I’m about two months late here, but in my defense, these images - the Megan Keller goal and Connor Hellebuyck save - are timeless. Both were captured by the talented Jared C. Tilton via remote cam, and I zoomed with him to talk through how he was able to pull both off.

LJ (ArtButMakeItSports)
To start, I know your work from mostly motorsports; do you consider yourself primarily a motorsports photographer, or…

Jared
I’d say for the first part of my career, 15 years or so, yes, with it being 95% of my work. Within the past 5 years or so I’ve started to explore other sports.

I started my career with an internship at a company that was primarily motorsport-based, and I said, alright, let’s give this a go, despite not necessarily being a fan. I’m very thankful for it, but obviously happy to have the opportunity to shoot other sports now.

LJ
Were you shooting other sports at the Olympics, or just hockey?

Jared
A handful. I shot a bit of figure skating along the way, and did some of the short track racing, which was also in the figure skating venue. But mostly hockey more than anything. It was my first Winter Olympics. I went to Rio in 2016, and then Paris in 2024.

LJ
Did you request the ice sports?

Jared
Talks around robotics had started about a year and a half ago, and my name was thrown into the mix. Once I got that role, that solidified me going to the Olympics and what sports I would be covering. When I was there, I only operated the robotics. I’m constantly raising my hand for different things and wanting to learn. I really gravitate towards the technology side; the world of sending data, how we can view it live, and how quickly we can get it out, etc. That intrigues me.

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LJ
Can you walk me through your setup? (PBS News did this awesome breakdown below that’s a great primer)

Jared
The proprietary robotics program has a joystick and some different buttons, so I swapped in a PlayStation controller out of comfort and muscle memory. The controller in the center operates the center robotic/remote camera above the ice, and then I have two stream decks on each side that operates our other two cameras. So it’s a lot of back and forth of moving what’s firing what, seen via laptop. I had a button that would fire all three at the same time, but you’re typically sitting there watching and waiting for that moment to hit the button. We turn it down to around 15 frames a second instead of the 40 that you can typically shoot at, but you’re still picking your moments.

For the Keller goal, I wouldn’t say I almost forgot to fire, but the move she put on that defender, that deke, almost left me speechless. I was amazed just watching the move, and was like, oh gosh, I hope I hit the right button, because I was so into what she was doing in that moment.

For the Hellebuyck save, at that point, there’d already been one shot put on net, so I was already firing the remote, knowing there was action around the net. And then, at that point, you can either stop because you see that he made the save, or continue to fire. Luckily for that one, I continued, and it just…I wouldn’t say, you know, it’s all luck, but as far as the puck being perfectly between the two sticks like that, I couldn’t hit that again if I tried. It’s how fast that puck is moving, and how fast the action is, the placement ended up being so lucky. But, we put ourselves in that position to make that photo starting months/years in advance; it says a lot about the team’s preparation and just how it all comes together.

LJ
Did you realize that that images were going viral?

Jared
I don’t even open up social media or our website until an hour or so after the game. Luckily we have editors in London that are sitting there, and they’re waiting for these pictures to hit, and they’re amazing, they do everything for us. I mean, all we do is take the photos, they caption them, and they send them out to the world or the places they need to be in a timely manner. I trust the editors fully whenever we’re doing this job, and just hop on social media on the train ride home once I’m all packed up. I was sitting there with my AirPods in for a bit, and start seeing it on all different places.

LJ
Where do those shots rank on your Mount Rushmore of images that you’ve captured?

Jared
Aesthetically, I have other favorite shots that have more color, more motion. But I’d say the importance of it being the Olympics, and the gravity around the save/shot, they’re up there. Top 5 for each one, for sure.

LJ
When I’ll think back 30 years from now, my memory won’t be the actual television feed of the moment, it’ll be your two images.

Jared
That’s cool to hear. They’re going be burned in my head for a while as well. I keep joking with friends that say congrats, or, you know, nice photo, that I think this is going to have some shelf life haha.

Jared’s work can be found across numerous outlets, and on his Instagram. Make sure to give him a follow!

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Also, friendly reminder that if you’re in NYC tomorrow (Saturday), to come to the new Sotheby’s in the old Breuer building to hear my discussion with legendary photographer Nat Butler, at 6pm. It’s free, but RSVP here so they can get a sense of headcount/buy a book if you haven’t already. I’ll be sticking around after my talk signing books, so come say hi!

