Jordan Poole commemorative quarter

I’m constantly looking for ways to imagine and execute concepts in my sports art. As exciting and “iconic” certain representational artworks of famous athletes can be, especially those which capture the essence or familiar of their subject, for my taste it can get repetitive and boring to see the same heroic action poses over and over. With a new crop of Golden State Warriors stars on the rise, I wanted to add Jordan Poole to the series, yet try something new and inventive. I saw a photo of Jordan Poole on the bench, and I was struck by his profile. His defined features and gaze reminded me of the presidential look of George Washington or another president as depicted as a bust on a quarter. I remembered the US treasury has released various “commemorative quarters” over the years. So I put the concept in my mental calculator. The one that vets the ideas I get, and is able somehow to discern whether it meets the criteria and quality control worthy of a fully realized finished artwork. And this one came rather quick and naturally. I had to look for several quarter reference photos, unsure i could produce something believable as metallic. As much as I’m desiring to move into oil paint and find more broad strokes in my work, I realized this would require the detail and blending ability that pastel pencil offers me. What I didn’t anticipate when I began was how the hardwood floor would require roughly 70 hours of work, as I had to draw grain for grain a 2” NBA floor board at the Boston TD Garden at the scale of the 1” quarter to make it a believable “photograph.” Here is ‘Jordan Poole Commemorative Quarter’, 19.5” x 25.5” pastel on archival sanded pastel paper.

I’m planning a “tails side” for the concept, which would make the backside of a killer ‘wearable print,’ with the hardwood making up the majority of the all-over print. Stay tuned.