Should I or Shouldn't I?

I'm considering entering ArtPrize, the art competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I, however, have not the entrance fee nor the funds to mat and/or frame anything for it. But, if I do enter, one of these two pieces will be the one. They're roughly the same size (36"x48") and both tributes to Jack Nicholson.

The things you can win for a buck!

I JUST finished the final piece for Nuttall Art Studio's 3 Year Anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 20th! Here are the pieces I'll be raffling off ($1 raffle: each ticket is $1 and you can buy as many as you want and put in to win whichever ones you want):

We're about to have a party, and EVERYONE'S invited!

As I'm sure you all know, NUTTALL ART STUDIO is celebrating its 3 year anniversary with a celebration Saturday, April 20th from 1-5pm at Nuttall Art Studio in downtown West Branch, Michigan. Oh, and you are invited. With every anniversary, I offer free food and drinks, as well as the $1 raffle. I raffle off about three pieces of artwork specially made for the anniversary. Every person who buys a raffle ticket (did I mention it's only for $1?) also gets a free cartoon sketch, as I know the deep burn one feels when one spends money in hopes of winning something, only to walk away empty-handed. So, even if you DON'T win the raffle, you still get a drawing. We will also have LIVE music for the event, as local musician/writer/city councilman Tim Schaiberger will be performing. This here oil painting is ONE of the pieces of artwork being raffled off- So, with the exception of the $1 raffle, it's ALL FREE, and you're than welcome to bring as many guests as you'd like, and stay as long as you wish (even if only for 5 minutes)!!

Favorite videos (playlist) on YouTube (Paint It, Nuttall!)

This is a link to my Favorites playlist on Youtube. In it you'll find the first few episodes of the mini-docu-web-series "Paint It, Nuttall!" by Michigan filmmaker Pauline Johnson. It ranges from 2009-2012 (maybe even 2008. I can't remember). I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd view them, like them and share them to spread word about the series and my work, as well as the filmwork of Mrs. Johnson.

HERO WORSHIP

This is the latest episode of the mini web series "Paint It, Nuttall", by filmmaker  Pauline Johnson of Detroit, Michigan. I've been working on a large series of my heroes that are broken down into mini-series': Sammy Hagar jumping, Jack Nicholson, Sergio Aragones` and Popeye (although Popeye isn't in this video).

Dress up and feel no shame

Along with the anniversary of the studio (April 20th, btw), I've also brought back the West Branch CosPlay,named...ready?....The 2nd Annual West Branch CosPlay!! I'm not that damn creative, ok?? CosPlay takes place on May 11th...somewhere...in West Branch (haven't found a venue yet). I'm hoping to get alot more advertising and media attention. But the event has NO budget whatsoever. It's free for everyone to participate and I'm hoping to have a costume contest, maybe some LARP (live action role playing), some games I know nothing about like Magic, D&D, etc. and comic/toy vendors.

March Madness?

It's been awhile since I've had a sale or special of some kind, so I thought I'd make one up for the month of March. You can get a custom 18x24 drawing OR painting for only $125! The regular price is $216, so you save nearly 50%!!! That's for up to 3 subjects, and each subject after 3 is an additional $15. Offer ends March 30, 2013. You can contact me via e-mail ( jasonnuttall@yahoo.com ), Facebook , or by text/phone ( 989-701-7287 ). Tell yer friends & neighbors!!

3rd Time's a Charm!

I thought now would be a good time to mention that April 21st marks the 3rd anniversary of NUTTALL ART STUDIO. I am having a celebration hoot-nanny Saturday, April 20th at the studio. 1-6pm. There will be snacks and drinks and a $1 raffle for artwork. I'm hoping to have live music. We shall see.

Moustacheod Maestro

I cannot BELIEVE I haven't posted this yet!! Back in 2007, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of meeting one of my biggest inspirations and heroes, Sergio Aragones (GROO, MAD Magazine, Sergio Aragones' Funnies). During our meeting, my wife Melissa took photos. From those great photos I chose the one that I worked from to make this graphite drawing.

I have been on an illustrating kick, doing drawings of Popeye characters, and also comic book characters, and watercolor painting them. Watercolor is not my strong point, but I keep practicing. Here are my most recent.

In The Name Of Love (until February 1st)

ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!!!! New Valentine's Day Special!! 11x14 painting or drawing with up to 3 subjects only $50 (reg. $77)!!!!! Offer ends Feb. 1st!!! Contact me NOW if you want to take advantage of this special (each subject after 3 is an additional $15). Remember that artwork lasts longer than the newest i-whatever or candy or flowers.

I yam what I yam

If you don't know me, or know me but have been living in a cave, I am a lifelong POPEYE fan. I'll leave it at that. Now, IDW Publishing has been making new Popeye comics (first in over 20 years) and being that it would be a lifelong dream come true to draw for that publication, I have often submitted drawings and paintings in hopes to be accepted for a cover or sequential artist (the purty pikchures inside the book). These are the most recent attempts. Wish me luck. They're pencil with ink and watercolor.

