2 Sides of Love

The drawing I did for Sammy and Kari Hagar in 1999 at the Cabo Wabo Cantina and the drawing I did for them in 2010 at the Common Ground Festival in Lansing, Michigan.

Wanna do the Cabo Wabo (but my wife won't let me!)

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The club is owned by Sammy Hagar. If you know me, you know my dedication and hero worshipping of Mr. Hagar (the Red Rocker). I really want to do a LARGE painting of the Cabo Wabo right now, but I can't get the painting to Cabo when it's done and I have nowhere here at home to put it when it's done! The inspiration and GUSHING right now! I need a towel!

Hagar Story!!

As some of you may know, I am a fan of Sammy Hagar. Let's just leave it at that.

Well, in 2004 Sammy opened a Cabo Wabo Cantina, based on his club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in South Lake Tahoe at Harrah's. As the first US based Cabo, I wanted to show my appreciation of the music and spirit of Sammy and Cabo by painting a series of paintings of Sammy. One was from a fan club called Sam~Land that I am also a part of and the others were from me and ONLY me!!!! HAHAHAHHA!!!

Anyway, one of the Redheads/SamLanders, Michigan Mike, took the paintings to Tahoe on my behalf and with the assistance of another fan, handed Sammy the paintings. They now hang in the "Red Rocker Room" and I have seen since then photos of the paintings still. I have decided to make prints of two of the three and they are now

here .

Above are images of the paintings at the "Tahoe Wabo", one with Sammy with the SamLand painting, and a pic taken by a fellow Redhead of Aaron Hagar in the "Red Rocker Room" under the "What Is Understood..." painting!

Because NOBODY demanded it... My Sammy Hagar story

On May 31st, 2002 my wife Melissa, my brother Scott, one of my best friends, and I attended the Sammy Hagar/David Lee Roth concert at the DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan. I have been a huge fan of Sammy Hagar for many years and have been to every concert that's hit Michigan since Van Halen fired him (and three times with Van Halen). With the exception of the VH concerts, I've done artwork for Sammy and his band each time I've seen him. This concert was no exception. At the time of the concert, my fiancee and I were planned to be married and expecting a baby at the end of August. Due to finances, we knew that this would be our last concert for a long time. So, I created a collage drawing for Sammy Hagar of his career. I spent 40 hours on the piece (it was different paper than I'm used to) and I wanted to make sure Sammy got it. In the past I've been able to hand artwork to him during concerts over the heads of front row fans and security. Sometimes I left the artwork for him or his band with a security guard in hopes it would reach the destination, but would be lied to and ignored. I did NOT want this to happen on this occasion. Before I go further, there is a back story that I feel must be said (explain myself better as well as to stroke my ego).

