Thank you so much for those kind words, David!!! I can't say that I agree on the master claim, but I do really appreciate the sentiment. I can only hope that at some point, sports-related artwork can be placed in the context of other, more "elevated" themes in the art world. After all, it's always been my contention that depicting sports dates back further than the ancient Greeks and their pottery depicting pankration and equestrian events. But at the same time, I'm probably also biased.
And thanks for moving this over here, Leon! It's a little weird to think that it's on this side, since I guess I've been on the memorabilia page since this thread started (2009?). I appreciate the nudge!!
Figured this might be a decent time to post one of my latest:
Satchel Paige, September 8, 1941, 36" x 46"
I really enjoyed painting this, even though it was a BIG challenge finding a decent quality image to work off of. The photo has been in circulation forever, and is one of my favorites of him with the Monarchs; however the quality was always a bit suspect in spots, as well as being heavily cropped. I was able to procure a reaaalllyy nice scan from the original Detroit News negative, and it made SUCH a difference in how I approached it. Especially since in the version most of us have seen, you're not getting much of that ballpark in the background--just the wall behind Paige and a bit of the dugout step.
So, pictured is the great Satchel Paige at Briggs Stadium in early September of 1941. Reason being, there was to be a big doubleheader between the Monarchs and the Chicago American Giants a week later, and the hope was to generate some interest in the event. Having ol' Satch pitch was bound to do that--they were expecting close to 50,000 for the games. This afternoon, there were a number of photographs taken of him, whether it was in sitting at rest, standing on the mound or even pantomiming his throw. Personally, I just loved the idea of showcasing those long and skinny legs, as well as presenting that colorful uniform in all of its glory.
The hope is always that I do the subject justice, but I feel like it's doubly so when I paint these Negro and Latin American League folks. It's become of profound importance to me that they're not relegated to the dustbin of history. Fingers crossed that that sentiment rings true with these paintings.
Oh, and I should probably mention, I'm making this available as a giclée (a very high quality fine art print) in a few months! It's to be the second time I've done a reproduction like this, and thankfully, a portion of the proceeds will be going to the Paige estate, as well as the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. It's to be a timed release, meaning that I'll make it available for a week only, and after that, it's gone forever! If you're interested in keeping informed about the whole process, feel free to leave me with your email address
here.
As always, if y'all have any questions, comments are critiques, fire away!!
Thanks for reading.
Graig