Shawn Berber

I choose Shawn Berber because he himself is a tattoo artist but also makes artwork on this side along with tattooing people.  It is intresting to see the the work of someone who tattoo's people along with making art.  I like that in his portriates you can almost get impression of the subjects personalities and the kind of people they are and I want try display and show that with photos I take of my subjects.  Get a sense of the subject along with viewing them beautifully and gaining interest in what there tattoos about.  I love how colorful his paintings are warm feeling you recieve viewing them.  I hope I can make my subjects look just as interesting when people look at my photo as his do in his paintings.  His work is about documenting the tattoo culture with portraits and that is exactly what I am doing partially with my work.

Biography:
Like I said above his work is about documenting through painting the tattoo culture with portraits of individuals in the culture.  He received is B.F.A. at the Ringling college of art in 1999.  His work has been shown in private collections and exhibitions all across the world including Australia and Europe.  He had book published in 2006 titled "Tattooed Portrait's." For past 10 years he has taught drawing, painting and business of art.  He was artist before he became a tattoo artist after years of painting the culture he decided it was logical to become one.  Currently he works at Memoir Tattoo in L.A.

http://www.bigtattooplanet.com/features/artist-profile/shawn-barber-tattooed-portraits


2 Qoutes
"The people that I am painting are very specific artists, whose works that I respect and admire. Artists that are unique individuals with sincere devotion to their craft and a complete sense of integrity"

http://www.bigtattooplanet.com/features/artist-profile/shawn-barber-tattooed-portraits

"The series of paintings came about through my interest in the human figure, tattoos and exploring the possibilities of applying pigment to surface. Portraiture specifically intrigues me. It's a challenge to paint [contemporary artists] in a way that isn't cliché, but respectful and considerate of each person's art and their unique personalities."

http://www.prickmag.net/tattooedportraitsfeature.html

Images:

Interview
http://www.bigtattooplanet.com/features/artist-profile/shawn-barber-tattooed-portraits
http://www.sketchtheatre.com/?p=4567


Gallery:
http://joshualinergallery.com/artists/shawn_barber/

Website:
http://www.sdbarber.com/