The first tour of Sammy's solo career, my brother Scott, my friend Neal and I got front row seats by dumb, beautiful luck. I did a painting for Sammy and held it up during the show (the background for this page). There were no guards between us and the stage, or even a guard fence. Sammy almost stepped on us when he rushed out on stage! This provided a better chance to give my, for lack of a better word, idol, the painting. He saw the painting a little later and gave me a thumbs up. During a guitar solo by Victor Johnson (great guitarist, great guy), he came over and asked if I wanted the painting signed. My friend, brother and I kept screaming that it was for him and take it. He grabbed it, slapped my hand, shook it, stood up and showed the audience. The next song he sang with it as he rested his arms and legs on top of it! I was in heaven. Later on, at the end of the show, Sammy has fans onstage to sing "Marching to Mars". He had some contest winners up there and pulled some slutty-dressed women from the audience. He walked towards our side of the stage and perused the front row. He scanned and scanned, set his sights on me and PULLED ME UP ONSTAGE to sing on a mic!! My friend Neal got a drumstick from the drummer that he threw to us. It was GREAT!!!
The next time Sammy was in Michigan was in November, 1997 at the Wings Stadium (I think). This time the same crowd went, with four more friends in tow. I did another painting, but this time of Sammy's baby daughter. Click here to view painting. We got up front right away. During the show I held up the painting, but this time guards and guardrails were in the way. Sammy saw the painting numerous times and gave it a thumbs up. We finally asked a guard to put it up onstage where Sammy stood. After awhile Sammy looked down, picked it up and showed the crowd. He started talking about it on the microphone. "Hey man, is this a painting?" He asked. I nodded. He looked at it more. "Is this for me? Man, alright check this out". He showed the audience and continued, "This cat did a painting of me and my daughter Kama. Man I thought you were holding up a f--kin' poster, man!! This is real nice. This is going up in my HOUSE, swear to God. If there's an address or something on the back I'll send ya something. Thanks." And with that he continued the show. It was great. A month later I received a t-shirt, an autographed photo and a note from Sammy that said, "Yo, Jason! Thanks for the painting of me and Kama. Kari just had it framed. It looks GREAT! See you in '98!! Peace, Sammy Hagar". It hangs on my wall with honor.
The next tour I did a bad sloppy painting and took it to the concert. This was in '99. But, I used up my financial aid money for school to go on vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for Sammy's Birthday Bash at the world famous Cabo Wabo Cantina, Sammy's club!! It was beautiful. I went by myself, but took 3 paintings and a drawing. Each night of the 3 concert bash I planned on giving Sammy artwork. I wound up leaving 2 of the paintings in the club's office, which you can see on the interview section of the Sammy Hagar Birthday Bash 1999 video. The other painting I took into the club during a concert to give to Sammy. He wound up signing it and handing back. I'm not complaining. I met his bass player Mona and keyboardist and collaborator Jesse Harms that trip. Mona had actually arranged for me to attend the first of the 3 shows because I was delayed getting to Mexico and told her I'd trade her an autograph for a drawing. The next show I'd done a drawing of her, as well as the rest of the band. I left it at Victor Johnson's feet with a note that said, "Please give to the Waboritas (the band)" After the show Mona was outside with the fans as she did the night before and she thanked me for the artwork. That's when I introduced myself to Jesse Harms. I asked him if he saw the drawing and he hadn't, so he ran up to the office to look at it. He came back and thanked me and signed his own backstage pass and gave it to me. SO, I had Mona sign it too! The drawing I left for the last night, which I ran to get after the show (I stayed around the corner from the Cantina). I came back and couldn't get the drawing to Sammy, but his wife saw it as she was scurried into their vehicle ( the drawing was of him and her).Click here to view the drawing. She saw it and her face lit right up! A security guard was nice enough to put the drawing into the vehicle after Sammy got in. He placed it on their laps and they drove off. Two days later, I returned home to Michigan and 2 days after that, I met my future fiance, Melissa Pendell. That was a great year.
My fiance and I were fortunate enough to meet his band, the Waboritas individually January 8th, 2001 at Kewadin Casinos. I did drawings of each band member and arranged to meet with one of Sammy's people. I wound up leaving the artwork with him before the show and decided to hang out before the show out in the hallway near where I met Sammy's guy. As we waited, Sammy's drummer and longtime friend David Lauser walked up to the room we sat in front of. I introduced myself and told him I did that drawing for him in Cabo. He remembered, signed my tour book and posed for a picture. Little did we know, we were sitting in front of the SECRET entrance for the band!! A few minutes later Vic Johnson the guitarist walked up. As soon as he saw me he knew me, but we'd never met before. He thanked me for the drawing in Mexico and described where he had it hung up and told me he'd send me a picture of it. I told him about the drawing I left inside for him and he ran in and grabbed it. He liked it and posed with it and myself and Melissa. After the show, we ran into Mona and she actually saw me a good 40 yards away and screamed "HEY, JASON!" She thanked for the drawings, signed our stuff, I introduced her to Melissa and she posed for a picture. We also ran into Jesse and he remembered me, signed our stuff and posed for a photo. THEN, he told me to be in the lobby before noon and I might catch Sammy as he's leaving!! Later, Vic told me the same thing!! So, we showed up in the lobby and saw each member of the band come down. We wanted to leave them alone so they could go about their business, but each one came up to us and talked to us!! I thought that was cool! I gave each of them a card and told them anytime they're in Michigan to expect artwork. They went out to the bus and Jesse came back in. As he passed us he told u s Sammy was coming down the elevator and to get ready. We waited and Sammy and his wife Kari came out. It was brief, but I finally met him face to face. He thanked me for taking care of his band and Kari thanked me for the artwork of her and him and Kama. Click here for more photos with Sammy and the Waboritas.
Now, back to where I started.
I arranged with security during the David Lee Roth set to get backstage. They actually worked with me and Sammy's people said it was okay. I took the drawing back and his management were there and LOVED the drawing. His manager went inside to okay with Sammy for me to give it to him and get a picture of him and me with the drawing. He took the drawing inside and I waited. As I waited, Mona came out to talk to me!! She saw the drawing and loved it. I gave her a more recent card and told her about getting married and expecting a baby. She congratulated me and we talked for a little while. Sammy's manager waved me and at the end of the corridor was my man, The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar with a big ol' toothy white grin!! He walked up to me and thanked me for the drawing, shook my hand and told me that it's going up at the Cabo Wabo(The photo above is from this meeting). I told him this would be the last time for awhile I could bring artwork to his concerts, and he stepped back with a surprised and concerned look on his face. "Why, man? What's up? What's wrong?" he asked. I told him that I'm getting married and expecting a baby and everyone in the corridor cheered and shook my hand and congratulated me, as did Sammy. I told him money's tight now and will be for awhile, but I could send him artwork. He seemed okay with that. He got the drawing, looked at it and told me "Man, that's awesome. Thanks." We posed for the photo and said goodbye because he had to get ready for the show. He congratulated me again and later put on a GREAT show, as he always does.

