Jeff Shultz - The Archies in the Summer of '69

Artist: Jeff Shultz (All)

2 Comments - 1,666 Views - 1 Like

Jeff Shultz - The Archies in the Summer of '69 Comic Art

Previous Item:
Jeff Shultz - Sabrina the Teenage Witch flying on broom

Next Item:
Jeff Shultz - Betty and Veronica #271 - Marilyn variant cover

Artwork Details

Title:	Jeff Shultz - The Archies in the Summer of '69
Artist:	Jeff Shultz (All)
Media Type:	Paint - Watercolor
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	Are you kidding me?
Views:	1,666
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	11/16/2014
Comic Art Archive:

Description

A huge commission from Jeff - both in size (28 1/2" x 22 1/2") and hours spent working on it. It is an idea I have had for some time and Jeff was kind enough to help me out.

It is called The Summer of '69 and is depicts The Archies rise to fame through a partially finished 2-page spread in Betty Cooper's scrapbook. Betty has been interrupted by dinner and has left it as we see it in the picture.

There is a bottle of glue, a piece of paper with the title (in Cooper Black - get it?) and a copy of The Archies number one hit, Sugar, Sugar. There is also the tambourine Betty is playing in the band, a visitors pass to CBS Studios where The Archie TV Show was produced and a ticket to The Riverdale Music & Art Fair (a predecessor to Woodstock) where The Archies made one of their first big concerts. The date seem to coincide with my 7th birthday, BTW...

And then there is four snapshots taken at various moments during a very intense year: First we se the core five, Archie, Betty, Reggie, Veronica & Jughead, having a small hootenanny around a campfire at the beach, then they appear at a small club date at Pop's Choklit Shoppe playing for friends and locals.

When their singles starts to get airplay and are being bought by teenagers all over the country it is only natural that we see Sabrina & Harvey dance to Sugar, Sugar in Sabrinas room while an utterly annyoed Salem is pressing his paws to his ears. The last picture shows The Archies waving goodbye to their fans, Beatles style, as they depart to yet another tour date.

Each of the photos could be a great commission by itself, and I am very pleased with the way Jeff managed to interpret my suggestions into beautiful art. The finishing touch was to have him color it with watercolors and let the photos be in black and white (even though this was the age of the Kodak Instamatic) for some realism (they are probably press photos Betty has collected).

Sugar, Sugar was released on July 26, 1969 and spent four weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 from September 20. It was the 1969 number one single of the year.

The only thing left to figure out is how I am going to display it...? A larger picture of it where all the small details are visible can be viewed here.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Karl-Erik Lindkvist
Joined:	January 2009
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	https://twitter.com/Caltex_98
Country:	SWEDEN
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Will K
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 5/14/2015

Must've missed this. Great piece by Jeff.

Karl-Erik Lindkvist
Member Since 2009

Posted on 5/14/2015

Will K wrote:

Must've missed this. Great piece by Jeff.

Thank you! It is very amusing to figure out these commissions and then see the outstanding outcome when Jeff gets on the job.

All
	Randy Allman 9/6/2025 2:54:00 AM
	Richard Donnelly 9/6/2025 2:53:00 AM
	Stefan H 9/6/2025 2:17:00 AM
	David F. 9/6/2025 1:44:00 AM
	Gio Scarp 9/6/2025 1:38:00 AM
View All


	--J S-- 9/6/2025 1:24:00 AM
	Sam Casciato 9/6/2025 12:38:00 AM
	Alan E 9/6/2025 12:05:00 AM
	Aidan (Re-Legion ) Lacy 9/5/2025 10:56:00 PM
	Tom McDonald 9/5/2025 10:46:00 PM