-LJ

The book is a blast, and you should buy it. Bunch of different ways, including (hopefully carried by) your local bookstore. If you’re interested in a mailed signed copy, hit the Strand link here, as they’ll have those available for a limited time. And if you want to place a bulk order with a discount, just hit me up on socials or via email. I also have several exciting events coming up around the book:

BUY THE BOOK!

Saturday, April 11th, 5-8:30pm ET, not even a week from now!
Talk & signing at Sotheby’s NYC, 945 Madison Avenue (talk from 6-6:30pm)

This will be part of Sotheby’s first ‘Sotheby’s Lates’ in their new space at the Breuer, and I’m stoked to be a part of it. Details here, but in short, going to be there throughout the time hanging & signing books, and then will be part of their programming, with my specific section being a chat with the legendary hoops photographer Nat Butler & Sotheby’s VP, Sports Strategy & Development, Modern Collectibles, Brendan Hawkes.

This link will get you in the door for free (just an RSVP to help track numbers), with a second option to purchase my book. Also consider buying Nat’s book ‘Courtside: 40 Years of NBA Photography’ here. For folks who buy Nat’s book, DM me a photo of your receipt + any personal image you want turned into art on any of my social channels, and I’ll make you your own pairing!

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Tuesday, May 5th
Panel at the Project Play Summit, Boston

I’ll have the great honor of being on a panel at the Project Play Summit in Boston, talking about the importance of art + sports for kids. One of the great joys I get in running this is having teachers & educators reach out letting let me know that they used my account to introduce art history to their students. If you fall into that category and haven’t hit me up, do it! Would love to hear about the account making it into the classroom.

The Summit is sold out, but you can join the waitlist here.

Friday, May 8th
A soon to be announced ArtButMakeItSports themed night with a minor league baseball team

This one is going to be a blast - should have more details to share in the coming days!

Friday, May 15th, 2-3:30pm CT
Gallery Talk at the Art Institute of Chicago

If you live in/are going to be in Chicago, save the date. I’ll be joined by my friend & Executive Director of Interpretation Emily Fry for a Gallery Talk focused on tying the Museum’s collection to sports, with a special focus on their newest acquisition, Norman Rockwell’s 1948 painting The Dugout.

Detailed information can be found here.

Sunday, May 17th, 2-3:00pm CT
Gallery Tour, Talk at the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Works from the MIA have been heavily featured over the account’s tenure, and I’m pumped to explore past posts and talk about the connection between art & sports, as well as my love for the Twin Cities. More details can be found here. Stay tuned for a ticket link, but save the date!

Monday-Wednesday, May 18th- 20th
Gondola Sports Summit, Denver

Still working out the details, but I’ll likely be moderating and/or speaking on a panel as part of this incredible conference. If you’re a sports media professional/creative, Gondola is must attend. More details about the conference can be found here, and I’ll share more about my specific involvement shortly.

Mid-July: Dallas, Saturday, July 25th: Philadelphia

More to come on these, but if you’re in these cities, get ready!

Art/Sports I’m Into

March Madness feels apt for The Raphael show ‘Sublime Poetry’ currently up at the Met, as it’s equal parts spectacular & chaotic. The museum has sourced over 200 works from around the world by the artist and crammed them into some fairly tight quarters, leading to a beautiful show with a caveat that you should only attempt to go during off-hours. Also, pro tip, do not bring your 15-month-old via stroller.

Artist of the Week

Alma Thomas

Hoping you all already know Alma Thomas and her work, but if not, let me be the first to introduce you to your new favorite artist.

Bright, inviting colors, and tiles/scales tend to be her signature, and anytime her work comes up I feel a warmth in my core. A life-long educator, she only became a full-time artist at the age of 68, after retiring. She was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney, doing so in her 80s, and is now recognized amongst the greats for her contributions.

Her catalog is worth falling into a wormhole for, and I encourage you to check out more of her work!

Sports Photographer you need to follow

Jared C. Tilton

I’m very behind (as is par for the course with this Substack), but on Friday I’m going to publish an interview with Jared C. Tilton, the photographer behind these two epic/viral shots from the Olympics.

Jared has a really unique perspective, and I can’t wait to share the breakdown with everyone. In the meantime, go follow him on Instagram!

