“GuitARTist”: 17 Iconic Guitars Of Hendrix, Clapton, And More

I am a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC. When I was a little kid, I dreamt of being an animator for Walt Disney—little did I know that my life would take a different turn. Today, I find myself an executive-level creative director in the advertising and marketing world. But I LOVE music—and drawing for relaxation! In my spare time, I enjoy drawing (using Procreate on an iPad) musicians, movie stars, professional athletes, and anything else that seems fun to draw. I am new to Bored Panda and would love to share more of my work in the future. You can view my work on Instagram!

As an art school graduate, I tend to look at the world around me in a very aesthetic way—baseball uniforms, movie posters, Formula One car designs, fast-food logos, and almost anything else that can be viewed through an artistic lens. Was there a spark for this series of drawings? Yes. It all started when I was a teenager, and Eddie Van Halen painted his hybrid white Stratocaster with black stripes—one of the coolest-looking guitars in rock and roll history.

Once I started with Eddie’s Frankenstrat, it led me down a rabbit hole to discover what other notable guitarists had been associated with “signature” guitars. I think the hand-painted guitars of George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Eddie Van Halen are probably my favorites, as they are a part of rock and roll history. I really tried to depict the guitars as they appear today—weathered, chipped, and broken in. Choosing which guitars to draw came down to two things: “Is it cool?” and whether or not I like their music.

I listen to music by these guitarists while drawing their guitars! It just makes the creative process more enjoyable when you can delve deep into the music while drawing the instrument that was essential to it. I would say that the happier you are while listening to the music, the quicker and more enjoyable the time and process become. Not to mention, it gave me a greater appreciation for the musicians and the body of work they have created.