On the easel...

[Basebill]

Wow! That Lincecum is amazing! Your work just keeps getting better and better!

[ZenPop]

Just think this absolutely incredible thread warrants the occasional bump... because of reasons...

Brilliant work, as usual...

The Mays and the Freak are both outstanding... (so is pretty much everything else in this thread...) VERY inspiring work, my friend.

Some day, like everyone around here dreams, maybe I'll be able to own one of these beauties. Cheers!

[whodey14]

I haven't been active on this forum in sometime however when I logged on I knew I had to check out this thread. Even more amazing stuff, keep it up! Hopefully I could eventually justify the cost of one to have for myself.

-Adam

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Basebill

Wow! That Lincecum is amazing! Your work just keeps getting better and better!

Big Timmy fan, here. It's looking like he should have retired.

[ramram]

Wow Graig, that hockey image is one of your best works....and that's not easy to say, considering all your other mind numbing work!

Rob M

[h2oya311]

Holy smokes! This is my first chance to see this thread (as I never venture to the memorabilia side) and I am blown away! The hockey scene is absolutely amazing, and I'm a baseball guy through and through!

I just spent about two hours going through this thread...and my jaw is still glued to the floor. What great eye candy! Thanks for sharing your amazing work with us!

[irv]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

Bill Barilko, April 21, 1951, 36" x 52"

This was commissioned by a board member a LONG time ago. Like, I'm embarrassed to say how long ago. But it was my first venture into the world of hockey. And though it was a blast to paint, it was also HARD. I neglected to realize how much closer spectators are to the ice and players than they are in the world of baseball - there are a LOT of faces in there.

Also, the general lighting scheme (dealing with flash photography) and the reflections on the ice proved to be a nightmare. But I'm very pleased with how it came out. I'm hoping that the fella who commissioned it absolutely loves the thing - lord knows he's waited long enough for it!

The moment is Bill Barilko's Stanley Cup winning goal from 1951, with the Leafs triumphing over Montreal in overtime of the 7th game. For those who don't know, Barilko would die in a plane crash only a few months later. Interestingly enough, Toronto failed to win another cup in the 1950s, and wouldn't do so until two months before the wreckage of the plane was found in 1962.

Originally Posted by h2oya311

Holy smokes! This is my first chance to see this thread (as I never venture to the memorabilia side) and I am blown away! The hockey scene is absolutely amazing, and I'm a baseball guy through and through!

I just spent about two hours going through this thread...and my jaw is still glued to the floor. What great eye candy! Thanks for sharing your amazing work with us!

Makes it all that more special knowing what Graig had to endure painting that one!
I just saw it recently too, and like you, I was blown away even more (which I didn't think was possible?) by it that I have been with some others!

Truly one of the best artists/painters of our time, bar none!

[icollectDCsports]

Great job with the shadows and reflections on the ice. Those are often striking features of older NHL photos.

[GKreindler]

Hey all,

It's been a few months since I've updated this thread, so I thought I'd throw in some stuff that I've completed since then.


Fred Tenney, 1897, 12" x 16"


Honus Wagner, 1902, 16" x 22"


Ty Cobb, 1916, 18" x 18"


José Méndez, 1923, 9" x 12"


Yankees, July 4, 1927, 44" x 66"


Josh Gibson, 1935, 22" x 28"


Jose Bautista, October 14, 2015, 18" x 24"

I was absolutely thrilled to finally tackle the Wagner painting, as I've had my eye on finishing it up for years. Same goes for the Méndez. And finishing the '27 Yankees? The damn thing nearly killed me. PhilNap can attest to that.

Either way, I'm still pretty darn behind when all is said and done. Fatherhood has most certainly changed how much work I can get done on any given day, so I'm doing my best to find a decent balance. I have to give thanks to a lot of clients who have been super patient with me, too. It's great that they know that this sort of stuff can't be rushed or half-assed, even if it means waiting much longer for their paintings as originally anticipated.

I'm also thrilled to make it known that I've been working with a client who has commissioned a large number of color studies featuring Negro and Cuban Leaguers (which some of you might have seen on social media), all of which we are hoping to be part of a traveling museum exhibit in 2019 and 2020. He's even been in the process of securing licensing rights with the majority of the featured ballplayers, including Gibson, Paige, Robinson, and a plethora of others - so finally, a book featuring my artwork might really be in the future (fingers crossed). I'll reveal more information on all of this stuff as I'm allowed to.

As per usual, thank you everyone for all of your love and support - it's all so very appreciated. And if you have any comments, questions or problems with any of the stuff posted (or anything in general), feel free to PM/email me and/or make it known on the thread.

And thanks for reading!!

Graig