-LJ

And here are the other installments from this year:

And finally, here’s 20-1:

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And a bonus No. 1 for paid subscribers below

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And here are the first three installments from this year:

And finally here’s 40-21:

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22 & 21 are two John Singer Sargent works for paid subscribers below

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And here are the first two installments from this year:

And finally here’s 60-41:

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43-41 for paid subscribers below

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And here’s the first installment from this year:

And finally here’s 80-61:

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63-61 for paid subscribers below

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Without further ado, let’s roll with 100-81:

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84-81 for paid subscribers below

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The former has been a joy of a lifetime, as my little man is closing in on 12 months, with each day more exciting than the next.

On the company side, FanFlare Sports is now live & available to download in the app store. It’s an app dedicated to Women’s College Volleyball, focusing on live data, scores, schedules, and alerts. It fills a massive void, and we’re pumped how much progress we’ve made + have planned in the hopper. If you’re a fan, check it out!

And finally, a book! It’s been a different kind of adventure, navigating rights/licensing, writer’s block, and imposter syndrome. But, it’s finished, and now available for pre-order!

I’d be super appreciative if you buy a copy or two, but understandable if you want to hold the whole Substack delinquency against me. I will be posting here more now, though, as I’m starting to have some more time free up. I’ll also be cooking up ideas on special bonuses for subscribers who buy a copy, and there are already signed copies available for pre-order at the link above as well.

Art/Sports I’m Into

Is it a cop out to say everything? You could make a strong argument that November has and will be the best sports month, with Game 7 of the World Series rolling into the heart of football season, plus volleyball, NBA, and NHL in full-swing, with ongoing soccer.

On the Art front, the MoMA has a beautiful Ruth Asawa exhibition that I was lucky enough to see last week, and the Guggenheim just opened this which I’m looking forward to exploring.

Holiday Commissions

Each year I do pay-what-you-think-is-fair personal commissions for the holidays - I’ll open those up shortly, and will likely tie them to purchases of the book. More to come there.

Alright, easing my way back into this, so for now we’ll leave it here. Thank you again for still being here/sticking with me, and I look to making it worth it for the rest of 2025 and beyond!

-LJ

For a reminder, here’s how 2024 wrapped:

While this year promises to be more of the same content-wise as 2024 (definitely not in any other way but we’ll talk about that another time), I am going to focus on doing some additional things that are hopefully exciting for folks:

More Collabs with Artists

I love art, I love sports, and I especially love artists who love sports. I’m excited to kick off the new year with two collaborations:

The Currency Project

My friends at the Currency Project are geniuses, whose basis for exploring the relationship between currency and art centers around painting on traditional sports cards, essentially building layers of value on top and letting the viewer decide worth (each card starts at $1 on Ebay).

I spent a chunk of time brainstorming with them on what a card co-designed by me might look like, and landed on this LeBron homage to Kobe with a call back to John Singleton Copley’s Ascension at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The dunk is religious, and LeBron’s body position mirrors Jesus in a way that can’t be ignored. TCP did a beautiful job executing the vision and now it’s up to you, the viewer, to decide what it’s worth!

Billy Kheel

Take two on this one, as we tried a few months ago to auction off this piece but ran into some technical difficulties. Billy is an incredible artist and it was so much fun to collab with him on this take on Giordano’s Fall of the Rebel Angels // Josh Allen Leaping

The piece is comprised of layers of felt, expertly stitched together to create an artwork that is 4D and feels like it’s in active motion.

Bid on it - adding a Kheel to my collection was one of my most exciting moments, as his piece of Larry Johnson’s 4-point play hangs proudly in my apartment and is always a centerpiece of conversation.

Live Content Creation

National Championship Game

Going to try this for the first time with Monday’s National Championship game, but I’ll be firing up a chat for paid subscribers to include images they want done in real-time, while the game is happening, and I’ll go through a try to match as many as possible into art.

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No promises on how successful it will be, but seems like a fun opportunity for me to show I’m not AI while also giving paid subscribers a true benefit for their patronage. So, subscribe now to be a part! (I think I’ll either be able to start a subscriber specific chat on Substack or will send a link via email on Monday night to just subscribers - we’re learning on the fly!)

Additional Commissions

Sent out a bat signal during the holidays for personal commissions and ended up doing over 250 - had a blast, and it was great to engage with the community. I’m going to post reminders, but I’m open to doing commissions year round now. So, hit me up - it’s pay whatever you think is fair after seeing what I send back, as I want to make it accessible to everyone. That being said, if it starts to become overwhelming, I may just limit it to paid subscribers, so I recommend signing up proactively .

