culturemap exclusive

20 Years Later: Kirk Weddle's outtakes from Nirvana's iconic Nevermind AlbumCover

Nirvana underwater
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Two decades after its release, Nevermind is still regarded as one of the bestrock albums of all time. Weddle’s thumbprint is on it.
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Kurt Cobain
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Dave Grohl.
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Weddle and the band
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Two hours late and when Cobain finally shows up he just... goes to sleep.
Photo by Kirk Weddle
Photographer Kirk Weddle in his bunny costume.
Jeff Burger Studio

Chances are you probably don’t recognize the name, Kirk Weddle, but if you are under the age of 40, you probably own his most famous frame of film.

Though he and his wife now call Austin home, Weddle grew up as the son of an actor based in L.A. Precisely 20 years ago, a naïve Weddle was hired as an Angeleno photographer to shoot the cover for Nirvana’s Nevermind album. Weddle, an advertising photographer with a knack for underwater shooting, had never even heard of Kurt Cobain and his buzzworthy band. Unbeknownst to Weddle, a snapshot of his friends’ baby would soon become one of the most recognizable images in rock history.

Weddle is a straight shooter. No pun intended. When asked why he decided to pursue a career in photography, it was no surprise that he wittily retorted with, “I thought photography would be an easy way to make a living and meet women." Ironic, coming from a guy who wears a bunny suit in his professional headshot. But that’s just how Kirk rolls.

[Nirvana] initially wanted the cover to be a photo of an underwater birth, but with strong resistance from their label, they eventually settled on a baby swimming in a pool.

Weddle’s sense of humor and demeanor make it hard to believe that in the past, he donned camouflage rather than his favored bunny suit. However, due to suffering an injury while serving in the military, Weddle was rewarded with a full scholarship to the college of his choice. On a whim, he applied to the Art Center of Design in Pasadena, CA and was accepted.

After graduating, Weddle decided to take a unique approach to commercial photography. “I’d been a diver forever and I was actually fired off of a job once and they said, 'don’t ever bring this guy back unless it’s an underwater shot.' That’s how my specialty came about. From that point on, I tried to promote myself as an underwater studio.” Weddle’s efforts paid off. DGC/Geffen Records spotted his portfolio and hired him to shoot the album cover of their newly signed band, Nirvana.

The band initially wanted the cover to be a photo of an underwater birth, but with strong resistance from their label, they eventually settled on a baby swimming in a pool. The subject was Spencer Elden, the infant of Weddle’s friends. Fifteen minutes into the shoot and half a roll of film later, Weddle had captured the iconic cover.

It was a tough day, cloudy, and Kurt was nowhere to be found. Two hours go by and he’s not around. When he finally shows up, he just lies down and sleeps for a couple hours. Flat on the pavement.

However, when it came time to shooting the band, things did not go so smoothly. For one thing, Kurt Cobian, the lead singer for Nirvana, was absent at call time.

“After shooting the album cover, we stupidly shot the band at 10:00 in the morning while they were on tour," he says. "You don’t really want to shoot a band in the morning. It was a tough day, cloudy, and Kurt was nowhere to be found. Two hours go by and he’s not around. When he finally shows up, he just lies down and sleeps for a couple hours. Flat on the pavement. We put a bathrobe on him and took some pictures.”

Three years later, Cobain would unfortunately take his own life and no one was more surprised than Weddle. Yet, the troubled musician left behind a legacy. Two decades after its release, Nevermind is still regarded as one of the best rock albums of all time and Weddle’s thumbprint is on it.

“I definitely think it’s changed my career for the better. The photo is an icon. I got a ton of exposure, but a lot of it for me was just luck. You get this kid at the perfect moment, with a great concept, and it was simply executed. And then you have a band that just exploded." Kirk pauses and adds candidly, “If I had shot this photo of a band that went nowhere, you wouldn’t be talking to me right now.”

---

Weddle continues to produce photography, underwater and on land. His Nirvana prints can be purchased through Rock Paper Photo in New York City.

unspecified

Outside the Lines

Buda artist releases intuitive drawing book with fun prompts

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Artist Ronald Gross creates an intuitive drawing with crayon, which he considers a "joyful" medium.

Buda-based artist and writer Ronald Gross released a book in November called Unlock Your Creativity: A Guide to Intuitive Drawing, which will walk aspiring expressers through drawing without worry. On December 6, he'll be on hand to help in an intuitive drawing demo at Buda Public Library's Holiday Open House.

The book is a hands-on guide that teaches readers how to lean into their own desires and intuitions when drawing, whether they feel like an artist or not. In this way, intuitive drawing should feel relaxing, meditative, and ultimately, beneficial for mental health. If you find coloring books relaxing and meditative, intuitive drawing may have the same effect on you.

"Intuitive drawing is the practice of creating art without a specific plan or outcome in mind," says Gross. "It’s about letting your hand move freely, guided by emotion, curiosity, or subconscious impulses; not about making something perfect."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Intuitive drawing is simple, joyful, and according to Gross can calm the mind much like meditation. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

This book presents exercises to access a mindful state: freeform doodling, blind contouring drawing, drawing from the imagination, and drawing from emotions. For artists feeling stuck, Gross also includes plenty of exercises for overcoming creative blocks and even discusses ways intuitive drawing can be applied to other creative projects and areas of life.

In the December workshop, Gross will give a quick demonstration on how to create an intuitive drawing using nothing but lines, shapes, and simple marks. Then participants can try it out with a variety of crayons, because crayons are "tactile" and can quickly transport people into a "playful, unselfconscious space," according to Gross.

"The workshop is all about creating a supportive, judgment-free space to explore intuitive drawing," he says. "Attendees will leave with tools to keep practicing on their own and, hopefully, a renewed sense of creativity and playfulness."

An intuitive drawing from author and artist Ronald Gross. In college Gross was taught how to take a doodle and elevate it into fine art.Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross's own journey into intuitive drawing started at a young age, when he would doodle and sketch throughout the school day. Years later at the Academy of Art University, a professor encouraged him to lean into this more intuitive and abstract style of art. Since then, Gross has been exploring intuitive drawing's ability to access a meditative state, as well as tap into the subconscious mind.

"When you draw intuitively, you’re fully present in the moment," Gross says. "Your mind quiets, and you become attuned to the flow of your thoughts, feelings, and physical movements. It’s akin to meditation, only instead of sitting still, you’re actively channeling your inner experience onto the page."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Gross's intuitive drawings each evoke a different feeling through his simple use of color and linework. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross adds that over time, doing some of the exercises included in the book may even help boost confidence, since intuitive drawing can help people learn to trust their instincts.

"Intuitive drawing can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help people reconnect with their inner selves," he adds. "It offers a space to process emotions, spark ideas, and break free from perfectionism or overthinking."

visual art drawing books