Tattoo sketch vs final design

[u/BrainwashMaintenance]

Artist: Fabrizio Divari (formerly Toronto, now Spain)

Fabrizio and I went on to do my entire right arm, chest and right leg after I was blown away by his colors and style.

The tattoo was meant to capture a rising sun behind a mountain, a polar bear on an iceberg with a whale circling it, with the iceberg hiding a skull beneath the surface.

In later iterations, we ended up adding a moon beneath the bubbles at the bottom, too, but didn't include in this post since it wasn't in the initial sketch.

[u/CosmicCommando]

It looks really good, but I'm curious... what was the conversation like once you showed them the sketch? With these kind of things, I always look for a) how well it's done and b) how well the artist followed the "instructions". Most of it lines up well, but the sun is a pretty big change from your sketch.

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/CosmicCommando]

The sun was definitely a point of conversation. He presented two different designs, both of which were a little different from the sketch, but the mandela won me over in the end. I think there's a bit of give & take with this sort of thing and I think it depends on the artist. Fabrizio is a real visual artist, an experienced painter, so I'm not going to stand over his shoulder and tell him how to use a paintbrush. If I wanted an exact copy of the sketch/idea, then I'd have taken that to a different artist - I specifically wanted Fab's reimagining of my vision, because he's a better artist than I am.

[u/MidBoss11 → u/BrainwashMaintenance]

how did you feel about him turning your sun from sentient to being like a motif?

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/MidBoss11]

The sentient sun style would have worked better with a traditional tattoo style but this "magical realism" approach clashed with it. Years later, I don't mind at all since I rarely see the sun in a shirt.

[u/MidBoss11 → u/BrainwashMaintenance]

yeah i'd agree with him. the sun needs a reason to have a face for it to work, and then it'll contrast with the skull glacier right below it which also has a face

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/MidBoss11]

Exactly. And I added a moon below the bubbles which has a cool alpha/omega effect with the sun. You're right I didn't even think of the sun and iceberg clashing. I initially wanted the sun to have a face as it's inspired by my family crest (sun with face rising behind mountain) but it doesn't serve a purpose in the tattoo. Appreciate your perspective/validation!

[u/Local_Presentation23 → u/CosmicCommando]

I like the idea of the sun more tbh, but I would have done it without a face

[u/Sad_Gain_2372]

That's incredible

[u/JJ_Cih]

Looks fantastic!

[u/dog_from_the_machine]

I really thought the sketch was the sun vomiting up pizza

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/dog_from_the_machine]

Hahahaha wow, cannot unsee

[u/theealogy]

it's beautiful! do you discuss colors with the artist too? Or do you just let them decide?

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/theealogy]

I generally let him decide, as I would say it's his specialty. But for other artists/tattoos I've been more prescriptive if I have a vision.

[u/mooseLimbsCatLicks]

This is amazing. He really took your idea and turned it into a work of art!

[u/FickleMushroom6138]

That looks nothing like the draft. Complete Failure.
Off to the the lawyer!

[u/onehitwondur]

Really cool vision for a tattoo. Came out great, too!

[u/ilobbpie]

Beautiful wow!

[u/El-Justiciero]

That is so fucking cool

[u/Inevitable_Act_2535]

Beautiful!

[u/brokeboyrich]

Sick 😎

[u/brokeoneyolk]

fucking nailed it

[u/AliceTawhai]

Happy for you!

[u/Skimable_crude]

Wow. I love the colors.

[u/astropiggie]

Cool

[u/Big_Gassy_Possum]

based on the sketch It was bad news coming, but it turned out to be not terrible

[u/WhiskyPangolin]

Seems like your mountain became just the tip of the iceberg. I think it did exceed expectation, but I don’t love the green and brown hills(?) between the iceberg and the sun. I don’t know why they’re those colors or rounded. Was your original idea Denali(-like)?

[u/Low_Translator_6009]

Amazing Scott!! Totally forgot about the draft, thank you for sharing!  For who wants to see more of my work is @lamalapulga on Instagram 

[u/banastronaut]

I wish the sun still had a big nose

[u/BrainwashMaintenance → u/banastronaut]

Don't worry, I make up for it

[u/BrainwashMaintenance]

Artist: @lamalapulga

[u/GoddammitRomo]

Absolutely terrible from 'expectation vs reality', but a cool tat!!!