The Cobb batting painting is a great painting, but once you are talking about 20,000 for a painting you are bringing in artists like Paul Serusier and Emile Bernard.

Well, I guess I'm not French, after all. :o

The French
 

Graig,

You make a very good point about the French, as they would be unlikely to make these great baseball paintings. I still believe the buyer of the Cobb painting got a great deal for a 40 x 60 painting. I know I would want it hanging in my office.

cheers

Rob

Football??
 

You ever paint football?? Huge bears fan and I am almost half way home on 1935 Chicle set, would be very cool to see a painting of cards from this set??

I probably couldn't afford an original but would love to have a print, or a signed scribble rough draft of the nagurski!!!!

Thanks Tucker

Thanks a lot, Rob!

Tucker, I do paint football, indeed. I haven't done anything from too far back, though. There have been these two:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1..._Bowl_XLII.jpg
Eli Manning, February 3, 2008, 24" x 30"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1..._Bowl_XLII.jpg
David Tyree, February 3, 2008, 24" x 30"

I also have one more from the triptych to do, which'll hopefully be tackled sometime in the next month or so.

But I'm certainly open to doing the older stuff!! And though I appreciate the interest, I don't do any reproductions at this time - it would have to be an original gangsta.

Graig

Really? For 20k?

Never heard of those guys. Who did they play for? I'm sticking with Kreindler.

Serusier
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...ier-averse.jpg

Bernard
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...Pont-Aven_.jpg

Kreindler
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_...K%20Cobb-1.jpg

David, your check's in the mail. :p

Graig

Graig

David now only accepts "cheques" :)

Right now he's probably sitting on his favourite chesterfield, putting on a colourful toque, looking for a looney so he can get a flavoured double-double and a meagre beaver tail :)

:p:D

A penny for your thoughts, Brian. Oh wait. No more pennies in Canada.

Bernard on ebay
 

Sorry to divert the thread further, but you guys kept it going.

About 6 years ago I bought an 1899 Emile Bernard self portrait on ebay for $197.50 from a picker in New Jersey who titled the auction, '"Old painting of a guy in a hat with a moustache" signature is illegible'.

Dang it Graig
 

Dang it Graig, how come you always have to do the only players I collect (Gehrig, Ruth, DiMaggio, other Yanks of the pre-1960's era), so I'm always getting teased with art I can't afford?!

Seriously great job, and check out the link I'm about to post on behalf of Beckett Media regarding Sports Artists...

Mark

Wow, that bottom painting looks like a photograph...you probably hear it often, but you are the best dang sports artist I've ever seen, and it doesn't surprise me one bit that one of your paintings brought $20,000 at auction.

Dan,

Thank you so much for the kind words - I sincerely appreciate them. For serious. :o

Graig

Hey guys,

I just got this painting back from the photographers today:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps1f57510a.jpg
Mickey Mantle, April 17, 1951, 20" x 46"

I was thinking and looking around for a proper title for the piece a while back, and finally came across something that worked. After reading the below excerpt from the NY Times the day after Mantle's first game (which this painting depicts), I realized that the title 'A Bewildered Bystander' was perfect. Check it:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psbd9b687c.jpg

Those four paragraphs certainly say plenty about how intimidating it must have been for a 19-year old kid from a small mining town to become the heir-apparent to DiMaggio and the centerpiece of the legendary Yankees. And speaking of DiMaggio, I wonder if his mentioned actions were purposefully done. If so, they definitely speak volumes about that persona of the man that we're left with today. Yikes.

Anywho, I hope you dig the painting!!

Graig

Unbelievably awesome and perfect title

The Mick looks awesome, Graig!

[QUOTE=GKreindler;1114888]Hey guys,

I just got this painting back from the photographers today:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps1f57510a.jpg
Mickey Mantle, April 17, 1951, 20" x 46"





HOLY AWESOME!

Beautiful painting, Graig. Another Kreindleriffic effort. Great insight in that article. Bewildered Bystander is the perfect title (and way better than Feather Weight or Where's the Foul Line).

Great painting, Graig. I really enjoyed the 'Bewildered Bystander' article.

