That's just insane. I mean...all of the pieces that you do are insane. I have so little artistic talent that just thinking about how someone is capable of doing something like that makes my brain hurt.

Tom C

actually dig the more impressionistic qualities of the unfinished portions. Maybe that's the next project? cards in different styles? Gimme a 52 Mantle in cubism etc???

Hey Tim,
I know, artistic integrity and all of that aside, have you ever thought of doing multiples of your finished works? Say, for instance, you're cutting a piece of a card to get the specific shadow you need. Couldn't you take another (of the same) card and cut out the exact same shape? That way you could be working on two or more pieces at the same time. Might be something to explore to get more of your work out there, and generate some further sales.

Incredible stuff!!!!!

Thank you, Tom!

Glad you like the in-progress shot! However, I have no intent to switch styles, just continue to tighten what I do.;)

Thank you! Creating multiple pieces of the same artwork could be done, but for many reasons, I have no desire to do it. When I started doing this in the spring of 2009, I intended on a small series of 5-8. I made the T206 Wagner, 52T Mantle, and 89 Griffey really quick. The sketches were extremely loose, and the amount of cards I had to choose from was extremely limited. The end results were basically concept/prototype pieces of what I do now. I decided years later to give attention to the Wags, Mantle, & Griffey and make detailed pieces of each. Those are the only three I will ever create a 2nd time. I've started Wagner, and the Mantle/Griffey originals are complete. I still own the concepts of all 3 pieces (and Griffey even signed his). Here is a side-by-side of the concept Griffey and the piece I finished last year:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4475/...c9493bdb_n.jpg

Eddie is finished.....SOLD.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/...3e58d36a_c.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4512/...b27cf7a9_c.jpg

This is why I love humans...Great work...

great piece, can't wait to see the next one

Had to have these
 

Considering they are two of my favorite all time cards (along with my son's favorites) I had to have these. Outstanding work as always Tim

Troy

Amazing!!! Just amazing!!! The artistic talent, patience, and vision of what you do blows my mind! If you ever do an '84 Topps Mattingly or '71 Topps Thurman Munson, let me know. Not sure what it costs to commission such a thing, but I'd definitely be interested!

I agree on the 1984 Topps Mattingly. He's not only my favorite player of all time but the 1984 Topps was the first real set I collected from packs as a kid. I think the 1971 Munson would be difficult with all the background noise in the picture but I'm not the expert, Tim sure is. Incredible work and talent.

Tim, from a production standpoint, I have a question for you. Your incredible works are tantamount to impressionist paintings in a museum. From a distance you get a clear image of the subject, but when you get close up you see the work is comprised of brush strokes and dabs of paint, etc. When you are creating a piece, how often are you stepping way far back from it to make sure the weird colored shreds of baseball cards (your 'brush strokes' as it were) are achieving the desired effect from a distance?? I imagine the floor leading up to and away from your easel is just worn the heck out. Ha ha.

No idea how I missed these responses/questions - so sorry I'm just now getting to them!

Thank you! Agreed. Everybody has something they do better than everyone around them. Some just haven't realized it yet!

Thank you!

Troy, I'm honored to have those hanging on your wall.

Thanks! I'll be sending you some information shortly on both the Mattingly and Munson. Both would be extremely time-consuning due to the full body action poses, and in the case of the Mattingly, an extremely small portrait to boot. I've always wanted to work the 1976 Topps Munson. That's a card that lends itself well to what I do. I'll be in touch soon.

Bingo on the Munson. It can be done, but I have a pretty good grasp on which images would be captured realistically, and which would be more of a representation. The Munson would definitely be a representation with far less detail than some of the other pieces I have finished. The 84 Topps Mattingly would challenging as well. Cutting the intricate pieces that make the flip shades, his fingers, the smallest of pinstripes, etc. And then there is the portrait in which his likeness must be nailed. I really appreciate the kind words!

Great question, and one I do not get as often as others. Believe it or not, my iPhone becomes my best friend in saving me steps. Holding the phone up and viewing it through that camera lens where the image is compressed makes a world of difference. That keeps me by the drafting table, lol.