Juggling act

(The picture above is by five year old Rebecca. It's a family portrait with left to right: Rebecca, Logan, Mommy and Michael on her MagnaDoodle)

As some of you may know, I am not only an artist but a husband and father of 3 children ages 5, 3 and 1 yr old. My wife, Melissa, is an artist as well, a ceramicist to be specific.

I have been drawing since I was 7 years old and have been on the road to being a professional artist ever since. I had figured that I would probably be alone most of my life, so living the life of an artist would only affect me. To be an artist is to give up alot to practice your craft. The term "starving artist" came from somewhere, didn't it? So after high school, I started art classes at Kirtland Community College, not looking to get any type of degree. My goal was to get better at what I do, while taking a class here and there and MAYBE I would earn a degree along the way. Well, after 4 years of drawing, painting, photography and the occasional english or math class, my financial aid ran out. But not before sneaking off to Cabo San Lucas in 1999 for a week. While there, I visited the Cabo Wabo Cantina daily, with paper and pencil in my clutches. I also brought artwork for Sammy Hagar, who owns and frequents the Cantina. I felt so much appreciation for my abilities while there. If I was drawing, people would stop and stare and ask questions and seemed genuinely interested in my artwork. It was an exhilirating experience. I also think of the trip as a sabatical (did I spell that right?).

When I returned to school the following week, I met a new instructor by the name of Melissa. She taught a college course to 8th graders and was using the photo lab I worked in. This was in October. In December we were seeing each other. In 2002 we married and had our first child, Rebecca in September.

And that's when things got complicated.

Since then, I've left one job after 9 years, started back to college, had two more children, started another job and tried to continue my art career. The jobs I've had were non-art related. The year after our daughter was born, I decided to go back to college (my financial aid at Kirtland ran out in 2000 and I left) and the day I signed up for classes at SVSU my wife lost part of her job that would have kept us supported well enough. When I tried to return to my job of nine years, I found that while I was off to college, they had "terminated" me and I was unemployed for over a year. My only source of income was my job at school as lab attendant.

My schedule from 2003-2007 as a full time art student and part-time husband/father consisted of Mon-thurs on the road by 7am and leaving classes at 10pm with a one hour drive home. Throughout the night, the baby (or kids as it came to be every two years) would wake us up. Friday through Sunday would be filled with Melissa teaching on Friday and me working those three nights (I got a minimum wage job in 2005). The only time I had for my art was at school for classes, which wasn't always the most fulfilling since the work was to satisfy instructors and not me.

Once a year, and sometimes twice, I would get a commission job, where someone paid me to do a portrait. When this happened, I would have to wait until the kids were settled enough so that Melissa wouldn't need help with them and I would lock myself in the bathroom in our apartment and draw or paint. If someone needed the bathroom, specifically our potty training toddlers, I would have to rush around to hide and cover my supplies so they wouldn't get into them, unlock the door and let them in and wait until they were done. By that point, they wanted to play with daddy so I would give up my quest to create. We moved into a house with a basement in 2006 before our third kid, Logan was born. Same situation, but harder. I have to basically abandon my family to work on my artwork. I've been doing it since I started my family, pushing myself away so I can continue down the path that I started on 23 years ago. Whether it was going to college for my Bachelor of Fine Arts for four years ( I graduated in 2007) four days a week and leaving before they awoke and coming home after they're in bed, or being lucky enough to get hired for a portrait and hiding in the basement so they don't know I'm in the house. As it is, I am currently working on a commission piece. It stands on my easel in the basement and has been for 3 months. In three months I've put roughly 12 hours into the project. I might work an hour and hear a blood curdling scream or Melissa calling for me and I have to stop, climb the stairs, fix whatever problem's come up and most of the time I don't get back to the work.

