Let me preface this by stating this rating is not indicative of the business as a whole…read more
The owner did offer to "fix" this for no cost, however I'm on a plane out of the country tomorrow so that's impossible. It has to heal before anyone even attempted it, and quite honestly I don't think this is fixable.
I really struggled with leaving this review. I dont want to make it harder for the artist (Brett), I dont want to hurt the business, however I've been looking at this for 5 days now and every day I get more upset. Also, there's a burden of emotion I need to remove somehow, and since I got no offer of a refund on this 600 dollar disaster, this forum is all I have to make myself feel just a little bit better.
Yes, that's right - I prepaid. Mistake #1. Make a note, anyone who's reading, don't ever do that.
The pictures speak for themselves.
I asked for some gray pattern work behind the existing designs, to enhance the overall sleeve without taking away from the art already there. I honestly thought at first he had mixed the black with a little white, and after the first wipe I saw the dark lines and thought well, let's see where this goes.
One thing that really gets me is that his lines on the top of my arm where I was watching him work were actually OK, consistent, not wavy, generally decent for free hand.
On the back of the arm, well you can see for yourselves. Abhorrent. Absolutely ridiculous and lazy.
On top of that, have you ever heard someone sigh or make that sound of disinterest, bordering on apathy, indicating that they don't wanna be there? That's what he did at least 3 or 4 times while he was working. So much so the other artist who was busy on another client said something about it. Red flag, I know... shoulda got up right there and left.
Once he started shading though, I really saw how inept this artist is.
In my profession I need to react quickly to unforseen contingencies, and quite honestly I'm angry at myself for allowing it to go on for the 10 minutes he destroyed my arm with his shading.
At first I figured with the rough, patchy, and inconsistent work that this was his method of gray work. Nope, he was done "shading" that spot and moved on. Then he goes over one of the small lines with a shader and made it huge, going outside others, making a blowouts, and letting the shader go dry a few times and honestly I was kind of in shock.
I watched for another minute before I stopped him, and honestly that was too long. I blame myself for the level of damage, but, at least I did react. Not fast enough.
Brett honestly had no clue why I got up and left. In his conversation with the other artist who was inquiring why I was leaving it was evident, and thats a problem. One I couldn't let go considering there's no other way to warn others except here. Unfortunately this is one of the reasons I HAD to write this review. The other, I mentioned before, I gotta get this off my chest somehow. I'm pissed. This is permanent.
Again, I need to re-emphasize the owner did offer to try to make it right to the best of their ability, sadly that's not enough.
I'm certain my experience is rather isolated. There's plenty of good examples of work from this shop in the reviews, but I had to say something to the rest of you. Learn from my mistake if you can.
I have to look at this for the next 3 to 4 months on my next rotation overseas. This is embarrassing and unacceptable. I found an artist in Austin who said they'd take care of me, so perhaps in October or November (depends on when the taliban decide to take over Kabul really) I'll be able to roll up my sleeves again.