Edited to delete superfluous, already taken joke :)

Thanks so much for the love, everybody. I'm thrilled you like this one. I hope the client does too! :)

David, "Where's the Foul Line" was actually my second choice. :p

One of your best, I think. I wouldn't sweat the titles too much as the paintings speak for themselves.

Why wouldn't they!
 

Hiya Graig

Who wouldn't like the crap outa that beauty!

Superb job.

Thanks a lot, guys. :)

And Howard, I appreciate that comment. I wonder if it could take the place of the Mathewson?

Graig

Absolutely STUNNING. It's incredible how you brought the Mantle image to life.

Love the accompanying article and inspiration for the title. It's easy to forget that Mantle wasn't always the superstar he would soon become, and that first-hand account really brings it home. Thanks for sharing that, and it just goes to show the passion you have for these guys that goes beyond the artwork itself.

Oh, and the painting is purty too :p

Dude,
It's Official! I've run out of adjectives to describe your work.
I'm going to have to invest in a thesaurus to come up with some more ways to describe how incredible your work/art/skill is.
Congrats on another great painting.
Best,
Mark

BTW, if the client doesn't like it, I call dibs. Send it to me!

Phenomenal, Graig. A close second to Matty ;-)

That's a fantastic painting. Impressive.

It's pretty close Graig but I still think your Mathewson is the best. You captured something there that even technically great portraitists seldom manage. I don't know exactly how to explain it but to me it combines the vivid colors and fine brushwork of Holbein with the "earthiness" of someone like Gilbert Stuart.

Thanks for continuing to post. I always enjoy seeing your new stuff.

Guys, you're all the best.

Jason, Mark and jacksons, you rule. Thank you. :)

Lance, the whole thing about Mantle coming up as an intimidated rookie and all has always been the crux of my fascination with him. I mean, the alcohol and other personal issues really add to the profundity of his story, but I just can't imagine the kind of pressure he must have felt coming to New York. Aside from the fact that he came from a tiny town to the big city at such a young and green age, I just keep coming back to how the media, Casey and the fans must have thought of him in those first few years. Talk about having the weight of the world on your shoulders. It makes me wonder how his career would have been different had he been on another team in a smaller market. Not that I wish for that.

Howard, you're mentioning some giants there. I really appreciate the comparisons, but man, I couldn't wash their brushes.

I still just find myself wondering what was so striking about that Matty portrait. I mean, Conlon's photo was absolute genius, so I feel like all of the accolades need to go to him. But yeah, it seems to be the one painting that everybody gravitates to the most. Not that I'm complaining or anything, as I'm super honored. I guess I just don't see it the same way since my memories of it are filled with toil, torment and frustration. :)

Weeeeeee!!

Thanks again, everyone.

Graig

Graig,

You already know how I feel about the Mantle and your title is perfect!!! Mickey's pre-season accomplishments in '51 elicited so much praise from the sportwriters, fans (e.g. at USC where he was rushed like a rock star after his two mammoth HRs) and of course Casey whose statements could never be lived up to that Mantle, already overwhelmed with the jump from Joplin to the majors and NYC, was a nervous wreck.

I have always felt that the attached photo taken in June of 1951 and shortly before he was sent down to Kansas City best depicts the pressure he was feeling and deserves the title of "Weight of the World". And yes, I know you can match it with a superb painting!!

Best.

Craig

Graig,
Helllllloooooooo.

Show us more.
Show us more.
Show us more.

I believe Graig has already done this subject (and of course, captured all of Mantle's pressure/stress in brilliant fashion). Think I recall seeing it a year or two ago...

Hey everyone!

Hope this post finds y'all well and rested. And of course, ready for summer and the National! I'm definitely stoked to be in Chicago again this year, though I won't be exhibiting.

