Finished What I Started!

 It's been a slow process, but I finished the 35"x24" graphite drawing of Van Halen circa 1995! 

This is the latest addition to my Van Halen tribute series. Not the best photo of it, but I'll get a better one before it gets framed.

Slow Progression

 I posted January 29th a photo of my recent drawing for my Van Halen Tribute series. That photo is here:

This is where that drawing is as of March 24th:

It's been a SLOW drawing. It's a 36"x24"ish graphite drawing. I'm using an HB mechanical pencil (#2 mechanical pencil). 

Now, I don't work on it every day, but I work on it a few days a week for 1-4 hours a day. 

I've done a drawing or painting for each tour with Sammy Hagar except the OU812 tour. That's the next project, though. I'm trying to do full band images to celebrate what I always loved about the band: teamwork and camaraderie. 

Sweet Sweet-Haven

 I just finished this picture. It's 23x18 watercolor and ink on paper. I just realized I forgot to add Popeye's granny, but other than that I have the majority of the repeat characters from the Popeye comic strips and books. I didn't include Ham Gravy because he disappeared shortly after Popeye took over the "Thimble Theatre" comic strip. 

G.I. Joe Day!

 I'm an '80s kid. I grew up with the beginning of Nintendo, the heydays of home video rentals (VHS tape from Blockbuster and Family Video), He-Man, Saturday morning cartoons, and a big part of my youth: G.I. JOE! I had a LOT of figures, and I watched the cartoon. My favorite characters have always been Shipwreck, Sgt. Slaughter and Stalker. 

TODAY, February 1st, is apparently G.I. Joe Day! So, to celebrate I thought I'd post some art and a couple other photos related to the Joes.

 The photos below were taken in 2016 at the Great Lakes Comic Con in Warren, Michigan, where WWE wrestling Hall of Famer and G.I. Joe alum Sgt. Slaughter and comic creator Larry Hama (creator of the G.I. Joe comic books) were special guests. I drew the photo for Sgt. Slaugher.

'95 Van Halen tour

 I've started on a new piece for my Van Halen tribute series. This one is focused on the 1995 Balance tour (I'm creating at least 1 piece from each tour or time frame between 1986 and 1995, the Sammy Hagar years). It's 36"x24", also known as 3ftx2ft, and graphite pencil.  

I got to see them twice that tour in 1995, 2 nights in a row. These were the 2nd and 3rd times seeing Van Halen live. The first was in 1993 at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. The 1995 BALANCE tour was at the Palace of Auburn Hills (no longer around). 

Con Artist

 

Starting in February of 2023, I will be part of a few comic book conventions in Michigan in the artist alley. At these conversations, or cons, I display my artwork for sale, and I draw caricatures, cartoon and comic book characters on the spot. 

The 1st one is the GREAT LAKES COMIC CON February 24-25 in Warren, Michigan.

The 2nd is March 4-5: the MIDLAND MALL COMIC CON at the Midland Mall in... Midland.

Next is the GRAND RAPIDS COMIC CON April 14-16 at the Kalamazoo Expo Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Last (for now) is the REALLY COOL COMIC CON August 5-6 in Flint, Michigan.

Each convention I'll have new artwork. The photo above is going to be at the Great Lakes Comic Con!  There is admission for all cons EXCEPT the Midland Mall Comic Con! I hope to see you at one!

Casual Napping

 I was inspired by the photo this painting is based on. Something about the image was so sweet and genuine, I had to paint her. It's an adorable little girl napping, and the bright pinks popping out got my attention.

5150 Time!!

This is my Van Halen tribute series, Which I began a few months after Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. I'm focusing on the Sammy Hagar era, as that is the time I got into music and the band (and I'm obsessed with Sammy because of VH). I'm not knocking the original lineup; I love Van Halen from 1977 to 1996, I just prefer Sammy. Some of the artwork here has been sold, but most I still have. 

 

New Art for a New Year (EXCLUSIVE)

 I've been drawing and painting tributes to Van Halen since Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. I'm focusing on the Sammy Hagar years, as that's the era I got into music and am obsessed with Sammy Hagar because of it. 

This is the most recent, which I finished today (I think it's done). This is a 36"x24" charcoal drawing based on Van Halen's -fated reunion tour with Sammy Hagar in 2004. I've posted videos and photos of the progress on my TikTok and Instagram, but this is the ONLY place I'm posting the finished product, at least for now. 

