Meet Angel Dettlaff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Dettlaff.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Well, what am I supposed to say? I’ve always been into arts, from preschool times on. Horses have been one of the first things I was trying to bring onto paper, later on followed by manga and comic characters, as I’ve always been a big fan of Wonder Woman, Captain America and such.

So after getting out of school I started to try getting my foot into the artist world on a more professional level, by doing workshops about specific art materials and by teaching others how to bring their ideas out of their heads on the paper.

Shortly after attending at my first conventions as an artist with my own table, autograph sessions and workshops, I started studying at a private art school, and there I was lucky to have been able to have an actual comic artist as teacher for 3 semester.

Afterwards I decided to finally start working at my own stories and did so for a few years. But then my health decided that a busy life with traveling from one convention to the next won’t be something I will be able to do for the rest of my life.

And so I took a bit slower and even took some years break of all. After finally feeling better I realized that I needed to change something, art couldn’t be a pressured, from one event to the next, rushed and busy thing, so I had a long chat with some artist friends and they told me to simply sit down and to think about what I really love to do.

Sure, I love to do comic artworks, but my heart really is beating for doing pet portraits, and so here I am now, after 17 years I am finally doing something I absolutely love to do.

To see and read all those mails, pictures and videos of someone being so happy about an artwork of their pet, that’s something that makes me happy as well, and I am more than just grateful about every of those persons trusting me with this task.

Every single of those pets is so unique in its own way, their characters are so different and I am happy to be able to bring their owners even a slight smile to their face, seeing their beloved pets being brought down to paper.

I just hope to be able to bring more smiles and joy to more people and to be able to meet more amazing people and their pets due to this work of mine.

Please tell us about your art.
For many years I manly created either manga or comic art, pet and animal portraits have been just a side thing to do.

But finally I realized that working at such special artworks, like these pet portraits, that this is my real passion to do.

To bring a smile to the owner’s faces is such a pleasure to do. And more than just once those clients turned into dear friends.

Though I still love to work at my comic and Manga artwork.

At the same time art is my way to stay sane, if that’s the right way to put it without sounding too crazy 😉

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Ah, seeing it from an artist’s side…

It sadly has been a battle to have people accept the rates an artist like me is charging for a unique piece of art.

Most people sadly are forgetting how many hours of work, energy and also inspiration are going into a piece of artwork.

For me, as example, I am usually spending about 10 to 12 hours at a pet portrait, I am already one of the faster artists and I am charging minimum wage, yet there are people asking me to go down with the price, at times they are asking for 80% or more of the original price.

As a client you have to ask yourself, do I love the artwork?
Would I work for this money?

It’s about respecting the hard work, even though a lot of people still think that doing artworks is no real job, but I can assure you of that working as a waitress, cashiers girl, teacher and such at times hasn’t been as exhausting than working at an illustration which requires my full brain.

Things haven’t become easier with the Internet and easy access to “naive” young artists, which sadly don’t know the value of their art yet and so they are charging less than they actually could, which gives certain people the idea that paying someone $5 for an artwork they sat days on is okay.

I know, it can be so tempting to take that $5, especially if you just started as an artist, and as you are happy that someone is actually paying something for your art.
But you never should sell yourself for a few bucks.

As an artist you need to learn to value your own creations, you need to learn that your art is worth something and for every of those people not willing to pay you the amount your art is worth it, there will be someone else happily giving you want you want, as they value you and your hard work 🙂

Never give up your passion, even though there might be days you just simply want to give up and to break in to all those around you telling you are not worth it and that your art is not good.

Just keep drawing, painting and crafting.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Oh, up till some years ago you could find me on several different events, like comic conventions and such, but lately I’ve been mostly active to be found on social media, like Instagram and Facebook.

To find and contact me is quite easy, you just need to Google me, there is only one artist with this name, which is a clear benefit from having a name no one really can pronounce right away: D

If you are interested in commissioning an artwork, don’t hesitate to contact me and to ask for more information 🙂

I still will attend selected events and the dates will be posted on my social media in time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artworkangeldettlaff.jimdo.com
• Email: artworkangeldettlaff@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/petportraitsbyangeldettlaff
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artworkangeldettlaff
• Other: www.instagram.com/angeldettlaff

   

Image Credit:
1st image Octavia and Lincoln from the 100
2nd image From of my upcoming adult coloring book
3rd image Alan Rickman
4th image Hovawart Roxy
5th image Racing horse Seabiscuit
6th image Beagle Ida
7th image Great Dane Lenny
8th image Beagle Daisy

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.