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What else do you want to see from me? My inbox is always open, lj@artbutmakeitsports.com. Looking forward to experiencing everything 2025 has to offer with you all onboard!

Art/Sports I’m Into

NY4LA

My friend Marcello at the NYC gallery my.pet.ram is part of a group organizing a fundraiser for the LA fires, featuring pieces from 60 artists, all under $1k. Info above, and I’ll share more on socials when details drop, but seems like a fun event for a great cause.

Artist of the Week

Raymond Jonson

This beautiful portal from the The University of New Mexico Art Museum does Raymond Jonson far more justice than anything I could write up, so do yourself a favor and hit the link.

I first came upon his work at the Blanton Museum in Texas (where the piece above is from), and I’ve been a major fan of his ever since. Find a relaxing night, maybe indulge in your drug of choice, and then dive into Jonson’s catalog - you won’t regret it.

Sports Photographer You Need to Follow

Kevin Sabitus

There isn’t a photographer out there putting out bangers on a more consistent basis than Kevin Sabitus. I don’t believe there’s a sports photography Hall of Fame, but when they make one, Kevin is first-ballot, unanimous. He recently took gold in the American Football category for the third year in a row at the World Sports Photography Awards with this amazing shot:

So honored to win gold in the American Football category at the @worldsportsphotographyawards for the third year in a row—this is crazy

Huge thank you to all my best pals at @nflfocus and my friends/family/mentors for always supporting me. It’s really cool to be recognized for my work.

On to 2025 🤘🏼 Go Irish ☘️

At some point I’ll do an ArtButMakeItKevinSabitus, but for now, enjoy this shot of his from earlier this season:

Creatives Job Board

New section: I want to highlight folks I know in the Creatives space who are currently open to opportunities. Asher Greene just finished up his internship with the New York Giants and crushed it, while Matt Fedder spent the past few years with UNC and is looking to do some freelance work while he plots his next move.

I’ll blow out this section in coming newsletters (give feedback on what you want to see here), but for now if you know of opportunities, hit up Asher & Matt!

Paid Subscribers

I have a bunch of drafts this week (10!) that didn’t quite make the cut, but are definitely worth subscribing for and seeing…

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And as always, if you enjoy my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

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It’s becoming tiring and frustrating creating content and value only to see all those financial gains go to the owners of Twitter, Meta, etc, so I’ll be a lot more active on here in 2025 (90% of the value comes directly to me!) especially for paid subscribers - exclusive newsletters and deep dives, live streaming sessions (users can submit sports photos and have them done live), and plenty of additional features. So, subscribe!

Alright! Thanks for reading in 2024, and here are the 20 best I came up with last year!

And a whole bunch of extras that didn’t quite make the cut for paid subscribers below

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The yearly paid subscription remains 25% off. Treat yourself (or a loved one) to a holiday gift by supporting my work and getting access to exclusive content for the monthly price of a fancy coffee.

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On that note, 40-21:

23, 22, & 21 (three more Ant Edwards - they’re worth it) for paid subscribers below

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Also, the yearly paid subscription is still 25% off. Treat yourself (or a loved one) to a holiday gift by supporting my work and getting access to exclusive content for the monthly price of a fancy coffee.

Get 25% off for 1 year

Finally, I’m exhausted but still taking commissions - email me! lj@artbutmakeitsports.com. Looking forward to making some ‘oh shit I forget to get them something’ holiday gifts. K, let’s dive in, 60-41:

45-41 for paid subscribers below

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To recap so far:

Also, the yearly paid subscription is still 25% off. Treat yourself (or a loved one) to a holiday gift by supporting my work and getting access to exclusive content for the monthly price of a fancy coffee.

Get 25% off for 1 year

Finally, I’m still taking commissions - email me! lj@artbutmakeitsports.com. Looking forward to making some last-minute holiday gifts. Let’s jump in, 80-61:

64-61 for paid subscribers below

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I’m excluding anything Olympics and Paralympics related, as there were too many bangers and I’ll probably do a recap a year out from when the Games happened. Also, in conjunction with the season, I’ve made the yearly paid subscription 25% off. Treat yourself (or a loved one) to a holiday gift by supporting my work and getting access to exclusive content!

