This is the first guitar I’ve painted for Guitar for Vets, it’s truly been an honor. I’m originally from Compton, CA of all places where I started to draw, eventually I got into tattooing and landed an apprenticeship at HIDN TATTOO in San Jacinto, CA where I learned a lot but ended up leaving due to school, work and taking care of my babies. A lot of my buddies were affected during 2020 and aren’t here with us anymore. When I drew the concept of this drawing I was thinking about how we all walk around with an empty feeling as if we are pursuing something but never got it or are still looking for it. The skeleton represents any service member out there not feeling themselves. He is out in the woods at night where one might feel cold and there’s no light in his world so the moon doesn’t exist for him. He does however have a jar, something that can be empty representing that feeling, he may not have the natural light but he can still pull something out of that jar he carries to light up his way even for a second. 

So if there’s any Vets out there not feeling OK, you’re not alone. You have to stop focusing on the darkness and cold place you dwell. There is always something bright on the inside. You just have to open that jar up and find your way back. 

“I am a self taught artist with twenty years of experience. My work has always been deeply connected to my identity. I tell stories and develop works that speak to myself and others. These visions come from the wanderings of my soul, exploring lucid dreams, and breaking through depression. I strive to make beautiful what some find sad or disturbing. I have spent the past three years trying to connect with my work on a deeper level improving my natural talent to create pieces that are authentic and powerful by achieving “flow state” a state of consciousness that occurs when you are connected with what you create and you become one with your art. My style is constantly evolving from otherworldly dream-like experiences to intense and wild visions. Creating is what makes me feel alive. I like to think that passion is genuinely felt through my artwork. “

Andrew Hood is a veteran of the United States Navy (1988-1992) and presently serves in law enforcement as a detective specializing in crimes against children. He has played guitar for 30 years and has recently began constructing guitars as a hobby, preferring to use recycled materials.

This guitar is offered as a tribute to a really great friend and shipmate MR2 Andrew Guthrie who passed away in 1992. This guitar has a custom body, produced using hand tools and from recycled skateboards. It has divots, wear marks, etc., consistent with being a used skateboard. The body was made using ten skateboards. It has a Tru-Oil finish. It is chambered and weighs right around 7lbs. It has a Mighty Mite neck with rosewood fretboard.   Hip-Shot locking tuners. It has Buddha Custom Wound P90s. (Alnico 2 magnets. The bridge pickup is wound to 9k. The neck pickup is wound to 7.2K.) Mojotone Vitamin T .047uF 600V Oil Filled Capacitor. Bourne 500k Potentiometers. Bitterroot three-way switch. The headstock logo is a vinyl sticker and can easily be removed.

Tori is the Director of Operation Art Strings and when she can, she loves to get her hands on a guitar and transform it into something totally different. Tori is an artist from Bristol, WI who mainly works in black and white and rarely ventures far into the color world. She enjoys the harsh contrast of black and white work and has picked up a street style art during her years at UW-Parkside, where she experimented with large scale/mural work and learned that just about anything can become your canvas, just like these guitars. She used her personal aesthetic preferences of simplistic flowers, checkerboard patterns, and line work to create this design. 

This was originally a roughed up, black guitar body laying around but she decided to sand it down, invert the body color and paint it white. Tori works strictly in black and white and rarely ventures far into the color world. She enjoys the harsh contrast of black and white work. She used her personal aesthetic preferences of simplistic flowers, checkerboard patterns, and line work to create this design. 

“I am Cheri Newton, a highly caffeinated chaos coordinator for a busy family, communications professional, and gardener for butterflies, pollinators, and sometimes, friends and family.

My husband, Ed, is a 2019 Guitars for Vets graduate and an active participant in the program. We live in northwest Ohio where flat farmlands give way to big, beautiful sky-full landscapes.

I named this piece “Latitude.”  Latitude has a double meaning, describing a location north or south of the equator, or describing the freedom to do as one wishes. While creating the piece my heart ached for adventure, nature, trails, and travel during a time when I was feeling stifled by winter, a pandemic, and the endless repetition of obligations. The piece reflects a desire to soar, trust my instincts, embrace nature, and find a little adventure for myself. Perhaps I should have named the piece, ‘an attitude of latitude.

