Greetings followers!
Wow, it has really been a long time. This is a little embarrassing...
Life has been super hectic for me, between school, working two jobs, and anything else that might see fit to throw itself in my path. I haven't found myself with much time to draw lately, which is pretty depressing I must admit. I did, however, find time to design another tattoo for my friend JJ!
You may remember some time ago that I designed a memorial tattoo for JJ for her dog Daisy (check out my first blog post, if not). She was the first ever person to permanently apply a piece of my art to their body, and to this day I am still flattered.
So of course when she asked me to design another memorial tattoo for a close family pet, Autumn, I was honored and excited to get to work.
I sketched out a couple of potential ideas, but the one that stood out most in my mind turned out to be just what JJ was looking for. It fit nicely with her other tattoo as well!
You can see here the original sketch I did for JJ's Daisy tattoo, and I designed Autumn's memorial piece around it. I was worried that the red maple leaf motif might be too literal, but for some reason the idea wouldn't leave my head. I made it a little asymmetrical on purpose, to keep it interesting, and the veining on the leaf was meant to look like frost. JJ had expressed that she felt Autumn had passed away long before her time was up, and so I wanted to reflect this in the early signs of frost in the still colorful leaves. The coloring was a quick slap job just to be able to show off the details.
The tattooist Becky Benson did a beautiful job with it, adding a few embellishments of her own. She dabbed a little green and brown into the coloring (hard to see here), and though the frost veining detail was omitted, she left the lines skin colored, and opted out of using white as it was unnecessary and potentially distracting. Over all I feel the effect was well executed and it made for a nice additional piece to JJ's memorial arm. She wound up getting another tattoo on the other side of the Daisy piece in memory of her rat Minnie, balancing out the over all look, though that one I did not design.
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
Tattoo application and alterations © Becky Benson
Photograph © Jessica J. Heidelberg
( www.benaroundtattoos.com)
Tattoo application and alterations © Becky Benson
Photograph © Jessica J. Heidelberg
( www.benaroundtattoos.com)
Greetings everyone, and happy 2011!
It has been a while since I have posted anything, and for those who are keeping up with me, I apologize!
I recently purchased some art software, as well as a new Wacom tablet for the laptop I bought last year to replace my dying desktop, and I'm back in action!
In fact, I have a treat for all of you, and a very special one at that (for me, at least!)
I'm a bit of a geek, and have been known to frequent IRC chats from time to time, and it just so happened that one night, while expressing my sheer delight at the new Coral Painter 11, and Wacom Intuos4 I had just ordered, a fellow chatter contacted me and requested I do a full back tattoo for him!
The prospect of being right back in the game before I even had the tools was almost too exciting for me! Naturally, I accepted.
A couple days later, my new toys arrived, and I immediately began.
It has been a while since I have posted anything, and for those who are keeping up with me, I apologize!
I recently purchased some art software, as well as a new Wacom tablet for the laptop I bought last year to replace my dying desktop, and I'm back in action!
In fact, I have a treat for all of you, and a very special one at that (for me, at least!)
I'm a bit of a geek, and have been known to frequent IRC chats from time to time, and it just so happened that one night, while expressing my sheer delight at the new Coral Painter 11, and Wacom Intuos4 I had just ordered, a fellow chatter contacted me and requested I do a full back tattoo for him!
The prospect of being right back in the game before I even had the tools was almost too exciting for me! Naturally, I accepted.
A couple days later, my new toys arrived, and I immediately began.
I was asked to design a tattoo based on a Living Dead doll named Rain.
I told him I had some things in mind, and I'd throw together a sketch to see what he thought.
The picture above was the first iteration of what I sent.
He liked the over all feel of it, but was a little concerned with it not filling enough space on his back. Also he wanted her full body in the image. So back to the drawing board I went!
I told him I had some things in mind, and I'd throw together a sketch to see what he thought.
The picture above was the first iteration of what I sent.
He liked the over all feel of it, but was a little concerned with it not filling enough space on his back. Also he wanted her full body in the image. So back to the drawing board I went!
Here we are with the full body rendition of my first drawing. At his request I made her wings longer, and added some little touches like the skull and grass. This was much closer to the image he desired, but prior to my beginning on the refining process, we opted to lose the stylized trees for a much cleaner, simpler design.
This is the finished outline before shading, and what will be sent to the tattoo artist for a transfer. After some tweaking and a few back and forth discussions I finally arrived at a finished product.
And here she is!
The part that makes this piece so special to me, is that it's my first paid tattoo design commission. For me I feel like this is a big step into a hopefully bright and colorful future.
There are many things I still have to learn, but I want to thank "Rain's" commissioner Wes, and all of my other dear friends who have asked me to design for them for honoring me with such a unique opportunity.
You are my billboards, my mascots, and I love you all!
I could not ask for a greater gift.
Finished tattoo photo to be added when available!
The part that makes this piece so special to me, is that it's my first paid tattoo design commission. For me I feel like this is a big step into a hopefully bright and colorful future.
There are many things I still have to learn, but I want to thank "Rain's" commissioner Wes, and all of my other dear friends who have asked me to design for them for honoring me with such a unique opportunity.
