Custom Graphic Series Artist
Recently I have been furthering my research into the USA Custom Graphics series of guitars and there artist. I have been lucky enough to chat with Pamelina Hovnatanian the artist responsible for some of the most eye-catching designs ever seen on a guitar. Know simply as Pamelina, her work has been sort after by such names as Aerosmith, BonJovi and Motley Crue to name but three. She continues to inspire and is currently working on a unique and challenging design for Fender Guitars.
Please enjoy this rare insight into a very exiting period in Ibanez's History.
How did Ibanez get in touch with you?
My memory is a bit vague on that. Back then, I was getting a lot of business from NAMM. But I also met a guitar builder named Mike Lipe ( the Guitar Doctor ) and he was doing a lot of work for Ibanez. I may have hooked up with them through him.
Which designs did you paint?
There's a woman dressed in
a leather outfit, hand on hip
combined with graphic stripes done with copper leaf.
Purple tiles that come
apart in one corner revealing a woman taking her shirt off.
Fingers tearing through a
tie-dyed shirt.
A prehistoric skull lying on the ground under a smoky yellow sky.
A wicked clown.
A metal spider web with a
furry spider with fangs.
A screaming eagle.
A blue-toned shadowy
guillotine.
A
head unwrapping against a cloudy blue sky.
A nouveau style painting of
a woman holding a guitar.
A tattoo one which was a
take-off of a Boris Vallejo painting.
And more...
Did you sign all the guitars or did you make any other marks say under the trem or in the neck pocket?
I signed every last one of them.
Were the designs your ideas or were you given guidelines to work within?
My ideas.
Did the bodies come to you ready to paint or did you need to prepare them to your requirements?
They're given to me painted, cleared and color sanded. After I'm done, more clear is added on top of my artwork.
What do you know about the so-called pre-production models that are around, the ones not in the catalogues, were they samples for the final production run?
You know, honestly, I don't know. If I could see the actual guitar and recognize the work, I may be able to shed light on it.
I think I painted the lighting
bolt guitar. Those were real popular for a while.
Also the sphere and checkers. I don't know who did the original design, but i
took over production of those graphics. It was the first thing i ever did for
Ibanez
Lots of artists had graphic designs in the late 80's early 90's, have you painted designs for other individual artists especially Ibanez artists?
Most notable Ibanez artist that I painted for was and is Jennifer Batten. I've painted several guitars for her and continue to do so.
Wang Chung was an Ibanez artist.
Other than that,
Tony Montana (Great White)
Jeff Beck
Stu Hamm
Poison
(I know I'm forgetting some)
I painted a lot of drums and drum heads also.
Poison
Motley Crue
Fleetwood Mac
Cinderella
Sheila E.
Jonathan Moffett (Madonna tour)
Ratt
I also created a lot of tour merchandise designs.
Scorpions
Megadeth
Skid Row
Genesis
Aerosmith
Jimmy Buffett
Lollapalooza
Bon Jovi
What's the wildest design you've undertaken?
The one I'm working on now. Here's a picture of it. This is the design. I'm getting ready to paint the actual guitar.
Is there any design you wouldn't undertake?
Yes, anything ripping through anything else. I recently refused to do it, actually. It's been done to death. Enough already.
Where else has your work appeared?
As far as publications go? My work's been in Guitar World and other music magazines. My work has also been in Tattoo Savage, Easyriders, VQ and Air Brush Action magazines.
Do you undertake repairs or restoration on guitars with damaged artwork?
I haven't been asked to yet. I think guitars with some damage just have character.
Do you still take on commissions from individual artists?
I most certainly do.
Do you play guitar yourself?
No, but I'm married to a drummer.
Have you done any work recently that you'd like to share with us?
Sure. Always happy to show off the new stuf.
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 Not a new one but a personal favourite |
Is there any guitarist living or dead that you would like to paint a guitar for?
Yes, I'd love to paint a guitar for Dave Gilmore.
How can people contact you for custom work?
The best way would be through my website, www.pamelina.com. Email me with something very specific in the subject line. I get a lot of junk mail. Or you can call me at 818/ 951-9921.