Get 25% off for 1 year

Let’s roll with 100-81:

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84-81 for paid subscribers below

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Post-election I’ve seen my Twitter following drop (assuming 99% of that is from people deleting their accounts) significantly, and it seems the daily active usage among real humans has plummeted. It’s depressing, as I’ve always believed the inmates run the Twitter asylum, regardless of the warden, and it seems like many people are just choosing to unlock their cell doors and walk out. There isn’t much else out there, unfortunately. Bluesky promises to be a near duplicate in terms of UI/UX, but I’ve found it is still in the primitive stages with its algorithm. Sports and news hasn’t found its way to Threads, and Instagram remains much more of a museum than a town square. Substack provides a great alternative for quality journalism, but it’s a labor-intensive process to consume.

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All this to say, both the platforms and the content itself are fragmented, without unified solutions, which scares me just as much as the political age & climate we exist in. Without truth in information, we’re left to self-destruct, which is why it’s especially important now to put forth the additional effort to find trusted sources and support their endeavors, even if it’s inconvenient. On that uplifting note…

Art/Sports I’m Into

Laura Edelman’s Newsletter

My friend Laura is an art advisor who recently decided to start a Substack. She sends out a curated newsletter of art pieces under $10k, an especially great resource for those looking to start building collections, and I imagine her publication will feature that + additional valuable content.

Eaa 10k And Under

3.32MB ∙ PDF file

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As evidenced by my above rant, I love consuming information, and Laura contributes a keen eye and perspective. Highly recommend subscribing, and also reaching out to her if you want to shoot the shit about all things art.

Artist of the Week

Michael Gac Levin

Speaking of more affordable art…stumbled upon the work of Michael Gac Levin because a friend, My.Pet.Ram, is putting on his show Object Relations, opening tonight (6-9pm at 48 Hester Street, for those in NYC). If you were planning on couch rotting tonight, head over instead!

His work is calming, and feels unquestionably ‘NY,’ interlaced with the influences of folks like Hockney & Hopper. Something about his paintings make me feel joy and hope, which given the current state of things, seems important. Also, my friends at The Art Kollective are featuring the piece below, Autumn Sorcery, 9x12, at a very accessible price point.

Hit up their DMs if you’re interested; I’d be thrilled if someone who reads this ends up snagging because it’s a personal favorite.

Sports Photographer You Need to Follow

Elsa Garrison

Any time a big New York Sports moment happens, it seems Elsa is inevitably there to capture it.

The first woman staff photographer at Getty, she’s shot all the biggest events, and has a tremendous amount of versatility across various sports, with a knack for extracting out the perfect story.

A Hall-of-Fame resume and always a treat to feature, make sure to give her a follow.

Paid Subscribers

I have a bunch of drafts this week that didn’t quite make the cut, but are definitely worth subscribing and seeing…

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Jalen Rose’s reaction to the saga produced an all-time clip, to the extent that I figured it deserved its own detailed post. It’s clearly a flashback to the 1993 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game, when Rose’s teammate & fellow member of the ‘Fab Five’ tried to call a timeout he didn’t have, giving UNC a technical and the ball and costing Michigan a chance to win the game. Both moments remind me of one of my favorite paintings, The Last Day of Pompeii, by Karl Bryullov, 1830-33. Destruction, chaos; the wrath of the Gods bottled in a moment with a sharp and violent conclusion.

Bryullov weaves shock, pain, and fear through his canvas, not just in the movement of bodies, but on the faces of his many subjects. It’s what makes the painting so memorable, and why I figured it had to be used to represent the stages of emotion we saw play out for Rose. So without further ado, here’s a three-part installment (two on the house and a third - that’s arguably the best of the bunch - for paid subscribers after the fold):

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At this point, if you consider yourself a Basketball fan - if Ball is indeed Life - and you don’t watch the W, it’s because you hate women. There can be no other explanation, as play quality is at an all-time high, the league (including the Finals) is full of stars with interesting backstories and personalities, and games are broadcast at a level that brings the same, if not more, energy and tension as any finals game in any sport.

I’ll be headed to Game 2 Sunday. If you can’t make it in-person, I highly encourage you to tune in. Sure, Caitlin Clark is fun, but so are Courtney Williams, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, etc etc. Just watch, you won’t be disappointed (except in the refs, they are truly terrible).

On the College Football front, my Vanderbilt Commodores beat No. 1 Alabama for what is (and what should stand as) the biggest upset of the season, buying me at least another 15 years of my fandom even if we don’t win another game. Anchor Down. Plus, my other team, Army, has a line of sight into crashing the CFB Playoffs. Also great on the Baseball side as my Yankees and the Mets are locked in the Championship Series in their respective leagues. Hope everyone has a chance to enjoy things before god knows what happens less than a month from now on election day!