Anywho, at the nudging of Mark (thanks, buddy), I thought I'd post some of the in-progress stuff that's been roaming around the studio for the past few months. Though I haven't been posting as much, I certainly haven't been idle. I have been keeping up with things on my Facebook fan page for the most part, as I guess it's a bit easier to focus on one form of the social media spectrum. If any of you are on there and want to keep track of what I'm up to (as well as all of the silly facts I post), you can go here and click the 'Like' button:

https://www.facebook.com/GraigKreindler

Now, some of these are now finished and are just waiting to be photographed, and others are barely even touched. They're even a few commissions that I've been working on that I haven't shot recent images of either (Brian McD, I'm looking at you). So, if there's any glare or graininess, I apologize. At this point iPhone photos will have to do.

As per usual, your comments and crits are GREATLY appreciated. Hope ya dig 'em!

Graig

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psf5f3881c.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps9a7a58a6.jpg
1927 Yankees, 44" x 66"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psce8507d8.jpg
Babe Ruth, 1928, 16" x 20"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psd9c5938f.jpg
Jackie Robinson and Yogi Berra, 1955, 30" x 36"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psb7a54a6e.jpg
Lou Gehrig, 1923, 16" x 20"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps527d2a4f.jpg
Dizzy Dean, 1932, 16" x 20"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps7e8cc73a.jpg
Rube Marquard, 1912, 20" x 24"

And now for the jump!

And the rest...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psa3176772.jpg
Richie Ashburn, 1956, 9" x 12"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psf625cb7c.jpg
Ralph Kiner, 1940, 16" x 20"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psdc9a2e84.jpg
Ed Walsh, 1912, 14" x 18"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps3f4a56f6.jpg
Ed Walsh, 1910, 11" x 14"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...pscf8a3508.jpg
Casey Stengel, 1938, 16" x 20"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps3228fb80.jpg
Carl Hubbell, 1934, 28" x 35"

And they're still a lot more that I have yet to post - hopefully I'll get around to getting on here soon.

Hope you guys dig 'em!

Graig

Bout Damn Time!

First off.... WOW. HFS.
Second... What crazy SOB commissioned the gigantic 1927 Yankees team? I need to know cause that is one I'd love to see in person.
Lastly.... WOW.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Graig, Those are awesome
My favorite is Jackie sliding into Yogi

Wow, Graig! You really have been busy lately.
That's a terrific group of paintings.

Love King Carl!! :)

Love 'em all, and would kill to see either the huge Mantle or the giant Yankees Team Painting in person.

But like Scott, my favorite from this new crop is probably the Carl Hubbell, with the majestic Polo Grounds backdrop.

Any chance that any from this group will be present at The National?

Holy crap! And here I thought you were wasting all your time with that gettin' hitched and subsequent globe-trotting business. You have been busy! :p

The two that are standing out to me the most are the Ed Walsh hand shot, which just really stands out in the crowd and is taking your usual insane detail to a whole other level, and the Casey Stengel. That one comes off with a hint of Norman Rockwell to me, though that may just be Stengel's natural look? I mean, the rest are great too, and even the earlier works in progress show great potential (I can't wait to see the finished 1927 Yankees team shot either, Mark. It's big, but I bet if you broke the square inch cost down to cost-per-portrait, someone is still getting a bargain!) The Berra/Robinson stood out to me too, but for some reason my eye keeps being drawn to Berra's back side, and lest anyone should get the wrong idea (my wife included), I'd rather just not talk about it...

Thanks so much for your kind words, everyone. I'm glad y'all seem excited about this stuff!

The '27 team shot is for Phil Napolitano, a fellow board member. I'm super excited to be working on it for and with him, as he's definitely the biggest '27 team fan that I know of (and a damn good friend to boot). Anywho, he commissioned it a long time ago and now I'm FINALLY getting around to it. Needless to say, it's been quite the undertaking. He's always loved that particular photo, so he's definitely taken an interest into making the painting as wonderful as possible. Through the faces on the team compared to the active rosters throughout the year, we were able to narrow the date down to about a week - June 29 to July 8. At first, it was a little tough to believe, since it looks like everyone is wearing long sleeves, and in the case of Pennock, even a jacket. However, you can certainly have chillier days in that time-span (even if they are a little more on the rare side). What I'm probably gonna do is head to the ol' microfilm files and see what the weather was like in that time span - maybe I can narrow it down even further. Phil was also very helpful in tracking down a lot of Wingler questionnaires to help find the mundane details, like eye and hair color of many of these guys. Mundane for sure. But also AWESOME.

