Custom Artists

To whom it may concern, rather than a question, I'd just like to offer a comment to anyone thinking about getting some ink for the first time. Here's my advice. I'm a graphic designer for a living, and art is what I do. I'm really good at it too... but I have to tell you, tattoos in general are a whole different ball game. These guys who have gone through the process of apprenticing and really developing their custom design skills are the bomb. My advice is this. Get an idea you kind of like, give it to a custom artist, and stand back and let them work. You may think you've got a great idea, but somebody who is not too close to it can take it and really make it 50 times better. I can say this, because I am a total perfectionist and control freak, and my guy came up with a design from my ideas that I never would have been able to pull off on my best day. That's what you pay and trust them to do! When i presented my artist with this piece of flash I really liked, he was very gracious, but I couldn't understand why he didn't think (as I did) that it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Now I know. After seeing his interpretation, it was so much more creative I couldn't belive it. So, my advice is go to your custom guys and trust them to come up with something excellent. Forget the flash. Let these guys do what they do best! And guess what? It's all mine. No one else on the globe has it.

Right on the money Al11 As a perfect example of this...I cannot for the life of me come up with a satsfactory logo for my studio (Painted Angel) I am too close to it and my brain goes into overload everytime I try to put pen to paper. Now I have been designing custom tattoos for many years in addition to having 2 degrees one in fine arts one in the graphic arts...but when it comes to my own stuff I gotta get some help from talented guys like ol Cactus Al there (hint hint!!) I have no compunctions or reservations about seeking a little help nor should anyone else!!...TAz

Painted Angel huh? Hmmmm.... I'll have to think about that one a bit! That's tough... there are a limitless number of potentially gorgeous interpretations for that. No wonder you are having trouble! Well, kudos for not taking the easy way out on a name....

Al I would appreciate any ideas...and I'll Pay!...lol!...TAz

interpitation of the old celtic language my screen names mean good and ohnesty. i like the name painted ange i had a name for a while thought it was catchy but its long. but before you pay al there taz you gots a IRISH HICKEY COMIN TO YA OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW IM GONNA DO IT UPRIGHT TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! even if ya do move to bolivia! lol ( don)

Hey Taz, here's a thought... Is it for your tat shop? If it is, here's a possiblitily. Sometimes people think way too hard about a logo thinking that it needs to sum up everything aobut them. They look for a perfect symbol that will do it all, and sometimes there isn't one. Sometimes it's better to have a logo that is pure type, and then accent your business cards and everything else with not just the logo, but really fantastic multiple images. So, in other words, maybe instead of a picture of a painted angel, maybe you just want the words "Painted Angel" in your logo. There is an artist who has a really fantastic calligraphic style which I'm sure you've seen before. Her name is Margo Chase. She does all the stuff for the WB, like the Buffy the Vampire Slayer logo, Charmed logo, stuff like that. "Painted Angel" would look incredible in "Margo Chase" style, so I'd say go to Margo Chase.com and check out some of her stuff. So, somebody, you, me, somebody else comes up with a really baddass, tight logotype and then you apply it really artistically to your cards with images... Here's a possible scenario... So on the front of your business cards you have maybe the "Painted Angel" logo type with your info, and it's all laying over some kind of "Black on Black" tribal backround or something. Maybe really subtle, you can barely see it. 100% Black and the design is like 90% Black. Know what I mean? So then, you flip over the business card, and there is nothing on the back but just this really classy full bleed shot of this gorgeous chick looking back over her shoulder at some gorgeous art you've done. And the whole think is done really classy, like just barely soft focused, but erotic, and so you have this painted angel on the back of your card (photo, not a drawing) and maybe it's even duotoned or something? Blue with black? Amber with black? Like a sepia tone..... But then, you find or shoot like 6 really great shots and those become the backs of your cards, showing off your work... maybe they are all Black and White photos because the look is really artistic and classy... So, six diffferent people could all get different cards from you... or one guy comes in and all six cards are so cool he wants one of each and then gives them to his friends... so, your name gets passed around, your hourly goes up, the tips get bigger because you are seen as just so clean, classy, professional, CUSTOM, and it's all good. But maybe instead of trying to come up with a logo picture for Painted angel, maybe you show them instead what painted angels look like... 100 different ways. Who knows? just a thought. Maybe it's your style, maybe not, but at least maybe that will help you change gears and look at it a new way...What's your email? If I run into some good examples today, I'll shoot em to ya. Cactus

OH CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. Too much?

Oh no Al... I was talkin to Erlich...he keeps threatening me with an Irish Hickey!,, Your ideas ,as I was sure they would be, Are excellent and hell yeah e mail me any ideas you got my friend I appreciate the hell out of it! [email removed] And ya might check out the site it has some graphics on it...I love our angel but as you said a more :graphic approach is what I;m lookin for ...Thanks again man...send me the bill!!!!...TAz Oh yeah The site is www.paintedangel.com...T

hey taz, im sure you thought of this idea but ill give it a shot. how bout just what youre shop name is a "painted angel". no i dont mean just the name but some art that is of a tattooed angel. maybe tattooed with the old clapping hands and a portrait of jesus and maybe a mary on her,etc.. then you can take it a step further and have a tattooed angel fighting a tattooed devil. as for the irish hickey thing i dont think itll work.

Good ideas Crockett thanks man!,,We do have our "angel" I don't know if you've been to the website but she is on the front page ..we 've been using her for quite a while now and the bitch is gettin oldLOL!!! She has served her purpose well ,,,just gettin tired of her... need to trade her in ( like I do my wives every couple years! Well they break easy!) Anyway thanks for the ideas bud I will keep em in my noggin and see what we can come up with. I'm thinkin about hittin up Joe (capobianco) for one of his pin up girl angels ...Hell I dunno!!!!///TAz

that irish hickey is between me and taz not the name of a shop names. one at a time, erlichs ink spot ,erlichs tattoo, tattoos by erlich. artisticskin impressions ,artistic skin, gravestone tattoos (take it to the grave with ya) artistic dermagraphics unlimitied,tazs tattoo, tattoos by taz ,wildside tattoo,against conformity tattoo,personal expressions ink body art and tattoo.just a few i coughed up now as far as that hicke goes taz im 6 ft 1 275 irish and indian and old school before old school was around and i dont hold many morals on just who gets the irish hickey so come over here big guy or better yet i can come to you!!! lol

I'm gettin all MOIST!!!!!!...TAz

havent been to the website taz ill get to it one of these days. good thoughts on having joe do something for you i thought about that after i posted. also for some reason when i hear painted angel some of david bolts designs pop into my mind or at least his style. maybe check him out as well. well unfortunately im not retired like yourself and have to go get ready for work...lol. i always wondered how you got so many posts on this forum...