A Tribute to Nolan Ryan
 

Nolan Ryan has been my favorite ball player since I was a kid. When I started making baseball card artwork about seven months ago, I had an idea: Make a Nolan Ryan mosaic entirely from Nolan Ryan baseball cards. After months of preparation and countless hours of cutting and placing pieces, it is finally complete! Now if I can just figure out how to get Nolan Ryan to sign it...

Ben That's fantastic!

Thank you! I put a lot of time and effort into this piece!

That is SO COOL...I love your artwork. Amazing...

+1

that's really great.

why not call his foundation and ask them?

Thank you! I love creating this kind of art

Can't hurt I suppose! Thanks!

Looks great!

Looks fantastic. As for getting it signed, if the surface isn't smooth (and I would assume it's not), the pen may skip and the signature may not turn out as nice as you'd want. Just a thought.

That is a good point. Maybe a Sharpie would be the way to go

In awe of your talent, Ben. Nice work!

Just to keep with the medium, I'd suggest having him sign something else (in the appropriate size), cut out the signature, and glue it to the artwork.

And it is terrific. I was looking over it trying to see how many Nolan Ryan cards I recognize.

That would be better than a ballpoint, but it doesn't take much to bump a marker like a Sharpie off course, so using one still may not work.

While I certainly take better care of my Nolan Ryan cards, you may have more to show for yours.

Beautiful !!!!

Awesome, very nice work.

May I ask why you chose that card?

Good choice, BTW.

Thanks! The '76 Topps is more of a portrait than most of his other vintage cards and that was a key factor. The '69 Topps is my favorite Ryan card and I almost chose that one, but this one seemed more suitable in the end. I may have enough leftover cards to make another one and if I do it will be the '69.

How many cards 'died' to make that image?

I'm not sure of the exact number but it's probably about 1200 or so. I saved all of the scraps but I don't feel like counting them ;)

so cool!
 

I love that! Amazing work...

Stunning ! You brought the heat

These days a Twitter post tagging him might take off and get his attention if you want it signed. Looks great either way.

Your best effort to date in my opinion. Has Scott Garner called yet?

Looks like Tim Carroll may have some competition...

Wow!! The ability to create that, in my opinion, is a special gift from God. Well done and gorgeous!!!!

Incredible!!!
 

1200 or so cards and how much time? What size is the finished piece? Really a joy to visually absorb! WOW! I hope lots of people get to see it here as I am sure many if not all will enjoy it! Thanks for sharing it!

Thank you! It is approximately 20" x 29" and it took about 65 hours to build. That doesn't include the time I spent hunting down the best deals I could find on Nolan Ryan card lots...

Hi Ben,
I just looked at this thread for the first time.
Your Nolan Ryan art collage is simply perfection.
Awesome job!

One question though, what are the dimensions of this piece?
Just curious...

That is freakin’ awesome!!!

Thanks! It’s about 20” x 29”

Ben

That’s just awesome work!

Just wondering if there’ll ever be an issue with the art coming apart?

Thanks, I apply a protective coating to them to hold everything together. So I don’t suspect it to be an issue!

Ben

Now you just need to cut up 1200 Ryan signatures for the auto!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Late to the party but that is great looking.

Grade A. Even the details are great to look at-- almost as if you can see the 'brushstrokes.'

It's so nice as it is, I wouldn't even want Ryan to sign it.

I'm not into sports art, but that's one I'd put on my wall.

I appreciate the kind words. It looks like I won't be getting it signed anyway. The only way to do so is to mail it to his foundation and I just don't want to risk it. It will look nice on my wall once it get it framed!

Ben

Maybe you could just have him sign the outside of the glass for the frame.