By the way, it isn't an iconic card, but this is a piece I had to get right. I worked the following over the last few months during the day when my wife was away and my kids were in school. I surprised my youngest with this (working on the other kids). This one measures just under 3 ft x 3 ft. My 10-year old son, Mason:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4552/...2d439dc4_c.jpg

tim...that is A-mazing!!!!!!!

Thanks, Pete!

+1 Your work seems to get a little better with each piece.

I was thinking that too. Not that your earlier work isn't good, but we're literally watching you perfect your craft a little more with each piece. Thanks for taking us on the ride!

From people that have seen my work before, this kind of compliment means everything. I aim to be a lifelong learner in every aspect; it's just more public within the art side of things. Thank you both for the consistent words of encouragement and support.

You realize you've just ruined fatherhood for everyone else out there, don'tcha? Now when a dad puts a snapshot of his son on the fridge, the response is going to be, "WTF, Dad??? Just a measly photograph???? Are you kidding me???? Don't you know what Tim Carroll does for his son??? Come on, man!!!!!!"

No, no....lol, didn't ruin anything at all. What the son could encourage is, "Dad, will you HIRE Tim to do one of me?" That's a win-win for us both.;)

Finished with a commissioned 1948 Leaf Stan Musial RC.......hope to have a barrage of new pieces complete before the end of January.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4620/...072e697aa1.jpg

Your work is unreal Tim. Great Job on all of these pieces.


AndyH

I think Tim was pretty damn perfect two years ago.

Thank you, Andy! If you ever get the itch to have one of those T206 backs with purple stamps hanging on the wall, let me know.:)

Thank you, Peter! Very proud you are still enjoying the Babe. You will find humor in knowing that the time I spent with the blue on the 48L Musial was on par with that 33G green!

Making good on my promise for a productive January, I am now finished with this: a 1938 Goudey Joe DiMaggio. This one measures just over 24" x 30", and was slowly made just for fun over the course of the past year. It is available.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4615/...3c09e290bb.jpg

Commissioned 1959 Topps Bob Gibson RC. The color contrast in the original card design made this one fun to work!

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4657/...04b6d80614.jpg

hmm thinking you need to make a Cracker jack with a crease or two, rounded corners and some caramel staining! Stretch those artistic muscles of yours! As always, love your work.

Phenomenal. Period.

Thank you both! I'm working to secure some '04 Topps Cracker Jacks, and then I'll begin work on the Joe Jackson (mint condition, of course!:))

Getting closer on this Matty portrait.....


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/...35d2611293.jpg

looks done to me!!!!!

Commissioned 1954 Bowman Mantle complete.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/864/4...ecc01fb247.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/856/4...456c6ba8b7.jpg

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/894/4...a6481c8ee8.jpg

Tim another masterpiece, especially the uniform.

Thank you, Peter!

Wonderful, Tim. You keep getting better and better!

Another gem.

Great work as alwats Tim. I have to one of these done one day.

Thank you, Graig. Getting better is the best compliment I can truly get!

Thanks, Jason! Looking forward to working with you.

1952 Tip Top Mickey Mantle complete (26" x 26"):

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/4...a1bbcdc183.jpg

awesome tim!

I can attest that as great as the images of these works look online, they don't compare to the real thing. The one I have seen is just stunning in person. If you were considering commissioning one, you definitely should.

agreed! I love mine!

Thank you both. The endorsements are appreciated very much!

T206 Mathewson portrait complete. 16" x 29".

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1824/...7e165532de.jpg

Another one down.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/...0f9e9673_z.jpg

Amazeballs.

One of my favorite quotes about the Grateful Dead (from Bill Graham, if I remember) applies here:

"They're not the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do."

You've gotten so much better over the years, it's frankly frightening.

I appreciate your work so much and the level you are at.....so naturally your compliments mean a ton to me, Graig. Thank you, my friend.