I hope this piece inspires you to construct your life with more opportunities for adventure.” -Cheri

Joel Kos of Belgium, WI designed this guitar at The Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, WI. “The front of the guitar was designed to embody the spray paint art common found on the streets of major cities, to show the freedom of choice that we all have with unique color and design choices. On the back I took a more serious, yet simple design. I chose to take more of a realist approach by creating 3d hands on the back, to represent all Americans. The hands are reaching out in the shape of a heart to show that we ,as Americans, love and support our vets and thank them for everything mentionable and unmentionable. For everything sacrificed in the name of freedom. For all the days they suffered. Just so we can be here today as we are.” -Joel

This guitar along with others were donated to The Lakeshore Technical College from a nearby American Legion post, Melvin Wester Belgium Memorial Post 412 in Belgium, Wisconsin. Brian Toltzmann is a teacher at The Lakeshore Technical College and wanted to use these guitars to help support Guitars for Vets and the Operation Art Strings program while also getting his students involved. We are so happy to have students, colleges, and other community organizations willing to show their support and be involved and to help out our Veterans!

Jonathan is an airbrush artist and owner of Hard Head Custom Designs from Hazlet, NJ. He has now designed three guitars for the Operation Art Strings program! He is honored to be doing something to help out our Veterans and has been doing a great job at it as his first guitar has already sold and helped in sponsoring a Veteran in the G4V program. Getting involved with the Operation Art Strings project has given Jonathan a lot of creative freedom and has really pushed him to create works of art out of what he normally does. Keep an eye out for more of his beautiful work in the future!

Chris Berryman from Lake Charles, LA was in OIF3 in 2004-2005 in SW Baghdad. SAW gunner and Bradley drive for 1st Cav and 3rd INF. Combat Vet Infantry. “I have been playing guitar for 25 years, now work as a machinist and build guitars as a hobby. Also play guitar as PTSD therapy. I was featured in Guitar World Magazine in 2005.”

Melanie is an artist out of Griffin, Georgia. She was instantly drawn to this Barclay guitar and was inspired by the 1920s and flapper girls while putting a twist on it with her unique style. This is a great guitar to strum for fun and have as an eye catching piece hung on your wall!

Al Villacara is a New York City-based artist specializing in painting (acrylic on wood and canvas) and drawing (black ink on paper).  Al’s visual style is “life filtered through Saturday morning cartoons” and this can be seen via the bright colors and bold lines he employs.  His work has been featured in the ARTCRANK NYC 2014 Bike Poster Show and on the Mojohand.com Blues Folk Art Website.  Follow Al on Instagram at @av_art_works

“The Phoenix” – For my design, I considered that my project guitar would be revitalized from its original appearance through the Operation Art Strings program, “rising from the ashes” into a new chapter in the instrument’s life.  Similarly, our veterans that go through the Guitars For Vets program get a new start through music instruction, greatly benefiting them as they move forward.  The vision of a phoenix coming out of the flames made up of lots of bright colors really fits the shape and lines of this guitar well.  I greatly enjoyed creating this piece in support of my fellow veterans through Guitars For Vets! 

Laurie Rocs is a professional musician and inspiring artist out of Lincoln, NE. Combining both passions, she creates music inspired objects of art. Her newest endeavor is painting whimsical, retro designs on guitars and creating one-of-a-kind jewelry made from guitar strings. 

She has been in multiple bands through a 25 year span including recording a 3 song demo at Steve Vai’s studio in Hollywood. 

Jonathan is an artist and owner of Hard Head Custom designs from Hazlet, NJ. He has now designed three guitars for the Operation Art Strings program! This one specifically has been fully donated and redesigned by Jonathan. He is honored to be doing something to help out our Veterans and has been doing a great job at it as his first guitar has already sold and helped in sponsoring a Veteran in the G4V program. Getting involved with the Operation Art Strings project has given Jonathan a lot of creative freedom and has really pushed him to create works of art out of what he normally does. We are so grateful to have Jonathan be a part of the OAS team and all he has done to help support our mission and our Veterans. Keep an eye out for more of his beautiful work in the future!

William Beyer is an artist out of Painesville, Ohio. He completely fixed up and designed this electric body that once looked like it was never going to be played again. No it is has a new life and is ready to rock n roll!

William was honored to use his skills to help our Veterans. He even sent us a second body he designed to use in our program! We are still working on putting this guitar together, so stay on the look out for when it gets listed.

Jeremy is an artist out of South Carolina. Our South Carolina Chapter Coordinator, Heather Smith had this guitar and instantly wanted to use it for the Operation Art Strings program and Jeremy was the artist willing to donate his time to redesign this guitar and help support our Veterans and our mission.

