“Trigger”: Roots, Rhythm, and Reverence

DeElla Hoberg
Oct 29
2 min read

Trigger Watercolor, Gouache, and Mica on Canvas by DeElla Hoberg

My husband and I recently watched Willie Nelson and Family on Paramount+. I have always loved Willie Nelson — his voice, his spirit, and his storytelling. I’ve seen him and his sons perform at several music festivals, and each time, I walk away feeling like I’ve just witnessed a piece of American soul.

I grew up with old country playing on the 8-track in my dad’s car — Hank Williams Jr., Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn all sang the soundtrack of my childhood. Then came Willie Nelson and Elvis.

For me, Willie bridges gaps. He’s one of the few artists both my parents and I could agree on, even as I began leaning toward the rock and roll my older brothers loved. Maybe it was his rebel spirit, or the range of artists he played with. Whatever it was, I always felt his message deep in the story of his songs.

After watching the documentary, I was struck by the loyalty and depth of Willie’s relationships — the fierce bonds, the trust (sometimes misplaced), and most of all, his connection to his guitar, Trigger.

According to Paramount:

“Willie Nelson’s guitar is named Trigger. It’s a Martin N-20 classical guitar that he bought in 1969 and named after Roy Rogers’ horse. The guitar is famous for its unique sound, the large hole worn in its body, and the signatures of countless musicians who have signed it over the years.”

And as Willie said himself,

“Trigger’s like me… old and beat-up.”— Trigger: The Life of Willie Nelson’s Guitar, Texas Monthly

The morning after watching the documentary, I woke up with a vivid image in my mind — Trigger growing up from the earth, rooted like a tree. I grabbed my sketchbook and began drawing.

For this piece, I wanted to go big — and I wanted it to live outside the glass. I used a watercolor canvas, layered with three coats of Daniel Smith’s gold watercolor ground. It gave the entire surface a warm glow, a luminous energy that feels alive beneath the paint.

Working on canvas was very different from my usual 100% cotton watercolor paper, but the change pushed me to experiment boldly. I used concentrated colors for a rich, fiery statement. Once dry, I added handwritten phrases in gouache — words and lines that had emerged in my sketchbook as I imagined Trigger’s story — before sealing it all with satin archival varnish and framing it in cedar.

To me, Trigger represents resilience, creativity, and the beautiful wear of a life well-lived. Like Willie and his guitar, we all carry the marks of time — proof of our songs, our stories, and our roots.