Also, let me know if there’s something you want to see me write about in the future.

Art/Sports I’m Into

The Other Art Fair

Held in several cities globally, the Fall NYC edition of the Other Art Fair is set to run next Thursday - Sunday in Brooklyn. TOAF is easily accessible, held in a fun spot, and always lands as a personal favorite. It’s a great opportunity to discover new Art and Artists - hit me up if you’re planning on going!

Artist of the Week

Gabriela Kramer

Gabriela exhibited at both the SPRING/BREAK Art Show and the Affordable Art Fair - it was the first time her work landed on my radar, and it was a standout at both shows.

Her paintings are whimsical, juicy, and layer an undecided-but-structured approach with an inviting color palette, and are a lot of fun on the larger scale. I’m excited to see her work pop up again in the future, especially as she’s now established on the east coast.

Sports Photographer You Need to Follow

Nat Butler

Less about following Nat (which you should still do), and more want to highlight the fact that he just came out with a book featuring 40 years of NBA photography, which you should absolutely buy. As we’ve established, two of the three prerequisites for being a basketball fan are watching the NBA and the W. The third is owning this book haha. Nat is truly one of the nicest people in the world and on the Mount Rushmore of hoops photographers, and his catalog is such a fun deep dive into the history of the game. Here’s him chatting a bit more about the book:

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FOUR BONUS MEMES (INCLUDING TWO MOO DENG ONES) FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS

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Don’t let any of this fool you: it is an illusion. Which is fair, as it’s a necessary one - fine art as a tangible item does not provide what we think of as utility in the way, say, a car, or groceries do. Thus, it requires an economy with a foundation driven by disposable income, which can only come from…people that have disposable income. But as soon as you look past the wealth that the industry is built on, you’ll discover a world that is far more accessible with an entrance that requires only an open mind, not an open wallet.

Most art is free to see

Many museums don’t charge an entrance fee (and offer discounts/free tickets if you just ask), and I’ve never seen a gallery that requires anything other than you showing up (plus openings sometimes feature free drinks). No one is going to question what you wear - I rock athletic clothes and my artbutmakeitsports hat to pretty much every art event I attend, even if others are dressed up, and I’ve never once been looked at differently. And if you take the time to open up, you’ll connect with interesting people that truly care about art.

Art can be affordable!

I’ve only recently started dipping my toes into collecting art. One thing I found that helped me was, around 5 years ago, I took mental inventory of up-and-coming artists that, if I had a little extra money, I would have invested in. Several of them have since hit it big, which gave me an extra layer of confidence in beginning my own collection.

None of us are going to be buying van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, etc etc. And 99% of the people reading this aren’t actively building collections with artists that have work come up at major auction. But there are avenues for us common folk! Last week the SPRING/BREAK show showcased art at a palatable price point, and the Affordable Art Fair in NYC is coming up in two weeks. Social media, for all it’s pitfalls, is a great place to discover new artists. Follow galleries that feature up-and-comers, and spend time researching student shows & exhibitions. Each year Christie’s auctions art from staff/vendors that is on par with what you might find in a gallery, but at a much lower starting point. I fell in love with this piece - which ultimately went for higher than my budget, but I connected with the artist, Bobby Haag, and ended up getting an incredible painting that he had sitting in storage at a price that worked for me.

Bobby is the perfect example that quality art can be found anywhere, you just need to spend time digging beneath the surface and find artists doing work that hasn’t quite hit the mainstream. I thought it’d be valuable to showcase his backstory a bit more in-depth, as he’s the perfect testament against the illusion that the art world is inaccessible.

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(LJ) Where do you work and what do you do there?

(Bobby Haag) I have a job in NYC as Janitorial Maintenance for a company that handles artwork. I clean an entire warehouse on my own and organize it when approved. I make sure the well-being of everybody inside is kept everyday, and I try to make everything easy, fun, and safe. While I'm helping give anyone a hand whenever needed, I also get to experience (with my own eyes) the professional art industry.  This is fascinating and is amazing to me because the "art world" is very strange.

What’s your background with art – how did you get into it, are you professionally trained, etc?