Mark V, if you want to come by here to see it before I get it to Phil, you're certainly more than welcome to.

The Hubbell is also one of my favorites. I'm just super happy to be able to do a painting of him, being one of my absolute favorite players. The client's father was a big Giants fan and used to tell him about Hubbell all of the time, so in a way, the painting is more of a tribute to his father than anything. Either way, I'm STOKED for him to see it in the end.

Mark S, I don't have any solid plans of bringing anything to Chicago, but there's always a chance that I can. If anything, it might be on the smaller end of the painting scale. It's probably going to be tough either way, since I'll be flying in.

Lance, I think in the case of Stengel, it was ALL Conlon. He just captured this absolutely perfect expression on the Ol' Perfessor's face. It's really fun knowing the image is from Opening Day at the Polo Grounds in '38, Casey's first managing stint with Boston. So, the expression to me is, "hey, why not?" Simply hilarious.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment, everyone - I really appreciate it.

Graig

...and ya know what, here are a few more. All of 'em are in-progress.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps9098e02f.jpg
Christy Mathewson, 1912, 9" x 12"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psd48c2a90.jpg
Ed Delahanty, 1903, 22" x 34"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psd7aea991.jpg
Rogers Hornsby, 1929, 30" x 32"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psfe998dd2.jpg
Rube Waddell, 1902, 26" x 30"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps0292fcaa.jpg
George Case, 1939, 9" x 12"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psb473eb0e.jpg
Ernie Banks, 1957, 11" x 14"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps69f940cf.jpg
Jim Thorpe, 1917, 11" x 14"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps9d84a4b6.jpg
Fred Merkle, 1909, 11" x 14"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps44ccd95a.jpg
Nolan Ryan, 1969, 11" x 14"

Alright, I'm done for today. I promise.

Graig

What do you mean you're done?! Look at all those unfinished paintings!!! [sounds of whip cracking] :D

Lance, have you been talking to Dean?

Graig

I have a feeling that Hornsby will be one of my very favorites, once completed.... simply mesmerizing :cool:

Mark,
It looks like we're on the same wavelength today...
I was thinking the same thing!

Same wavelength for quite a while, Scott... If Graig re-posted your Vander Meer, it would occur again!

So I am finally home and seeing these paintings on a big screen. They look even better. That Hubbell is amazing. I can almost feel the breeze blowing watching him. So incredibly lifelike.

I have to agree with Mark and Scott as well. On a phone the Hornsby was good, but on my monitor, I am just blown away. Mesmerizing is the right word. Is that Hack Wilson in the background?

Man.. all these paintings makes me want another one.

Keep up the good work buddy.

Mark

Guilty!!!

Phil,
That is one Freakin' AWESOME Commission!!
Lemme see where I put your address again.. I have it here somewhere.
Cangrats,
Mark

Guilty like a fox!

Thanks again for the warm words, Mark. For serious.

Graig

I just saw these recent postings....Although I am loving the Berra/Robinson I have reason to believe the Hubbell will be right up there on my favorites list next to your Mathewson. Spectacular as usual.

I am hoping to get a chance to meet you at the National this year. Keep up the great work!

Thank you so much, Andrew! Just let me know when you'll be around Chicago and hopefully we can meet up!

Graig

Hey everyone,

Hope you're all keeping cool.

With some cool timing by my photographers, I just got these guys back:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...psaafaf5ad.jpg
Carl Hubbell, July 10, 1934, 29" x 35"

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps945561d4.jpg
Jackie Robinson & Yogi Berra, September 28, 1955, 30" x 36"

Today is actually the 79th anniversary for the Hubbell painting scene - warming up on the sidelines before he struck out Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Simmons and Cronin in succession during the '34 All-Star Game. Hubbell's always been one of my favorite players as a few of you know, so this painting was an absolute joy to create.

The second guy is hopefully a bit more obvious as to what it depicts - quite the photo finish!

Anywho, comments and crits are always appreciated. The color adjusting is almost there, but still might be a little off in some places.