Let me know what you think, and maybe share with people who might appreciate it.

Happy New Year.

EXCLUSIVE!!!! "COUPLES COSTUMES" Series is here!!!

 I previewed my little fun project crossover of Popeye and Joker, and here are the final pieces!

2 of the 3 I colored digitally, which I am not very good at. Once I get quality supplies, I'll hand paint all of them.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at new art!!

 I love to draw mashups, especially involving Popeye. This isn't really a mashup, but more of a crossover. These are 2 of the 3 in this little miniseries. I tried my hand at computer coloring. The scans of the original art aren't great.

Once I get a copy of the this 1st drawing of Popeye and Olive, I'll hand color it, as well as the Joker one (I'm not big on digital art).

It's Good to be da King

 I've been a huge fan of Mel Brooks for as long as I can remember. I've seen all of his movies and a lot of his appearances. This is the 2nd installment of my Mel Brooks section of my "Heroes" series. This is a 9"x12" graphite drawing. 

 I've posted a video of the creation of this drawing on TikTok HERE and HERE

Painting Spider-Popeye

Ever wonder who ALMOST beat Tobey Maguire to play Spider-Man??

If the video doesn't work, try this link

Welcome to HIS Nightmare

 This past weekend was the Motor City Comic Con Fall show (it's usually only in May), and I decided at the last minute I was going to go. I wanted to go because Alice Cooper was there and I am a fan. I did a couple drawings for him, one of him and his wife, and the one seen here. I didn't get a pic of the charcoal drawing of him and his wife. I also didn't get a photo with him because it cost more money than I had for a photo with him. I did get to chat with him and that was great. AND...he LOVED the Popeye drawing! He LOL'd out loud, as did his associate, and kept complimenting it!

Newest VH tribute painting

 Since Eddie Van Halen's death October 2020, I've taken it harder than expected. I've been drawing and painting artwork of Van Halen (Sammy Hagar era) ever since, like I did in middle school when I started listening to music, and through high school until Sammy Hagar was fired.

This is the latest oil painting, based on an image from a free concert the band played in Texas around 1992. 

This painting is up for sale. Contact me if interested. 

White Wedding

 This is only the 2nd time I've been hired to do a painting at a wedding. This was about 3 hours' work. Oil on canvas, 16"x20". I took it home to finish it by adding faces (too far away to see and they were only standing there for 15 minutes! Cut me some slack). 

If you or anyone you know (in Michigan) would be interested in these services, please contact me at jasonnuttall@yahoo.com

Something Sinister This Way Comes

 I started on a new drawing of my favorite group o' villains: the Sinister Six!

This is my take on what SHOULD happen when some of Spidey's most dangerous enemies teamed together and worked on him at the SAME TIME! The first 3 iterations of the Six had them as clumsy buffoons, really. And I love the 1st 2 versions of the team! I liked Hobgoblin as Kraven's replacement. After that, writers just threw in whoever into the group. Meh. Anyways, this is 14"x11" roughly. I'll probably keep it black and white or make a copy and colorize the copy.

I also have a video on TikTok HERE 

White (paint) Wedding

 I just made a painting live at a wedding. This is only the 2nd time I've done it. It's tough because although I get there early to paint the background and surroundings, I don't know where exactly the bride and groom will be until they're both at the altar reciting vows. That might take 15 minutes at the most! They're only up there for a few minutes so I have to rush! I take a couple photos to look at, but outdoor weddings are rough because of various lighting. This one was no different, as the sun was lighting them up from BEHIND them, so my camera basically picked up silhouettes. 

Anyway, this is what I ended up with. I brought it home to finish it. I spent a total of 3  1/2 hours on it, with 15 of those minutes on the figures. 16"x20" oil painting.

EXCLUSIVE!!!

 I've been working on this drawing all Summer (2 months, really, of 2022), and I finally finished. This photo is blurry, but you get the gist. It's graphite on paper (#2 mechanical pencil), roughly 24"x18". This is part of my Popeye series, which is part of my "My Heroes" series. It's ever-growing. 

There is  slideshow of the progress of the drawing on my TikTok and Instagram 

 

Where I'll be August 6-7, 2022

 

I'll be drawing caricatures, cartoon and comic book characters, and displaying and selling original artwork at this convention, the REALLY COOL COMIC CON in Flint, Michigan!