My story is a magical astonishing never ending real life fairy tale.  Ever since I was born I’ve used my imagination to play. This turned into me making artwork as an adult. I never went to art school, and was introduced to oil painting at age 20...then, I taught myself how to paint. I still have my first debut oil painting. Spending ten years alone in Michigan, I developed my relationship with my own artwork, and at the same time was giving everyone around me my paintings out of love. There are hundreds of Bobby Haag paintings all around the world.

Once I turned 30, I was physically picked up and dropped off in NYC, knowing nobody and not sure what to do. There I invented "Bobby Haag Painting" - it was the beginning show of my newly made, more mature artwork (exclusively oil paintings). Now, I put on all my own art shows by myself, as it gives me the opportunity to create new paintings and meet a lot of amazing people. My painting is holy, as if it originates as an artwork made out of itself. It is how I met you, and got this interview, too - this is my debut interview!

What are your ambitions with art – where do you want to take things?

I am doing my best to push art forward for everyone to experience, right in front of their eyes, by being myself in my painting - there is nothing to hide in my work. I passionately study my own original color theory, which I am convinced is an exciting new form of useful information, but I also understand there is much more to discover. The more I paint, the more colors I get to look at, and in the end there is a painting to give. It is a gift. I would not call myself a painter. Painting is the work I must put into the artwork in order to make art. So in that case, I see myself as an artist.

How would you describe your style? Are there artists you pull inspiration from?

I learned how color works from nature, learned what oil paint looks like from Vincent van Gogh, learned 'en plein air' painting from Claude Monet. I am also learning as much art history as I can from going to the Met Museum. As I talk with artists I meet, we support, influence, and inspire each other. Magically, within, are unheard tales that speak themself through original personality as a significant representation in my work. And at the end of the day, I like to make art that is surprising and fun, just like sports are.

On that note, what’s your connection to sports?

I used to play soccer growing up. Defense! My dad and I watched basketball games as a family too. I loved skateboarding all day long, all day strong, for many, many years. I can kickflip and everything.

Do you have any upcoming shows I can promote?

On December 8th, 2024, I’ll have my fourth "Bobby Haag Art Show" behind the Met Museum by the bridge, weather permitting! Also follow my instagram, @bobbyhaagpainting - I post all my art shows and information there. I try to make up new art shows every month of the year, creating work for myself and keeping myself busy. Anyway, thanks for the interview! I love what you do, and am happy you listened to me telling some of my story.

Art/Sports I’m Into

This Josh Allen Piece

More details in the Ebay listing, but one of my favorite artists, Billy Kheel, made this piece based on one of my posts combining a Josh Allen leap with Giordano’s Fall of the Rebel Angels.

It’s a whole bunch of pieces of felt layered and sewn together to create dynamism and texture, and is stunning irl. Feel free to hit me up if you want more info. Also, random, but shoutout the weather. Absolutely killing it this time of year - 10/10

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This ended up being a fun process, so figured I’d spin up a quick post about it. First, it’s diagnosing what needs to be captured: overlapping circles, some of the lines that make up the wheelchairs, the wheels themselves, and the net, and then ideally the basketball. Whatever’s picked has to reflect the symmetry that makes up the essence of the photo’s beauty. It’s poetry in frozen motion, but with circles, which is fairly rare in sports outside of motorsports, and what makes this shot stand out. Four things came to mind when I saw it.

Joan Miró

Miró’s unique take on Surrealism often has circles & lines - earlier this year I used this piece, ‘L'Hypnotiseur,’ and there’s clearly some similar vibes.

Wassily Kandinsky

Kandinsky is famous for overlapping circles, as seen below in the aptly named ‘Several Circles,’ part of the Guggenheim’s collection.

Hilma af Klint

af Klint’s psychedelic and mystical approach often features circles, lines, as well as some of the blue/green background that’s featured in the photo, as in ‘No. 5, Group 3’ below.

This Piece below

Of the four things that came to mind, this was the only one that wasn’t an artist, but a specific work of art. This one (it’s Untitled) is part of the MoMA’s permanent collection, and is massive in person.

The colors, pattern, size; it’s just such an impressive and fun piece, and hard to forget. I realized this particular work wouldn’t fit for the photo (the colors are off), but started to do a deep dive on the artist, Atsuko Tanaka (who I hadn’t heard of until I looked up this piece), and had a good feeling that something in her catalog would work.

