Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of painting more than a few commissioned works for folks. In my early days as an artist, I painted a broad swath of compositions varying from a cherry blossom tree to a football stadium to an old beat up Volkwagen rusting in a field. Each of these commissions presented me with an opportunity to learn not only how to paint better, but also a bit about the business side of painting and I continue to build upon these early lessons every day that I’m in the studio.
On occasion, the commissioned piece is a surprise gift and on even rarer occasions, I am there to witness the actual giving of the painting to the unsuspecting recipient. Having been a part of a number of these experiences, I have witnessed firsthand the overwhelming emotional power of artwork. The careful unwrapping, the moment of confusion as they try and discern what it is, the realization of the thought and time that went into creating this gift, and the tide of emotion that comes from feeling so loved and knowing that you get to hang this token of that love on your wall as a daily reminder.
I’ve seen grown men cry. I’ve seen people hug paintings. I’ve heard many satisfied sighs after the tide of initial reaction has ebbed and settled into a still lake of contentment. It’s a beautiful thing and a very special moment that I feel honored to have been a part of.
One such commission was The Closer, painted back in 2016 as a surprise gift for Mark Grove from his darling wife (and my mother-in-law) Shar. It was really fun to play with the movement of baseball and capture the pitcher’s windup in my elongated style. It was quite moving to watch Mark unwrap this painting and I knew from his reaction that it hit the mark (and hit Mark).
What is this?
This is for me?
Going in for the hug.
Hugging.
More hugs.
Hugs won’t stop.
Eyes red from tears of joy.
A more recent commission sent me down the path of the Dodgers’ history. Tasked with creating elongated portraits of Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson, I dove into their stories and was amazed at the details of their legendary careers. In the background behind Koufax, I added a center fielder and, without thinking about it too much, I made him left-handed. After delivering the finished pieces to their new home, the collector was amazed at the attention to detail, especially when it came to including Willie “Three Dog” Davis, the famed left-handed center fielder that played behind Koufax for much of his career. It was a detail that hardcore Dodgers fans would appreciate, but one that I didn’t realize I was including! What serendipity! Needless to say, this commission also left its recipient “speechless and blurry eyed” as he put it.
Jackie Robinson & Sandy Koufax: I told the full story on Patreon HERE.
The success of these compositions (in particular, the movement The Closer conveys) has always stuck with me and I kept wondering about an even more fantastic leg-kick windup. This idea hung around for a while until earlier this year when I set out to paint it.
As is typical with paintings, it began with research. I googled old-timey baseball photos and breathed in storied and images form the early days of baseball. It’s a labor of love and I can easily get lost in this part of the process for an hour or two. After some general searching, I got more specific and began to look for pitchers known for their high leg-kick windup. I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a photo of famed Giants pitcher Juan Marichal thrusting his foot to unnatural heights high above his head during his trademark windup. It was astonishing to see and I quickly found a video to see it in action. You can see one such video here.
Juan Marichal and his high kick.
His leg kick is fantastic! I knew that I had the right real-life inspiration for the composition that had formed in my mind. I watched countless videos and found pictures depicting his signature windup and, after assembling the stills/images with the right angle, I began to sketch. This step doesn’t typically take long as it’s quick and loose and just a matter of getting the figure in the right place/position. Next, I painted the background, careful to let the wood grain be a part of the composition in key areas. Finally, it’s time to put the figure together and this is where the piece really starts to come to life.
Sketching the long-limbed likeness to Juan Marichal in his final 18-inch tall form was just plain fun. It’s so amazing that he could actually get his leg that high before stomping it back to the ground and delivering a strike over the plate. So much movement and such a wild windup. I love it. And as I draw the figures for the final piece, this is when I truly begin to connect with the story that I’m telling. Juan and I are in a concerted play to bring his story to life in a new and spectacular way. It’s a real treat.
After finishing the piece, I showed it to Ashley and she was initially surprise by how exaggerated I made the leg-kick. She was even more astonished to find out that it was based on a real-life pitcher and that he actually DID get his leg that high! This is the surprise and delight that I aim for in my work and one that I never tire of seeing.
The Pitcher | acrylic, watercolor paper, kraft paper on stained maple panel
The Pitcher found a home in Indianapolis on the very first day that I hung it in the booth. We soon released panel prints of it and it has been such a joy for viewers to discover it. It always elicits a smile. A few baseball fans out there have recognized Juan Marichal’s windup and it’s always fun to talk baseball with these folks.
As baseball’s regular season comes to an end (go Twins!), we’re releasing the rest of the limited edition panel prints to all of you. As of writing, there are 21 of the 33 left. You can order one HERE. And if you’re considering a commission, remember that our $50 per month Lamplighter Patrons on Patreon always get first crack at my commission slots (I typically do 3 or 4 annually). The Lamplighter Level is a savings plan to put towards your desired commission. There are benefits to every tier and you can check it out HERE. Consider supporting us there and perhaps the next painting that steps up to the bat will make its way to your home plate.
Thank you for being on our team. Play ball!