You are my billboards, my mascots, and I love you all!
I could not ask for a greater gift.
Finished tattoo photo to be added when available!
Tattoo Design © Sophia Cowan
"Rain" Doll Design © Mezco Toyz, LLC www.livingdeaddolls.com
Commissioned and Paid For by Wes Adkinson
"Rain" Doll Design © Mezco Toyz, LLC www.livingdeaddolls.com
Commissioned and Paid For by Wes Adkinson
Hey all you guys and gals!
I'm putting this out there to my beloved watchers to let you know that I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth (yet). My college Japanese language course is keeping me on my toes at the moment, and it's been hard finding time to get back to the drawing board (so to speak).
My dear friend JJ has hinted that she won't be able to get her half sleeve until after Christmas, but I fully intend to have it done before then (hear that JJ? Start getting excited!)
To all of the rest of you, be looking out for a line-art before too long, and a finished product before Christmas!
Thanks so much for sticking with me!
Sophia
I'm putting this out there to my beloved watchers to let you know that I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth (yet). My college Japanese language course is keeping me on my toes at the moment, and it's been hard finding time to get back to the drawing board (so to speak).
My dear friend JJ has hinted that she won't be able to get her half sleeve until after Christmas, but I fully intend to have it done before then (hear that JJ? Start getting excited!)
To all of the rest of you, be looking out for a line-art before too long, and a finished product before Christmas!
Thanks so much for sticking with me!
Sophia
So it's been a few months since JJ got my last piece tattooed on her arm,
and now it's time for another!
She has entrusted me with the task of designing a half sleeve to
adorn her right upper arm.
On the half sleeve she's requested a Great Blue Heron,
an animal her husband Lance has a
close tie with,
along with a verse from the Song of Songs that reads:
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm."
I finally got to work on it this evening, and here is the finalized sketch
that has been approved by JJ,
and that I will be working from.
I had originally planned to work the text into the clouds and
water somehow, but we both opted that it would be a better idea
to put it on the back of her arm with the water lilies, as there
is more room.
Check back,
I'll be updating with a line-art soon.
TO BE CONTINUED...
and now it's time for another!
She has entrusted me with the task of designing a half sleeve to
adorn her right upper arm.
On the half sleeve she's requested a Great Blue Heron,
an animal her husband Lance has a
close tie with,
along with a verse from the Song of Songs that reads:
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm."
I finally got to work on it this evening, and here is the finalized sketch
that has been approved by JJ,
and that I will be working from.
I had originally planned to work the text into the clouds and
water somehow, but we both opted that it would be a better idea
to put it on the back of her arm with the water lilies, as there
is more room.
Check back,
I'll be updating with a line-art soon.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Here are a few designs I've done over the years, and as of yet, to my knowledge
have not been applied.
These are a pair of tattoos I designed for a friend of mine,
and her girlfriend.
She wanted a lock and key with as much detail as would fit on the side of her ankle.
I did my best!
This is a piece I did for a guy I used to live with.
He wanted a beast that looked like it was coming out of his arm.
I thought a Cerberus-like motif would suit him.
I think the hardest part about this one was making the three
heads look attached!
I did this one for an acquaintance of mine.
He requested a pair of die with the faces adding up to 7.
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
have not been applied.
These are a pair of tattoos I designed for a friend of mine,
and her girlfriend.
She wanted a lock and key with as much detail as would fit on the side of her ankle.
I did my best!
This is a piece I did for a guy I used to live with.
He wanted a beast that looked like it was coming out of his arm.
I thought a Cerberus-like motif would suit him.
I think the hardest part about this one was making the three
heads look attached!
I did this one for an acquaintance of mine.
He requested a pair of die with the faces adding up to 7.
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
My second tattoo design request came shortly after JJ showed off my first to my coworkers.
A girl I work with, Amy requested I design her a mermaid tattoo to fit on her side,
and so, sparked by a surge of inspiration, I finished the design
a few days later.
I had agreed to do the piece for free, as she was a friend, and also
for the opportunity to put the finished product in a portfolio.
She loved the design, and from that point it was settled.
A couple months later, she set an appointment to get the tattoo done.
I had requested to go with her, since I was unable to go with JJ
when she got hers done.
However, upon showing up at the tattoo parlor, I learned a few things
that at the time were a little upsetting.
One was that a good 2/3 of my tattoo design had been altered by the tattooist,
and the rest had been traced from my original drawing.
The finished piece is beautiful, as you can see, but it is no longer my work,
and I can not use this photo in a portfolio.
I've chosen to see this as a valuable learning experience.
Tattoo artists, whenever they can, will request the opportunity
to add their own touch to a piece, which is understandable.
In the art world, you have to make a name for yourself wherever you can.
I implore my clients to please keep my pieces as is, and leave
any alterations up to me.
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
Tattoo application and redesign © Becky Benson
( www.benaroundtattoos.com )
Photograph © Amy Shumaker
A girl I work with, Amy requested I design her a mermaid tattoo to fit on her side,
and so, sparked by a surge of inspiration, I finished the design
a few days later.