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While she worked across different mediums (her wearable art is worth falling down a wormhole on), the overlapping circles + lines seen in the above piece seem to be her signature with paintings. She was under-appreciated in her time, which draws a parallel to the Paralympics, which only now seem to be getting the respect and coverage they deserve (shout-out NBC Sports & Olympics for having Gold Zone available). I spent a bit of time looking through Tanaka’s catalog, and found a section of a larger piece that captured the elements that I was looking for.

While it’s not exactly a 1:1 match, I think the spirit shines through, and I was happy with not only how it came out, but to learn about a new artist with a deep & interesting background.

-LJ

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 400m hurdles gold medal run was so flawless that it yielded absolutely nothing out-of-the-ordinary to turn into art. I did get lucky in the post-race, however, as Hannah Peters (who was clutch all Olympics) came through with several shots of the crowned Queen, including this look from behind. There’s a compositional practice in Art called ‘Rückenfigur', which translates directly to back-figure. The most recognizable piece in the genre is probably Caspar David Friedrich's Wander Above the Sea of Fog, which could have worked here, but I did want to get something that incorporated a woman & potentially a crown. Side note, the Met is having an exhibition on Friedrich starting next February that I am counting down the days to. If you subscribe as a founding member below, I will go with you to the exhibition.

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Back to the description…Friedrich has several rückenfigur works, and I remembered that Woman before the Rising Sun has a hairstyle that resembles a crown.

I wish the background colors and body shape matched a bit better, and that I had a higher resolution shot of the artwork (which I’m hoping to get at the Met exhibition), but I was happy with how this one turned out.

Next up, this viral video of Simone Biles. Throughout the Olympics, I tried to weave in artwork from French artists & institutions, and as soon as this clip dropped, I knew the Mona Lisa from the Louvre would be perfect.

There are two ‘layers’ here - 1. these are two of the most recognizable women in their respective disciplines. The GOATs, if you will, although I would not recommend waiting to see the Mona Lisa in person. And 2. if you watch the video, the essence of what it captures is Simone’s ability to somehow be looking in multiple directions at once. It’s what the Mona Lisa is arguably most famous for. It’s a bit lost with just a screengrab vs. a video (I tried making one and it didn’t come out great), but figured there were enough components to make the image worth posting.

Finally, my favorite. I had this one queued up in the chamber as soon as Noah Lyles called out LeBron and the NBA players. Joe Pinchin (more on him below) had a few angles of LeBron’s chalk toss from one of the pool play games, and I knew it’d be perfect to pair with The Sacrifice of Noah if Lyles lost - there’s the visual composition (the chalk, hand placement, and the beard), but also the deeper play on the beef between Lyles & LeBron. While the former won the 100m, he dropped the 200m and I fired this off as soon as he did. LeBron then held up his end of the bargain by leading the USA Men to gold.

I was a bit disappointed that this one didn’t get as much love as I thought it deserved, but I take solace in the fact that I was able to put out a ton of other quality posts from the Games. Which transitions nicely into…

Art/Sports I’m Into

The Paralympics

Several of you have asked if I’ll be making content for the Paralympics. As is the case with all sports; if there’s compelling imagery and I have the bandwidth, I’ll be there to post about it. Gold Zone has made it stupid simple to isolate out the best of the best, and from what I’ve read, NBC will have it in place for the Paralympics, so stay tuned in a week and a half when they fire up!

Artist of the Week

Abdul “Abe” Mazid

Shared this post the other day of MJ at the Barcelona Olympics (shot by the incomparable Nat Butler), and was excited because I think it’s the first time in 2,000+ posts that I was able to use an art piece from someone I’m friends with.

Abdul's pieces look nice online, but truly shine in person, as his thick application of paint and deliberate but improvised brush strokes (it makes sense when you see it) create texture and movement, turning into a form of accessible modern Dynamism.

He also has an expansive repertoire, working across a number of mediums, including my favorite, a collaboration between him and Julian Lombardi called The Currency Project, where they explore the intersection between art and sports cards, examining what value means and what can be created be implementing layers on top of existing canvases. Give them a follow!

Sports Photographer You Need to Follow

Joe Pinchin

Joe works on content for the Chicago Bulls during the regular season, but lucky for us spent the offseason covering Team USA at Paris 2024. His shots are gold medal worthy, and his understanding that ball is life gets woven into the fabric of every photo that he takes.

He’s also gracious with his time, going out of his way to make sure the perfect shot comes together even if it means taking extra effort out of his day.

Make sure to check out his full catalog of work, even if you’re not a Bulls fan.

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