Shawn Hamilton is an artist from Houston Texas, who has designed two guitars for Operation Art Strings and is currently working on another project for the Operation Art Strings program. He is always working on new guitar projects and wanted to lend a helping hand to our Veterans. Shawn created this piece as an ode to all the men and women who have fought for our country and our freedom. Big thanks to Shawn and be sure to keep an eye out for his future projects with us!

I am Mandy Russell, an artist from Union Grove, WI. I am a graphic designer, printmaker, and painter who enjoys working with mixed media. For this acoustic guitar I chose to work with acrylics on the natural wood base. My work is always based in nature and exploring the natural patterns and shapes you find that are both rigid or free flowing. I have always been connected to the outdoors exploring, hiking, fishing, gardening, and how we as humans are directly connected to this earth in both the physical sense and how it can nourish us and provide. This piece focuses us on one of nature’s direct links to help our food grow, the humble honey bee, one of the hardest workers we have. I am so happy to have worked on a piece where the proceeds will go to such a wonderful program that really helps out the veterans who have fought for us and our freedoms. I appreciate it more than they know.

Brian Toltzmann is a teacher at The Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, WI. He designed this guitar as a demonstration in his Custom Paint Class. This guitar along with others were donated to The Lakeshore Technical College from a nearby American Legion post, Melvin Wester Belgium Memorial Post 412 in Belgium, Wisconsin. Brian wanted to use these guitars to help support Guitars for Vets and the Operation Art Strings program while also getting his students involved. We are so happy to have students, colleges, and other community organizations willing to show their support and be involved and to help out our Veterans!

Aaron is an artist from Kirkwood, MO. He created this design with the inspiration of 90s style skateboard decks. He used fun pops of color, checker patterns, roses, and the almighty tiger as his focal point, along with a signature design on the backside. This guitar will be sure to grab anyone’s attention and is ready for some rock. Thanks so much Allen for creating this one of a kind guitar in support of our Veterans!

My guitar depicts a scene and characters from my stories set in a parallel universe. Kazyrra is a Demoness specializing in Monster Extermination and Investigation. She is strong, fast and has limited shape-shifting powers. Kazyrra can perform many spells and also can summon a vast array of magical weapons. The Devourers consume life and life-forces and magical energy. Kaz was summoned by a group of Wizards to stop the Devourers before they reached the Sky Pillars.

I designed the image and rendered it using DAZ Studio. Using polyester resin as the base medium, I combined brush and spray painting with printed paper collage/decoupage techniques to achieve the images upon the surface. All is top-coated with resin.

I have painted wall murals, automobiles and statues as well as hanging panels. I have painted hundreds of guitars. John Taylor of Duran Duran and Viv Campbell of Dio had instruments which I customized.

Shawn Hamilton is an artist from Houston Texas, who has designed two guitars for Operation Art Strings and is currently working on another project for the Operation Art Strings program. He is always working on new guitar projects and wanted to lend a helping hand to our Veterans. Shawn created this piece to resemble an old military plane and named it “Lucybelle”. Big thanks to Shawn and be sure to keep an eye out for his future projects with us! You can find him on Facebook: Shawn Crank Case Hamilton

Zack Colbert donated this guitar and his digital design talents to create and transform this guitar into a playable piece of art in remembrance of our fallen Soldiers depicting the American Flag and M16 Memorial (The Battlefield Cross.) He printed his digital designs onto guitar skins and then adhered and sealed them to the guitar.

Jonathan is an artist out of Hazlet, NJ. He has been honored to use his skills to help out our fellow Veterans and is currently working on a second guitar for Operation Art Strings. Getting involved with the Operation Art Strings project has given Jonathan a lot of creative freedom and has really pushed him to create works of art out of what he normally does. Due to some spray gun issues, this guitar evolved from a fun, cartoon peacock into a royal, detailed and realistic peacock that takes up the entire front side of the guitar. If you are someone who likes to stand out or simply loves exotic wildlife, this is the guitar for you!

Julie Oakes is a graphic designer and fine artist native to Florida’s space coast. Her art creations are inspired by a love of music, nature, and spirituality. Her style is detailed and colorful, fueled by memories of growing up in surf/skate shops, arcades plastered with black-light posters, and classic rock album covers. Julie’s favorite things to paint are guitars, skateboards, and vibrant visions with a psychedelic flair.