I had agreed to do the piece for free, as she was a friend, and also
for the opportunity to put the finished product in a portfolio.
She loved the design, and from that point it was settled.
A couple months later, she set an appointment to get the tattoo done.
I had requested to go with her, since I was unable to go with JJ
when she got hers done.
However, upon showing up at the tattoo parlor, I learned a few things
that at the time were a little upsetting.
One was that a good 2/3 of my tattoo design had been altered by the tattooist,
and the rest had been traced from my original drawing.
The finished piece is beautiful, as you can see, but it is no longer my work,
and I can not use this photo in a portfolio.
I've chosen to see this as a valuable learning experience.
Tattoo artists, whenever they can, will request the opportunity
to add their own touch to a piece, which is understandable.
In the art world, you have to make a name for yourself wherever you can.
I implore my clients to please keep my pieces as is, and leave
any alterations up to me.
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
Tattoo application and redesign © Becky Benson
( www.benaroundtattoos.com )
Photograph © Amy Shumaker
So I had originally started this blog a while back with the intent of writing in it every day, utilizing it for sudden strokes of literary genius that, lets face it, never come.
SO, I have scrapped my original blog idea for something more useful. Something, hopefully, more interesting.
Some time last year (2008), I was asked by my close friend and room mate to design a tattoo for her,Enter text here. commemorating the death of her beloved family dog, Daisy.
At first I was shocked, skeptical, mostly of my own ability to design something intended to become a permanent installment on someone elses body.
Also skeptical that my original design would be appreciated, but scrapped later in favor of something more interesting.
But I must say, I was wrong to doubt on both counts.
After a few different incarnations, I came up with a design that my room mate loved.
We had both agreed that cliche paw prints and things of that nature had no place in her dogs memorial piece, and so she opted instead for something more symbolic.
This was as far as the original design got in my own hands, as JJ insisted she didn't want me to change anything. She liked the sketchiness of it, and requested that I didn't finish it out.
This of course made me extremely fidgety at first, having a raw piece hijacked before it was finished, but that's what she wanted!
And so I let it go.
One evening, a few months later, JJ came home and ran into my room, looking slightly pekid, but beaming from ear to ear.
"Sophie, look what I got!"
I looked at her arm, and was momentarily dumbfounded.
There was my tattoo, looking vibrant in all its coloredEnter text here. permanence on the inside of her upper arm.
The tattooist, Becky Benson, from Ben Around Tattoos in our home-town of Charlottesville, VA
had taken my design and cleaned it up with care, swapped the plaque motif
for a banner in favor of a more traditional tattoo look,
and brought the whole thing to life with some color.
I was amazed.
Still am!
Since then, friends near and far had heard of my design, and came to me
requesting designs of their own.
I didn't know what to think. Even now I am still in awe, and
deeply flattered by their requests.
And it's all thanks to my friend JJ, who thought enough of my artwork to
make me a part of a very important life decision.
In turn, I would like to invite whoever may be reading this to join me in my journey,
of which this is just the beginning!
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
Tattoo application and alterations © Becky Benson
Photograph © Becky Benson
( www.benaroundtattoos.com)
SO, I have scrapped my original blog idea for something more useful. Something, hopefully, more interesting.
Some time last year (2008), I was asked by my close friend and room mate to design a tattoo for her,
At first I was shocked, skeptical, mostly of my own ability to design something intended to become a permanent installment on someone elses body.
Also skeptical that my original design would be appreciated, but scrapped later in favor of something more interesting.
But I must say, I was wrong to doubt on both counts.
After a few different incarnations, I came up with a design that my room mate loved.
We had both agreed that cliche paw prints and things of that nature had no place in her dogs memorial piece, and so she opted instead for something more symbolic.
This was as far as the original design got in my own hands, as JJ insisted she didn't want me to change anything. She liked the sketchiness of it, and requested that I didn't finish it out.
This of course made me extremely fidgety at first, having a raw piece hijacked before it was finished, but that's what she wanted!
And so I let it go.
One evening, a few months later, JJ came home and ran into my room, looking slightly pekid, but beaming from ear to ear.
"Sophie, look what I got!"
I looked at her arm, and was momentarily dumbfounded.
There was my tattoo, looking vibrant in all its colored
The tattooist, Becky Benson, from Ben Around Tattoos in our home-town of Charlottesville, VA
had taken my design and cleaned it up with care, swapped the plaque motif
for a banner in favor of a more traditional tattoo look,
and brought the whole thing to life with some color.
I was amazed.
Still am!
Since then, friends near and far had heard of my design, and came to me
requesting designs of their own.
I didn't know what to think. Even now I am still in awe, and
deeply flattered by their requests.
And it's all thanks to my friend JJ, who thought enough of my artwork to
make me a part of a very important life decision.
In turn, I would like to invite whoever may be reading this to join me in my journey,
of which this is just the beginning!
Tattoo design © Sophia Cowan
Tattoo application and alterations © Becky Benson
Photograph © Becky Benson
( www.benaroundtattoos.com)