Now that the rush of the holiday orders are done, I'm able to work on my personal projects again in the studio (as well as the mural project at the Rose City Middle School, as posted previously). I'm submitting more work for consideration for the IDW Publishing POPEYE comics (so far no luck but I'm going to keep trying! It's a dream job for me), and finishing up a couple graphite drawings. The drawing below (I Think) is finished. It's been waiting for me to work on it again for 6-12 months, give or take a week. If you can't tell, it's Robert Plant.

New Year's catching up blog post!

Sweet mamma!!! I didn't realize I hadn't posted in over a month!! It's been a busy month, with Christmas commissions, family and working on murals for the Rose City Middle School. Yup, that pretty much catches you up on what Nuttall Art's been up to. Oh, and I did caricatures at a New Year's Eve party in Bay City. Below are images of the murals I've done so far at the middle school. I'll be doing 2 or 3 more in the next couple weeks. I've also added a family portrait I drew for a family for Christmas.

So, the holiday season is upon us, and with it comes an onslaught of projects-for-hire, so I am keeping busy! When I'm not working on commission art, however, I'm working on my own projects. Below is an example.

I'm also participating in the West Branch Art & Wine Walk December 1st at the Ogemaw County Historical Museum, along with my wife Melissa and her ceramics. December 6th I'll be doing caricatures at the Tolfree Foundation dinner at the Willow Tree Restaurant (I AM available for hire at parties! :D )

What happens when you come to the Studio

When people come to my studio, I don't try to sell them anything. I try to show them around, tell them what I do, answer questions and let them look around on their own. Quite often, I just continue to work while they're there. It's NOT a shop! And if kids come in, they get a FREE cartoon sketch (like Garfield or Popeye, Ninja Turtle or Bugs Bunny, etc).

Just a little rantin'

The title of Artist carries more responsibilities than one thinks. It's not just the talent of the artist; it's the technical aspects (matting, framing, proportions, colors and values, etc), Customer Service, Sales Representative, Management, Finances, Tech Support, Supply Manager, Advertising. And it's not 9-5. When I'm not in the studio, I'm usually at the computer, trying to spark interest in what I do. I try to create specials and events to benefit the public, while still drawing attention to what I do. It's a 24 hour struggle deciding what to create that would sell, and putting all personal projects on the back-burner. Many self-employed people have similar struggles. It's not making food during your shift and going home and changing into your street clothes (I did that for 9 years, 12 if you count pizza delivery). It's seeing what's popular everywhere I go. Ideas spark any given moment of the day on how to improve something. Failures and shortcomings mulling around in your head as you try to sleep. I've become self-conscious about how the world percieves me, because I feel that if they see me, they try to avoid me so they don't have to hear about my art. If I send an e-mail, does it automatically get thrown out before being read? Am I now just "Jason Nuttall, Artist for Hire"? I would be fine with that, if it's in the positive sense and not like "Don Berslavsky, Insurance Agent" who nobody wants to be around. (Don Berslavsky is a name I just made up. If you know a Don Berslavsky, it's purely coincidence).

Workin' for the Money

I did my 3rd "Hale Hot Air Balloon Fest Art Battle" yesterday, and placed 3rd and got the People's Choice award. This was a first, in that judges were selected rather than the general public buying tickets and placing their ticket as their vote for who they liked most. That's what the People's Choice Award was this year. Alot of battles are chosen by the public, which, in theory is a great idea. It can be fun and give the artists an idea of how their work is perceived by passers-by. HOWEVER, some artists will stuff the ballot box by getting every man, woman and child in their family tree and graduating class to stop by and vote for them (and if it's a case of buying a ticket for $1, some of those people drop $5-$20 and vote for their friend or relative, in spite of the quality of work being created on the spot). It becomes a popularity contest. Dave might have 7 votes, and one was from his dear ol' granny, but Chloe got 13 votes, and 7 of them were from her friends who came by. Dave and his mom eat beans at home while Chloe and her chums hit the Sizzler and shopping after with her winnings. I'm not saying this happened yesterday. I'm not saying it happened at any specific art battle, but it does happen and it infuriates the artists (especially when you lay down $25-$30 just to enter the battle and get bubckus for it). I've had long conversations with other artists who compete around me, and they felt the same way. However, I enter as many as I can, because my full-time job is that of an artist, and I do enjoy these events. It boosts one's self-esteem with the onlookers praising your work, even you don't like it yourself. I was interested to see the results with judges. I was told they had criteria they had to follow, like a grading system. So, here's the drawing I did (because Lennon sells). It's 18x24 charcoal. It was also part of the silent auction. I have yet to find out how much it sold for.

You say you want a revolution, well, too bad. You get a drawing.

This is a graphite drawing I was hired to do of The Beatles. It's 11x14, which made the details in the faces PAINFUL to draw.

NEW SPECIAL, making Fridays worthwhile!

I've decided to have "$50 Fridays", where if you visit the studio or call the studio number (989-701-7287)on Fridays, you can get a 16x20 drawing OR painting with up to 2 subjects for ONLY $50 (regular cost $160)!!! Money HAS to be in my hand on Friday, however. Each additional subject after 2 is $15. And, I do believe that TODAY is Friday....