Looking forward to seeing some of y'all in Chicago!

Graig

The texture on Berra's uniform--and Jackie's too--is just amazing, Graig!

AWESOME!!! :eek:
Congrats, Graig and to whoever ends up owning these two beautiful Kreindler gems.

Outstanding and awesome.

Freakin Awesome

'Nuff Said.

Aww, thank you so much, everyone. VERY much appreciated.

David, thanks for noticing the uniforms. My father said the same thing, but had some negative vibrations about the painting as a whole. 1960 still looms rather ominously for him, but '55 is a close second. He'll get it over it soon though, it's only been almost 58 years. Right?

Graig

Graig, the Berra/Robinson looks 3D'ish, fantastic.
Will say hello in Chicago. I enjoyed our chat in Baltimore last year

wow...love the look on jackies face! awesome work!

Amazing quality work as always Graig...well done!!

Graig,

That guy looks JUST LIKE Carl Hubbell! Love the great shadows across his face and arm!

I am looking forward to seeing you and your gems in person in Chicago.

Curt

Thanks a lot, guys! :)

Curt, I'll be there, but I won't be exhibiting, unfortunately. If I wasn't flying there, I probably could have brought a few pieces with me, but as it stands, I'll be empty-handed.

Graig

Graig ... your paintings are incredible. The Jackie Robinson is absolutely beautiful! How long does it typically take you to paint a player/scene? Just curious. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much, Jerry!

Each piece really varies in time-spent. For the most part, the smaller portraits (9" x 12"s to 16" x 20"s) take the least amount of time - about 2-3 weeks. It's the larger paintings that require a lot of planning out and research that really do me in. Those can take anywhere from a month to two or three.

I guess it just all depends on the size, the research required for the painting, and the complexity of the image itself.

Thanks for sharing Graig. I would think the research would be fun ... although as an artist I can see where you would want to finally get to the easel :-) I was curious about the time it takes to render a complete painting because my daughter has shown some skill in many of the arts, although oil and water color painting is not one she has spent much time with. She does sketch a good bit. She sketched a Chipper Jones and Audrey Hepburn for me for Fathers day a couple years ago :-) She also has a great photography eye. Anyway ... I was going to show her some of your excellent paintings (and the original photo's) so she could see some of your fine work. Again ...thanks for sharing!

My pleasure, Gerry! I'd love to see her work.

It really does all start with sketching. It took forever for me to try painting. I mean, I had absolutely no confidence. When I picked up a brush, it was odd to me, like it didn't feel the same way as a pencil. It took months and months just to get over THAT. Both oil and watercolors are VERY tough mediums, so they take a lot of practice. I'd say that if she's interested in trying either one, she should just buy some colors and play. It's important to figure out how the medium handles, what you can do with it, and how it reacts to whatever surface you're working on. It's not even remotely important to make a beautiful, finished piece. That will come! I've definitely made a ton of crappy stuff in my lifetime, but the fun of it was found in the whole journey.

Graig

Thanks for the tips Graig. I'll definitely pass them on. I'll scan a couple of her sketches as soon as I can. Thanks!

Hey guys,

So, the time has come. I've wanted to show this for some time now, and really only decided to do so now because it's officially done. I haven't had it professionally photographed yet, but will do so next week. But for whatever reason, I just felt like I had to share the finished image with you guys first.

It was commissioned by a fellow Net54er and I must say, it was perhaps the most challenging image I've ever had to deal with. That notion didn't necessarily have much to do with the technical aspects of doing the actual painting, but mainly because it's just a friggin' RAW image.

So, I give you an iPhone shot of Kankol:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ps1d2f2c82.jpg

My client is a big fan of Negro League baseball, and always had a fascination with the Zulu Cannibals - this image in particular. I really was (and still am a little) hesitant to post the image to the Internet and onto my social media pages, as I know it's not necessarily something easy to digest. I would imagine that on a place like Facebook, I'll probably even get accused of being a racist and perhaps lose some fans. But in the end, I feel like it's something that needs to be out there. When I took the commission on, I knew that it was gonna be something special. Whether it was being special in a good or bad way, I didn't know, but I had to paint it.

