MASH Jeep Drawing

Jeeps are usually a big hit, and a lot of fun to draw. I’ve drawn a few Military Jeeps, and this week I was fortunate to get to work on this MASH Jeep Drawing commission for Father’s Day.

MASH was a hit TV comedy in the 1970s and early ’80s showcasing the 4077th Surgical Unit during the Korean War. One of the key prop elements of the show was this 1944 Willys Jeep, which was frequently used by the cast to drive around the hospital complex.

I started the drawing by roughing out a 3/4 front view of the Jeep in pencil on toned tan paper. The perspective is from a seated position. One key element of this project was to add the client’s favorite character, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake. Drawing people is far outside my comfort zone, but I thought it might work to draw him sitting in the vehicle, taking a little snooze.

This drawing is a little bigger than most, so once I was satisfied with the orientation, I lined the sketch with Micron 02.

Next, I used Micron 05 to create some atmospheric perspective, giving some depth to the Jeep. Strategic use of line weights makes the drawing pop off the page.

Here’s where I lost myself in the process a little bit. Even though the truck is green, I only have two shades of Olive drab in the body and wheels. The tires, undercarriage, and shadow required five shades of neutral grays. Using more shades in the tires allows the sidewalls to appear more round. The body splits tone right in the middle where the sheet metal tapers in toward the hood.

There are two shades of blue and two shades of orange in Blake’s sweater, and three shades of tan in the plaid strip in his hat.

White charcoal pencil was used to bring out the white in the star and hood lettering, Blake’s collar, and light reflections in the tires and rims. The show’s “M*A*S*H” opening sequence font is laid out on the hood, as well as “4077th” to represent the hospital unit.

Finally, I framed the MASH Jeep Drawing in matted 11×14 with acid-free T-hinges.

This was a fun project! Happy Father’s Day!