but not being much into the whole traditional/Japanese themes, I can’t say if that is intentional or not. Overall, to me he looks to be of somewhere around average skill and little artistic ability.

Frankly, you could find better artists in both fields, but you could also find worse ones.

What I meant, though, is that even though you don’t really know what you want, surely you know what you like and don’t like. As I see it, you need to build that into some cohesive ‘image’ in your head of what this totem might conceptually look like, if for nothing other than being able to say “I like this but I don’t like this” when your artist shows you his sketches.

But with so little to go on, you would definitely need a good artist to transform your half-formed thoughts into a proper tattoo piece. Roman is definitely not up to that, and seeing as what Jessie does best it reproduction of reality, I’m not sure she has the artistic imagination to create fantasy out of thin air.

#121134
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

Holy cow, Arni, you have no idea how much I appreciate your feedback. I am not about to rush into this process, and that’s why I’m on this board. However, I know that others’ feedback will vary to some degree.

Are you willing to give your thoughts on my third artist I’m looking at? http://exiletattoo.net/dannygallery.html I’d love to know what you think.

Others, please tell me your thoughts too.

#121139
ArniVidar
Moderator
@arnividar

Well, again, since Traditional/Japanese isn’t really my area of interest, I can’t really say how Danny’s work compares, but at least both Danny (and Jessie, too) does very good lines. I don’t like the lack of color blending, but I’m starting to imagine that’s just my view on Traditional/Japanese in general that’s coloring my opinion there (pun intended).
Danny’s portrait work is not as good as Jessie’s, though, and his artwork is all bad.

If you like this sort of thick, bold lines and sharp, vivid colors, perhaps you’ve found where your tastes lie? Maybe you like Traditional and/or Japanese artwork, and want your totem to be somewhere in that category?

Obviously, you can’t know what these people can come up with until you’ve talked to them and even seen some sketches, and it may well be that I’m WAY off base with my belief that they’re not very artistically creative.

There are users here from all over the planet, so perhaps if you said where you’re at, people might recommend good artists in those genre’s, relatively near your location, for you to browse through.

#121373
kcgreyhound
Participant
@kcgreyhound

Although I don’t really understand (I am a newbie, for sure) the different types of tattoo styles, I do think I’m more attracted to American Traditional and or Japanese. I look up Irizumi and American, and those seem to be meshing what I’m seeing in my head.

I’m meeting with one of the artists (Roman) this weekend just to get his ideas.

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