I love me some art! + baseball = Incredible Cards

Hat is off to you I LOVE Your Work !! never saw this before.

Sincerely from Florida
CV

Those really are great looking, Tim!!

Thank you both!

As great as these images look online, they don't compare to seeing the real thing where you can really appreciate the detailed work involved and just how close Tim gets to the original.

Tim’s work is incredible both for it’s quality and it’s creativity. These are museum quality pieces and I’m sure that in the future Tim’s pieces will be displayed at Cooperstown.

Mercy....you gentlemen know how to make a fella blush. It is an honor to have pieces in your collections, and I appreciate your words of support and encouragement!

I have to say it again...and again...and again. You GOTTA start making prints available. I know your M.O. is to have each piece be a truly unique work of art for the eventual owner, and I respect that, but if you start producing prints for the rest of us, the original pieces will still absolutely be one of ones. There are plenty of photos of "The Creation of Adam" adorning people's walls, but to see the original you still have to crook your neck to look up at the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. (No hyperbole here. :rolleyes:)

Wow, awesome stuff

I understand....wish I could do more than I do, but I do not believe copyright laws would be in my favor if I started mass producing prints. I have made a handful of smaller 16" x 20" prints for some pieces, but the amount was extremely small and I used most of them for social media giveaways and donations to charity events.

Thank you!

Another Mantle off the list! Next up is a commissioned Cobb......

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1917/...0fd5324e_z.jpg

Yes!! :D :D

(And beautiful Mantle, too! :))

:)

Another very cool piece of art!!

T206 Ty Cobb Bat Off Shoulder is complete! SOLD.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4820/...9186f819_z.jpg

That is astounding.

Tim, these get better and better - The Cobb is astounding!

astonishing... beautiful... other superlatives.

A shameless plug, since as I was running out of wall space, I put my King Kelly N162 in LOTG. It's an incredible piece and I hope the next owner will enjoy it as much as I have.

I'll second Jay's shameless plug. If you've never seen one of these in person, they are truly a sight to behold. From a distance, they appear almost as if they're an illustration of the card. As you get closer, the individual pieces take shape and it looks like a mosaic. When you're right on top of it, you see all the different faces and names and stats. It's almost a metaphor for the hobby, and how the iconic cards stand out above over a hundred years of commons, and how the game's truly great players stand out above the rest. I'm just crazy about this piece.

-Al

Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement.

Jay, I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me to create that Kelly a few years back. I'm honored it was on your wall for as long as it was, and I look forward to learning it's new destination! I'll be plugging it on my social media for you.

Thank you sir!

Thanks Tim!

Here's a pretty amazing setup that one client had built.....putting my Tip Top Mantle art alongside (4) of the cards:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4857/...a3e65625_z.jpg

In countless ways, that is amazing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree completely. That is amazing.

Tim does amazing work. I’m shocked that the Kelly N162 piece in LOTG, one of only two N162 pieces that will ever be produced, has yet to receive a bid, even though it is opening at a fraction of current prices.

maybe you used up all your karma hyping the Jets bobble head booster pack

That might explain it. For all the hype on the Jets blister pack, which is the only one I have ever seen, I still ended up losing money on it. Oh well, make it up in volume.

A couple of recent commissions complete:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4825/...57efaf55_z.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4852/...142c45a1_z.jpg


Tim

Slow, building golf clap...

1933 Sport Kings JIm Thorpe
 

Finished this one earlier this morning. Cut football cards.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4874/...70e9f38f_z.jpg

This is fantastic!

No pressure Tim, but if you picked up your pace cutting up the junk stuff in another couple decades the remaining ones might have some value! You need to hire a couple of apprentices!

That Thorpe is in the running for my all-time favorite.

I know I'm repeating myself, but boy, those things are really FANTASTIC!

Simply amazing Tim! Jim's eyes are especially good. That touch of blue really pops for me at least.

I feel like it's the 1860's and some guy named Claude Monet is posting some of the stuff he's been working on.

Just absolutely, ridiculously awesome!!!!!!!