“How would you like to do some tattoo paintings for Sylvester Stallone’s new movie, The Expendables?” After a quick yes, I was introduced to Stallone who showed me tattoos of his wife with long flowing hair and also a raven. I was then commissioned to paint designs on three acoustic light blue guitars – two fully painted and one partially painted.
These guitars were intended for two scenes. In the first, Mickey Rourke is shown painting a guitar, which he had intended to give to his girlfriend. The moment is pivotal for the film because Mickey expresses remorse for past actions not taken and this conversation with Stallone spurs him on to return to the island Vilena to rescue the girl he left behind.
In the second scene, one of the finished guitars was supposed to be smashed by Rourke in his anger with the now ex girl friend. But this scene was never filmed. I think the guitars were too beautiful to destroy. Word has it that they may be in the Hard Rock Café in Vegas or Reno .
I had two other jobs related to this movie. The first was as an art consultant for Mickey when he was painting. At 2 AM, I was called to the Tool Shop set, bringing a palette, brushes, jars and paints to set up a studio. I then talked to Mickey about paint strokes and brush sizes and then watched the filming. No retakes were needed!
