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. 

'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). 

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.

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. 

Feelin' Red

 I've done a lot of artwork inspired by my favorite band and favorite singer/musician VAN HALEN and SAMMY HAGAR. After Eddie Van Halen's death, I was (I don't want to say inspired) to make art to celebrate the music and band VAN HALEN, specifically the Sammy Hagar lineup that I first got into and was inspired by. Below are examples of those pieces.

I'm feeling that itch again, but more towards Sammy related, but I don't know if I want to do VH era, Montrose, solo or current (with "The Circle"). Below are samples of work I've done of Sammy and for Sammy. I'll be seeing him in concert again this Summer, so I might do something for him (it's been 10 years, why not?).

Meet Me at the B.O.B.

 So, I have a drawing entered in the international art contest ArtPrize. You can see my entry info here .

My drawing is a tribute to my favorite band, VAN HALEN, and is on display at the B.O.B. (Big Old Building), on display on the main floor in the H.O.M.E. (House Of Music and Entertainment).

The drawing is based on a photo by Ross Halfin.

The "voting" is changed from previous years. Before, you had to be IN the Grand Rapids area to vote for your favorite piece of artwork, and you'd use the ArtPrize app.

  Now, it's more like a scavenger hunt, where guests go around ArtPrize and find QR codes, scan the codes, and some are monetary and some are monetary prizes that you can give to artists directly (through the app, that is). This does give artists a chance to get something rather than nothing. The artist with the most prizes given wins...something. I'm not quite sure. You can see how it all works HERE. 

ALSO, the drawing is up for auction, and 100% goes to the artist. Here is the link to the auction site, which bidding starts September 16 and ends October 4th. Because this drawing means a lot to me, I have a a larger minimum bid than I would normally ask for a commission project of this size. Once the auction begins, I'll post a direct link.

If you live in or around Grand Rapids, please visit during ArtPrize, September 16-October 3rd, or know people who do,  please share this info with them! I can use all the help I can get!!

I might be at the B.O.B. one of the 3 weekends ArtPrize is taking place, but it's quite a distance, so I'm not sure. If I do, I'll post here. 

Good Enough (it's a Van Halen song)

 After Eddie Van Halen died, I started drawing and painting portraits of Van Halen again for the first time since 1996. This is one of those paintings. Oil on canvas. ALMOST done.