DON'T DEAL WITH DAVE!
There's a difference between a professional and a person working a profession they should have reconsidered for the sake of their own self interest. Just because you're around for 25+ years doesn't make you great. You can paint for a whole life time, doesn't mean you'll ever be remembered for anything you've done or have achieved something with it.
I had the "OPPORTUNITY" to work on an amazing concept art which was "a deal" and "a favor" and all this great stuff I got told, which was never finished and later had to come back for rework which he refused to do and I was turned away and asked to leave the store. The ink is 6 years old and it looks like it's aged 20 years, and he never finished his work to complete the discussed and agreed piece.
I spent a lot of money that was hard earned for what I was once proud to represent, now I'm warning everyone.
There is something not right about a guy who trash talks others in the industry which he himself had to work his way into, just to boast about himself in comparison to all the others who can do the same work he does and claims to be professional. Professionals don't take 10 smoke breaks and go upstairs to do drugs during work hours, then come down and relax and stand around and talk to people who have nothing to do with the business transaction and try to showing the work that's not even done. That's a guy who's just making merchandise of you.
Don't be fooled, find someone serious and not too stubborn to throw in the towel and say "it was a nice run, but now I'm done.".
Only rockstars and master artists can create art that's worth more when they're gone FOREVER, this guy isn't EITHER he just acts like he is because he can't cope with being a nobody. Hence the logo choice which has written "to my friend Dave" in the design, signed by some guy on the on the other side of the planet that doesn't even have a reputation for anything done in Hamilton let alone Canada beyond being this persons "friend".
Go with a professional, not a charlatan, don't waste your time with apprenticeship, don't bother coming here for work, THERE'S A REASON that this shop doesn't post what the terms and conditions are online and what the pay scale and structure is transparently like a professional shop would.
Spare yourself from getting caught in the trap of waiting to eat the crumbs from under a table that there's not much bread coming to and suffer for his mistakes and mismanagement, and then get verbally abused and manipulated by intimidation, acts of violence such as yelling, swearing, door slamming, phone slamming and even blackmailing.
Don't let this guy do you any "favors" or give you some kinda deal, you'll be finding another shop to tell the story while you spend more money you had to work hard for to fix the problems. read more
