As an American Artist editor, I'm privy to a multitude of art-related news items—far more than could ever be covered in print or on our website—but some of the more interesting stories are the ones I find outside of my role at the magazine. For example, it would be no surprise for the people who know me to hear me describe myself as a baseball fanatic. I love the sport, and much (probably too much) of my free time is spent watching or reading about baseball. Sometimes, though, my fanaticism bears unexpected dividends, as it did with the video below. While reading about my favorite team, I stumbled across an article and this short video that features Brett Tomko, a relief pitcher for the Yankees. As I found out, Tomko has had a passion for art since a young age—even majoring in it in college—and often paints in acrylic while on the road, using the process as a way to unwind after a game. Check it out for yourself.
| Yankees pitcher Brett Tomko is also a painter |
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Seeing this video reminded me of another intersection between baseball and art that was brought to my attention a couple of years ago. Vernon Wells, Sr., father of Vernon Wells III, the all-star center fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, is a successful portrait artist, who's been commissioned to paint some of the best-known athletes in the world. You can check out some of his artwork at his website, www.vwellsart.com.
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Vernon Wells, Sr. working on a painting.
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It's funny how often things like this pop up when you aren't looking for them. How about you? Has art ever made an appearance somewhere in your life when you least expected it? Share your experiences in the comments section.