Skyaak Canadian Ring-Wing Glider

So happy to have finished my latest big mural project this fall, working around and through a few “weather events”. I call this “9-Figure Sports Homage”. Recognize anyone?

I got back to the city last week and made sure to take some overlapping close-ups of the “9-Figure Sports Homage” mural, so you can a better sense of the intense amount of detail and expression in the figures and faces:

Starts off on the left with Georges St-Pierre (Ultimate Fighting Champion), Sandra Shmirler (Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion curler), Gene Makowsky (MVP Offensive Lineman, Grey Cup winner, Saskatchewan Roughriders)…

…Catriona Lemay Doane (Olympic Gold medalist, speed skating), Michael Jordan (Basketball All-Star), David Beckham (Soccer God), Sidney Crosby (Captain, Pittsburgh Penguins)…

…Sidney Crosby (Captain, Pittsburgh Penguins), Michael Phelps (Olympic Gold medalist swimmer), Tiger Woods (World’s best golfer).

There, that oughta give you a pretty good idea.

I must say that my patron, or client for this commission, gave me a very loose rein on creativity. This was a great opportunity to paint in a very physical style, with athletic muscularity.

After all my friends, this mural is well over 900 square feet. There is no doubt that the vast majority of the surface received no less than ten or twelve glazes. You might say then that there is about 10,000 square feet of painting action bound up and invested in the piece.

Shows a detail of my latest big (over 900 sq. ft. or 31 sheets of 4′x8′ of Cresone!) mural, “9-Figure Sports Homage”, featuring Catriona Lemay-Doane and Michael Jordan. Jordon’s shoe is over three ft long; he stands over 16′ high.

I invested a lot of energy in creating very expressive portraiture in this mural and Tiger Woods was no exception. You can sense the deep concern on his face regarding the trajectory of his just-shot ball. Note: Tiger’s portrait is not quite finished in this photo, but his expression is fully formed.

SK. Roughrider Offensive Lineman Gene Makowsky is portrayed hoisting the 2007 Grey Cup in this ‘work-in-progress’ photo. Victory is sweet!

“9-Figure Sports Homage” detail: starting on the west side of the wall, the artist can be seen on the roof of the building. Gives you an idea of the scale of this mural.