Julie graduated from UCF with a BA in Communications. She has been working as a graphic designer since high school where she created art for a specialty printing company while finishing her degree. After college she worked for Bombardier designing graphics for Sea-Doo watercraft. Eventually she started her company, Deco Graphics, to freelance for agencies and independent clients. She also enjoys spending some of her time teaching Commercial / Digital Art at a local high school where she inspires and prepares students to pass Adobe Certification exams.

Madeline Artac is a self taught artist, born and raised in Wisconsin – now residing in a small mountain town in Colorado. Madeline’s approach to art is through customization of clothing, accessories, living spaces, or anything that can hold paint to it. Her belief on customization is that new life can be brought to any item, making it sustainable and more lively. Madeline’s style stems from many facets of art, especially pop art, renaissance, graffiti, and new school tattoos. If you are interested in learning more about Madeline or commissioning work from her, you can visit instagram at @themadworld or email her at madeline.artac@gmail.com

teven Hecker of Manitowoc, WI. He is a  decorated Army Staff Sergeant and War Veteran who served 20 years. Steven designed this guitar at The Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, WI. This guitar along with others were donated to The Lakeshore Technical College from a nearby American Legion post, Melvin Wester Belgium Memorial Post 412 in Belgium, Wisconsin. Brian Toltzmann is a teacher at The Lakeshore Technical College and wanted to use these guitars to help support Guitars for Vets and the Operation Art Strings program! We are so happy to have students, colleges, and other community organizations willing to show their support and be involved and to help out our Veterans.

I’ve always lived a dual, city-country, life and that reflects in everything I do. I look to nature and where the organic intersects with human intervention, how it remains natural despite our best efforts. I wanted to decorate an acoustic guitar because that instrument is one of my oldest loves. I was raised by old hippies – my uncle John and later musician friends lurking in the basements of Kalamazoo, Michigan. I’m still being raised by old hippies – my friends associated with chapters of Folk Alliance.

 I wanted peaceful, happy motifs on this Suzuki guitar, so I painted a sunflower growing up and overtaking the beautiful natural wood. There’s a hint of blue and tiny birds, like a reflection of the sky. I want the future owner of this guitar to feel joy emanating from it

Kevin Haire is an artist out of Fort Wayne, IN. “The main reason I did this is that I believe in supporting our military and Vets. I have family members and friends that are in the military. When I saw your link on Facebook I knew that I had to do something. I play in a band and know how music can help people relax and get lost in it. Music is a strong healer In many different ways.  Music is a part of everyone’s life in some way or another.” -Kevin

Carol is an artist from Wellington, Florida. Carol specializes in alcohol inks and wanted to use her skills on one of our guitars. The guitar is a beautiful piece that brings a feeling of beauty and strength into any room it resides.

Shawn Hamilton is an artist from Houston Texas, who has designed multiple guitars for Operation Art Strings! He is always working on new guitar projects and wanted to lend a helping hand to our Veterans. Shawn has created a variety of pieces with different styles. Big thanks to Shawn and be sure to keep an eye out for his future projects with us!

A native to New England, I enlisted in the Army in 2003, honorably discharged in 2009; and now call Florida my home. Some say I have always been artistic however, it wasn’t until the pandemic that I took interest in the dot/mandala art form. I was honored with the opportunity to share my skills with this program. As a Veteran that struggles with her mental health, I cannot stress enough how important it is to find your zen place. Whether it’s with music or art or anything that can bring you peace. Veteran suicide is very real to me, and I was inspired by my battle buddies Steven Hays and Chris Perez (Crispy is what we called him) who have lost their battle with their inner demons.

This guitar was also inspired  by a Zen Garden, hence the koi fish & lily pads. The koi are positioned in a yin & yang symbol to reiterate the message of you can’t have the good without the bad, or light without the dark. The dragonflies, in a few cultures, are a sign from our loved ones that they are still with us. I placed wooden lotus flowers in the sound hole to show that beautiful things can grow from darkness, it just takes time for that seed to bloom and reach the sun. The neck of the guitar is done in the colors of the sunrise, to remind you that there is always a new day coming.

Lastly, there are textured waves and water to represent that life is ever changing just like the tides. Sometimes it can be rough, but other times can be beautiful and calm like a koi pond. Sometimes you just have to hold on and ride out the storm to get to your Zen garden. I couldn’t have asked for a better journey to be on in my life. It was truly an honor and a humbling experience to create this piece for these organizations that I hold dear to my heart. Much love and good vibes! And remember to find your Zen!