As a practicing artist, one has to be selfish. They have to surround themselves with creative environments and leave their schedules open for things like exhibits, meetings, art competitions, and just be able to work. As a father, I can't be selfish. I have to do everything I can to keep the kids and my wife happy, or at least healthy. Artwork, especially in my area, does not sell well. I may have an exhibit or have an article in the paper, but I am not making the money needed to support a family of five. It's a constant struggle to justify continuing as a professional artist, because it isn't paying off. I never wanted to think of it that way, that this painting might sell better than this, or maybe I should push my project aside to do something more popular that might sell. But, if I don't make money on the artwork , I can't abandon my familyupstairs to do it. Even if it's for money, working on a project is complicated. My wife constantly rolls her eyes when I say the words "I gotta work downstairs" or mention that someone asked me to demonstrate at an event. As an artist, she knows the pull of the craft, but her responsibilities as a mother take center stage. And I try to do the same, but at the same time, I'm trying to build a reputation and a career on something that doesn't sell well, so I have to work jobs that take up alot of my time from both my art and my family. If there's a day off, I don't work on drawing, but rather take the kids out to play or stay with them so mommy gets out for once.

Right now, the job situation isn't an issue, because I quit the job that didn't allow for a raise or promotion. I was trying to support a family of five on minimum wage for 15 hours a week. And I was being lied to and lied about. My wife and I are traveling 65 miles one way to teach classes four days a week at the Midland Center for the Arts for two weeks, and she's teaching once a week in Saginaw for 3 weeks. Right now, being an artist/husband/father is very stressful and complicated. I cannot travel to different areas for art competitions or exhibits because it's a selfish thing to do to leave my wife with three screaming kids while I do what I enjoy. I will never make it back to Cabo unless the kids are old enough that my wife and I can both go or all five of us can go, but it won't be the same sebatical as before. I can't move to a larger, richer area because I have to uproot my entire family and take them with me.

I am currently selling what I can on Ebay for as low a price as possible just so I can make something from my art career. To pay my bills and get diapers.

I am very proud of my accomplishments as an artist. I have met my heroes, exhibited solo 3 times and multiple times in group exhibits, been in newspapers and radio, and am occasionally recognized as "the guy that draws Sammy Hagar". I graduated from college while raising a family of five (saying it like that sounds like it was just me. I became a weekend dad, and even then I wasn't around alot. Melissa raises the kids. I just paid for the diapers. Sometimes).

I am also very proud of my family. My oldest is starting first grade in September and draws FANTASTICALLY!!! She's very smart and fun and beautiful. My son (3) starts preschool in September, has the best comedic timing I have ever seen, is also very smart, very creative, and handsome and affectionate. Our one year old is just as smart as the older ones, if not smarter (at his age), he's strong and has a great sense of humor and adorable. Melissa is a great mom and great artist who doesn't get recognized as an artist often enough.

When I started drawing portraits for girls in junior high, I never imagined that I would eventually have a great family and fine artistic reputation while still not able to pay for toilet paper or a decent wedding anniversary. I would like to think that things will get better and that this time in our life is going to make us stronger, but I thought that last year, and the year before that. I am working on focusing my time on my art career since I have alot of spare time where a job used to be. I hope that this blog is an integral part of my success, as well as an entertaining and/or inspirational read for its readers.

A few days ago I posted about seeing Sammy Hagar in concert. He has been a great inspiration to me and my path. He is a strong, successful artist who has a family and powerful career. He started out on hard times. During his show, he talked about following your dreams. He said that he gets inspired by those who struggle through the hard times, to see through the fog and have a clear vision of what they want. In the end, it's the dreams that you strive for that force you through the tough times. It's the strong dreamers who grasp the grail. Reach for the stars and don't let anything get in your way. It all sounds cliche, but it's something that I really took to heart and realized that through this music and his life, I've seen that inspiration, even before I got married, and am following my dreams. I have achieved some of my goals due to my perserverence. Alot of people, family members included, have told me I should just put the art career to the side and get a real job. They want me to give up. Too many artists give up and get into other careers, other ventures. Screw that. I've worked hard to accomplish what I have and I told myself years ago that I will NOT give it up. I want to show those who question my decisions that I can do this. I refuse to give in. My only concern is that my family will suffer because of my stubborness, but I'm also doing it for them. I don't want my kids to look back and find out that I used to draw and paint but don't do that anymore. I want them to be proud of their parents.

In the end, I hope that my children see what I see and know that I tried.