Recognize This Artist Or What These Are?
 

These are coming up in a local auction today. I'm bidding on them just out of curiosity, but wondered if anyone recognized the artist (can't quite make out his name) or knows what they are? The auction description of "Mixed Media Athletic Portraits" isn't much help, and unfortunately I won't be able to make it to view them in person ahead of time.

My first impression is that they are some sort of decoupage application directly onto wood plaques, be even if that is the case, I would still be curious if the original illustrations used were part of a series of some sort? The art style strikes me as very familiar, but I can't quite place it.

I've never seen thembefore, but they just scream 70's. You'll need some string art to hang them next to......

Steve B

LOL

They'd perfectly complement a harvest gold kitchen. :D

Okay, let me clarify that the price is VERY cheap on them (and likely to remain that way) and I will probably be re-purposing them by cutting down the frames/plaques in some way. I just really like the illustrations and was hoping to find out more about the artist.

You may now resume with the guffawing.

Lance,

Have you been able to see them in person, or just through the photographs?

Graig

Graig,

Unfortunately just the photographs shown. I will be seeing them in person when I pick them up (assuming nobody outbids me on these beauties), but won't have an opportunity to view them beforehand. My fault due to a scheduling conflict. I can post better pics later once I have them in hand.

Lance,

If you do end up going for them, I'd definitely love to see more photographs of them. To me, it definitely looks like the illustrations are at least 30-35 years old. The artists strokes seem like the kind that were popular in the late 60s/early 70s, and may have come from some sort of educational/fantasy product. It seems like those figures are the kinds you may see in one of those visual guidebooks or style guides for pirates, Native Americans and what have you.

Of course, I could also be totally wrong!

And, it may be worth noting that it looks like at least two of them have somewhat-visible signatures. If you look next to one of the Hockey player's feet, as well as on right of the tennis player picture (under the net), you'll see a faint script name. Maybe once they're in your hands, you'll be able to discern them...

Graig

I think those are from a home decoupage kit from the early 1970s. My father made some of those collages on wood back in the day.

Ditto Exhibitman . .
 

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I remember my old man making some of those too, back in the 70's

I only guffaw because I have a weakness for atrocious 70's stuff.:D

I have a string art bruins logo that's about 2 feet square.

And our oven is harvest gold. It was free and replaced an even more awful one. It's days are numbered as my wife has been agitating for a modern stove, or at least one where the rings are mostly level.

Plus a few other very 70's items that I have few chances to display in a house from the 1880s.

I'd probably keep them as-is, but that's just me. It's not like you're cutting down a rembrandt no matter what the tennis guy looks like.:)

Steve B

Well, as it turns out, I didn't win the lot after all. Something went wrong with my bid, and I didn't realize it until I went to pick up the lot the next morning (thinking I had won). After some confused looks and checking the winning bids on-site, I went away empty-handed and a little embarrassed that I hadn't put two and two together. Oh well. Not a huge loss, and given my shortage of space in my office, I'm probably better off without the added clutter :)

Thanks anyway for the input, guys!