Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Gutstein
Hi Eden, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! First of all, thank you so much for reaching out to me and finding interest in my work. My work as an artist started at a young age, however it was not always the form of art I make now. From a young age I had an interest in performance and theater, which was my biggest passion growing up. At 2018, I started my studies at SCAD, The Savannah College of Art and Design with acting as my major. The first year of SCAD we had to take a lot of foundation classes in fine art, and a lot of those classes revolved around drawing and painting. At that point I used to draw as a hobby and I knew how to tattoo, but I did not think that I was going to build a career out of it. However, the more I took those classes, I realized how much joy I found in drawing. I also realized that I am a lot better at drawing then what I previously thought. During my second year of college I realized I wanted to change my major from theater to illustration. The acting classes I have taken up until that point went towards a minor in acting, so I won’t lose the credits. Tattooing became something I started doing more regularly by that point as well as other forms of artwork. In 2021, I got a job at Criminal Records working as the in-house designer, where I created different merchandise for the store, as well as a spread for Criminal Record’s 30 year anniversary that was featured in Record Plug’s Magazine in August of 2021. That sparked my idea to want to do more editorial work that would also be featured in magazines and book covers. Throughout the years I have been blessed with great opportunities that gave me a chance to do what I love doing the most. In fall of 2023, I had a great opportunity of collaborating with Science Gallery Atlanta, as an illustrator for their Justice exhibition. I was able to create different banners and posters for their events, surrounding different ideas and subjects of conversation. This year, I have had my artwork featured in numerous magazines, some abroad, such as Italy, Spain and Thailand. Throughout this year I also published my very first book, which is a tattoo coloring book that is currently sold on Amazon as well as in Criminal Records. Around the summer time this year I was honored to have my artwork featured in the streets of Midtown Atlanta, as a part of a collaboration with Midtown Art Alliance. My most recent project was designing a book cover for an author in the Netherlands, which is a very exciting opportunity.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not always been smooth, but I think the challenges I faced were what motivated me to keep going. Atlanta is a city that has so many talented artists and creatives and sometimes it is hard to understand where I fit in with the rest and how my work could still stand out. I do think that in some ways the art scene here can be a little clicky which makes it harder to have doors open and connect with people, unless you are already in a certain circle. For me it is very important to stay true to myself and my ethics, which has led me to also turn down opportunities I was offered, as they didn’t represent who I am as a person and what I believe in. Another challenge in being an artist and starting your own business, is trusting the process. I find that it can be very tricky in the beginning when you keep investing into your work both financially and mentally, and usually in the start of it, you don’t make a significant profit. And even when you do, a lot of it has to go towards covering the business expenses. I would say that in the beginning, it is best to have a day job simultaneously to building your own business, as it allows you to have another source of income to lean on and can help reduce the anxiety levels of getting into debt. We all have to start somewhere and we all have our own unique journey, and any advice I give is only from my own experience but will not necessarily apply to everyone.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an illustrator and tattoo artist currently based in Atlanta, GA. When it comes to tattooing, I mainly specialize in line work, botanical designs, Hebrew scripture, chromatic design, mythological creatures and more. As for my illustration work, I have my own brand called A Place in Eden, where I create illustrations for different clients and companies, I have a line of notebooks and journals available at Criminal Records, as well as Amazon, greeting cards, postcards, stickers and botanical paintings. I also have a tattoo coloring book I released in March that is currently available at Criminal Records as well as Amazon. What sets me apart from others? I think that I come up with ideas and figure out how to make them work. Like my tattoo coloring book, I was entertaining the idea of how cool it would be if I created one, and then had to ask myself “why not?” So I started researching the process and steps I needed to take until I was able to finalize it. After the book was done, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I had a release party and a book signing?” Which resulted me in doing exactly that. So to answer the question in simple words, whenever I have an idea that has great potential I do everything I can to make it happen.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
In the Hebrew language there is an old saying that translates to “if I am not for me, who is for me?” Which very much resonates with me. You need to have your own back 100% of the time and not rely on other people. You need to get to a point that you trust yourself more than you trust your doubts and truly be there for yourself. Even when it gets hard, don’t give up. I know it is easier said then done, I have had many times where I was ready to pack my bag and leave somewhere else. But it is best to not make important decisions in a state of heightened emotions. Remind yourself of why you even started, get to a neutral state of mind and keep going. Do not wait for other people to give you opportunities, create your own. Another lesson I learned along the way, it is okay to take breaks. If you hit a point where you start to mentally withdraw from whatever it is you’re building, it is okay to step away from the canvas and reevaluate. You can always start over, but when you do, make sure it comes from a pure place; from a place of joy.
Pricing:
- Small tattoos: Starts at $100
- Medium size tattoos (4″-6″): $175-$250
- Large size tattoos (6″ and up): Starts at $250
- Custom work: Minimum of $150
- Book cover illustrations: Start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aplaceineden.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tramp_stamp_420/
- Other: https://www.trampstamp420.com/