Shawn Hamilton is an artist from Houston Texas, who has designed multiple guitars for Operation Art Strings and has now designed our first Ukulele! He is always working on new guitar projects and wanted to lend a helping hand to our Veterans. Shawn has created a variety of pieces with different styles. Big thanks to Shawn and be sure to keep an eye out for his future projects with us!

Bill a self-described “Working Artist”, began his career as a caricature artist in 1978.

He has drawn at festivals and events up and down the Eastern Coast and as far west as Dallas Texas. Since his first gig at the Three Rivers Art Festival in Pittsburgh PA Bill has appeared at a variety of venues such as Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach, The Hickory Oktoberfest in NC, Summers and special events at Snowshoe Resort in WV, and a multitude of grand openings, weddings, birthdays, company picnics, Christmas Parties, Fund Raisers and other public and private events. His drawings are humorous and flattering at the same time. “I haven’t drawn EVERYBODY yet, but I’m working on it.” Although Bill is best known for his caricatures, he is also successful with The Starving Artist Studio created by he and his wife Amanda. Bill is also in demand for his Perfect Pet Portrait classes and Pet Portraits. Bill also creates murals, signs, T-shirt design, ads, CD covers, wood carvings, Cigar box Guitars, whimsical art, Chainsaw Art and more. Bill and his Wife Amanda opened the 1st Starving Artist Studio in Little River South Carolina. “I liked the sunshine and beaches, but it just wasn’t home.” So, in 2012 he and Amanda moved the studio home to Clarksburg WV.

Bill shares his knowledge of art as a teacher at Washington Irving Middle School in Clarksburg, WV. His teaching style is fun, fast-paced and peppered with humor. His two most famous quotes are: “There is no stress – just success.” And “Artists don’t make mistakes. We just change our minds.”

 “The secret of the mountain is that the mountains simply exist, as I do myself: the mountains simply exist, which I do not. The mountains have no “meaning,” they are meaning; the mountains are.. I ring with life, and the mountains ring, and when I can hear it, there is a ringing that we share. I understand all this, not in my mind but in my heart…” -Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard

Carol Schilling has been painting and drawing since childhood. She is a wife (44 years), a mother of two grown children (one of whom is a veteran), and a grandmother of three. She has taught high school  and was a tenured college professor. She owns CS Arts and has painted and studied in France, Italy, Canada, and U.S. Today, she paints in her studio surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She works with acrylic, oil, watercolor, pen and ink, graphite (and clay) on treater paper, canvas, or wood. She is a portrait and figure artist. However, she experiments with landscapes and florals. She loves the dramatic contrasts of the Dutch master florals and admires the softness of the French Impressionist landscapes. She says that, for her, “green is a mystery; green is never just green.”

For this painting, The Secrets of The Mountain, Carol was inspired by the view of the setting sun in late/summer/ early fall while she was fixing dinner. It is personal. It is also universal. Because of atmospheric and seasonal changes, it is never static. There is very little noise in those mountains. Yet, wildlife is abundant. Bears meander in those mountains and leave scat and heavy paw prints. Snakes, birds, insects, and critters hide in those mountains. Yet, it feels safe. Those mountains reflect a never-ending feeling of mystery and possibility, the heavy earth, and the light, hopefulness of the sky.

Like the mountains, the process for this painting is multi-layered. Carol cautiously prepared the front of the guitar by gently sanding it. (Paint does not adhere to slick varnish.) Then, she vertically and horizontally applied multiple coats of artist gesso and used steel wool between coats. Next, she softly sketched in the mountain range using a number two pencil. For visual interest, she used a traditional division of the space: one-third land and two-thirds sky. This allowed her to incorporate the saddle and bridge into the curves of the mountains and the pickguard and sound hole into the sky. Because of their flexibility, Carol used professional quality artist acrylic paints. As influenced by French Impressionist oil painters, the palette is a traditional one for landscapes: (titanium) white, cadmium orange/ yellow/red, sap and viridian green, cobalt, cerulean, and ultramarine blue. To protect the paint, she used a soft gel gloss diluted with water as an isolation coat. To seal the painting, she used a professional artist “removable” gloss varnish made specifically for acrylic paintings. 

Harry Neumann is an artist from Plainfield, CT. Harry has worked on guitars before and wanted to take the opportunity to support our Veterans and the Guitars for Vets programs with his skills.

“My concept was a Hawaiian theme with colors that match or compliment the inlays in the neck and headstock. It was an honor to do this! Thank you so much.” -Harry