On the easel...

[GKreindler]

Awww, man. Thanks, LL. It was great seeing you, too. And it was nice being able to talk to you and not have to shout over people breaking and screaming. Whuddathunk.

[GKreindler]

Hey all,

Here's one for a rainy, albeit warm, Sunday:


Mickey Mantle, October 4, 1953, 22" x 38"

This painting was both a challenge and a blast. The depicted scene shows our boy Mantle hitting a home run off of Russ Meyer during Game 5 of the '53 World Series. When I first saw the original Mark Kauffman photo, I was instantly drawn in by that patch of light in front of him. Since the shadows cast by the Ebbets Field stands were creeping across the infield, that bit of light on the bottom right must have come from one of the sky holes on the top of the upper deck. Interestingly enough, it must have vanished right after Mantle started his trek out of the box, as it can't be seen in this video after the fact:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jLqTK_hQI4

Either way, the possibilities of color in the painting were incredibly hard to pass up, what with the blue in Campy's hat and sleeves, the deep red and navy in the stands, and the warmth reflecting back into Mantle's front leg. Combine that with Mickey's bat being a shimmering beacon against the shadowed spectators, I felt like there was something really special happening in the photograph, which in turn I just needed to get out on canvas. Glad that this went to a good home, too.

Again, any comments, questions, and critiques are always welcome!!

Thanks again for reading.

Graig

[whitehse]

your use of light and shadows are literally mind boggling to me. I mean, I see the sunlight streaming down on Mantle's hands and bat but how you actually painted that is just incredible.

Graig, I missed your first Giclee....are you planning on another anytime soon? I need to start saving!

[icollectDCsports]

I always enjoy seeing your work. Just amazing.

[GKreindler]

Thank you so much, you two!!!

Andrew, I'll actually be releasing another one in a few months--still working on finishing the painting!

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Thank you so much, you two!!!

Andrew, I'll actually be releasing another one in a few months--still working on finishing the painting!

You’re welcome. And one of many great aspects of your paintings that I particularly admire is the detail and realism of the fabric of caps and uniforms. I can visually feel the textures. Just so well done.

[Scott Garner]

Greatest sports artist, ever!

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Thank you so much, you two!!!

Andrew, I'll actually be releasing another one in a few months--still working on finishing the painting!

This is great news. Time to increase the saving.

[GKreindler]

Hey all,

Here's another one for ya:


Satchel Paige, 1935, 16" x 12"

I had never seen the original photograph before, until a collector shared it with me randomly. I pretty much dropped everything I was doing and got to painting it--clear portraits of Satchel during the beginning of his career (funny to think that in 1935, he's in his 10th season or so of professional ball, and it's still *early*) are virtually non-existent.

Anywho, not only was the portrait super clear, but I LOVED the narrative with the uniform and cap. Paige had come to the Monarchs (for the first time, no less) at some point in late 1935, after his stint with Bismarcks. It was with the latter club that Paige built on the legend he had started during the Denver Post Tournament in '34. Bismarck finished the season with a 60-19-3 record, and secured an invitation to the National Semi-Professional Baseball Championship Tournament. At that tournament the team went undefeated at 7-0, with Paige winning four games and striking out 60 batters, thus becoming the first fully-integrated club to win a national championship.

So, here we have Paige in his Kansas City duds wearing his Bismarcks hat, most likely because when he joined, the club probably didn't actually have an extra Monarchs one to give him! Knowing how MLB is now with whatever they give (and CAN give) to players and the such, it's amazing to think of how NOT uniform things could be in the Negro Leagues. Truly a different time.

Any comments, questions, and critiques are always welcome!!

Thanks again for reading.

Graig