Thankfully, he seems to really like it, and pretty much summed up his reasoning for choosing the image in a previous email. I hope he doesn't mind me sharing some of his words:

"That look in his eyes sums up so much of what the reality was in the pre-integration era. It wasn't all Bingo Long's Traveling All-Stars and shadowball and clowning. There was also this.

You are helping to bring that reality into focus. It's ugly and shameful and largely unknown, even to baseball historians, in it's raw and true starkness. But it happened. And it's part of baseball history."

I hope he's right. Tough subject matter or not, my goal was to make it as beautiful of a painting as possible. And in the end, I have to remember that I've always wanted to be the type of 'visual historian' who just reports the news, rather than comments on it. My client's definitely right, it happened, and it is part of baseball history.

Anywho, I would really love any of your comments on this, be it good or bad. Maybe I just need a pep talk to convince me that I really have to post it on Facebook and the like. So in that regard, advice is also most welcome.

Either way, as per usual, thanks for looking and listening.

Graig

Wow! That is very cool Graig! Definitely one of a kind!

Dude,
That is awesome!!!!!!!
Show it off everywhere is my opinion.
I think you need to worry less about what "people" will say. There will always be people who will find fault. Will someone see it as racist? Probably, but that doesn't make it so. You are documenting a historical fact with as much realism as possible, not commenting on it. You didn't keep them out of MLB for all those years. You didn't pay them to dress up like this. By painting this you are not saying..."Hey. Let's go back to slavery and oppression." It would be like blaming Walter Cronkite for describing and reporting the Vietnam War.
For the greater understanding, I do think wherever you post it, a story and link, describing the background of the Zulu Cannibal Giants, is needed to educate those who are not familiar with them. This should also help minimize any misunderstandings about it's intent.

Keep up the good work.

How about an update on the 27 Yanks? Pretty Please!

Mark

.

An older black gentleman, perhaps 75 year old or so, was in my store ( antique mall) last week. He was wearing a Negro League t-shirt and we got to talking about old time baseball. I made a comment about it being shameful that it's only fairly recently that the Negro Leagues have been given their due. He stopped me mid sentence and told me it shouldn't be seen as 'shameful' as "we weren't looking for acceptance and don't need it now. These were our communities and the teams were just a part of it. It was a big family gathering and with all the clowns and zulus, I'd say we had a way better time than the white folk at their ballparks". I knew nothing of the Zulus before that conversation.

To the painting. Fabulous. What a great visual introduction to a part of baseball many know nothing about.

Thanks a lot for the support, guys.

Mark, you're right - and I know it! It's just weird because whenever I post a painting somewhere, be it on my website, here, or on Facebook, I always do it with the idea that I'm building this body of work that I'm proud of, and here's a part of it. With this Zulu Cannibal painting, that's definitely there too, but there's more - there's actually a need for me to post it. It's not something I've ever really felt before. I guess no matter how I look at it, this piece is gonna be really important.

I don't even know what that means, but I still believe it.

And with the '27 Yanks...I'll post an update soon - I promise!

Thanks again, y'all.

Graig

I don't know what the general reaction to it will be, but I can tell you right now that seeing that painting makes me want to learn more about the circumstances surrounding it, not just reject it out of hand. I must admit that, other than knowing that there was such a thing as the Negro Leagues, and that just about everything originally associated with them is now out of my price range, my knowledge of the Negro Leagues is very limited. I think, as Mark suggested, as long as wherever you post it, a story and link describing the background of the Zulu Cannibal Giants accompanies the post, any rational adult should be able to see it as documenting history rather than stirring up hate.

I say "thumbs up" on a job well done (as usual), and I would love to see the original photo this one was based on.

Incredible piece that needs to be shared. The questions that come from it and the outrage should be welcomed. That's part of the reason that I collect Negro League stuff as well. I want to have those hard discussions. When my son asks me why that man has his face painted and is on his knees posing with a bat and a grass skirt, it's going to be a tremendous learning lesson. Hopefully by asking and answering these questions we can become a more tolerant and enlightened society.