On the easel...

[jacksons]

Outstanding, my friend.

The depth is remarkable. I hope you find doing these more current players can be as rewarding as the older deadball era ones. No matter the era, to me, you breathe life into black and white or color.

Great work, Graig!

[Leon]

Graig, those are breathtaking. Great job!!

[Scott Garner]

Hi Graig,
I love your new Mariano Rivera. You did a super job on painting this modern classic...

BTW, thanks for all the kind words about you enjoying the Vandy project. To be honest, I had never considered commisioning an artist to paint a sports theme until I started following your work. I'm thoroughly convinced that you are the best sports artist on the planet!

Keep up the terrific work!!

[GKreindler]

Thanks again, guys.

Jacksons, it's funny because doing the more modern stuff provides a different challenge. Though I have access to color photography, I still find myself sticking to a different vision of color for the most part, still trying to breathe something different into the subject. I guess I just feel that photography really does take a lot of air out of whatever it's depicting, especially since the human eye can see and process so much more information than a camera lens. And translating that onto a 2-dimensional surface just becomes harder and harder.

And to be honest, I wish I could do more modern stuff. That's part of the reason why I'm glad you're still into the Dent painting. Maybe I just won't be satisfied until I have every era covered. And covered well.

Oh, and Scott, you're being too nice! Let's just say I'm the shortest sports artist on the planet. Which I think might be true. Ben? Jimmy? Danny? Phil? Yeeeah.

Anywho, here are another two I got back from the photographers, though don't think I posted...


Joe DiMaggio, 1936, 16" x 20"


Red Ruffing, 1936, 16" x 20"

Really, thanks again everybody.

Graig

[Lordstan]

Graig,
Scott isn't being nice. He's being honest.
I cannot remember seeing another artist breathe as much life into their subjects as you do.
New/Old it doesn't matter. Matty, J Jackson, Babe, Gehrig, Mantle, Jackie R, Joe D, Tyree, Strawberry all incredible images. Doesn't matter what age or Sport. Even that golf one you did was crazy good. I can't wait to see your first Hockey painting.
Dude..You da Man.
Your height don't matter as long as you can reach the canvas!

Mark

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Graig,
Scott isn't being nice. He's being honest.
I cannot remember seeing another artist breathe as much life into their subjects as you do.
New/Old it doesn't matter. Matty, J Jackson, Babe, Gehrig, Mantle, Jackie R, Joe D, Tyree, Strawberry all incredible images. Doesn't matter what age or Sport. Even that golf one you did was crazy good. I can't wait to see your first Hockey painting.
Dude..You da Man.
Your height don't matter as long as you can reach the canvas!

Mark

I cant agree with this more.

I would even venture to say that Graig, you might just be the Rockwell of sports artists. I think your work is that good!!

[sycks22]

Still in awe of the matty. This is the greatest thread ever.