From The Game | Artwork by Robert Laraia | Sports Art

Sports Art

About: From The Game | The Robert Laraia Collection of Sports Art

The Holy Grail Of Sports Art! Authentic and rare!

For over 25 years, Robert Laraia has created works of art signed by the “Greats Of The Game.” The collection spans major sports with over 50+ pieces of artwork. Included in this collection are some of the greats who played the game, from Joe Dimaggio, Muhammed Ali, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Joe Namath, and Mean Joe Green to Dr. J, Bart Starr, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bobby Hull, Jean Beliveau, and many more. All original works of art are in the possession of the collection, and none of the art has been turned into prints. Only one piece of artwork is not in the collection.

Ever since the artist created the first piece of artwork, that of Larry Bird, which was quickly followed by a Duke Snider art piece, this set the stage for the resulting works of art that continue to this day. Each artwork in the collection is watercolor, painstakingly created to evoke seconds in time: the swing of the bat, the pass of a football, the jump shot of a basketball, or the slapshot of a hockey stick.

Many have asked if there are prints or asked, “How much?” regarding the artwork. “I never went into this with the idea to sell artwork,” says the artist. Capturing the “likeness” of the player and creating a moment in time was always the challenge. The first two pieces of artwork set the stage.

“My father worked with Larry Bird’s uncle at American Airlines in San Diego, and Larry Bird was the first attempt at painting a sports figure. Truthfully, it didn’t go well and wasn’t very good,” says the artist. After that piece, Duke Snider’s son also worked there and mentioned if the artist did one of his father, he would get it signed. “Again, that one wasn’t very good either,” says the artist with a laugh, but that started the collection. “I was really ticked off and not happy with what I painted, which made me even more determined.”

Next came a new Duke Snider painting, followed by a DiMaggio and a Bobby Hull. “I went to my first signing in Orange County, California, drove up, bought my tickets, and saw this long line. I thought this was going to take forever. But it was for Jason Kidd, just out of college and entering the pros. His line was out the door. I was only there for two signatures, Marice Richard and Bobby Hull. First up was Maurice Richard, and he was sitting at a table in a suit. No line. But instead of artwork, I only had a jersey. One of my biggest regrets was not doing a painting of Maurice Richard and getting it signed. I only had a few days to get something painted, and I did one of Bobby Hull. I was a fan of ‘Bob’s’ in sports: Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Bob Tucker (the first card I ever got of a New York Giant), Bobby Murcer, and Bobby Bonds (who were once traded for each other) so Bobby Hull it was. But I will always regret not doing a Maurice Richard art piece.”

Next up was Bobby Hull, and the line was a little longer, but when the painting was displayed, Bobby Hull liked it. “He liked it so much he took my phone number. He liked the piece. I, on the other hand, was not a hundred percent happy with it, and that’s always the problem. I look at the artwork, and I always see something I could’ve improved,” says the artist.

Next up was an early morning call that Duke Snider was leaving to go to Japan for a signing and that he would be at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, and if the artist wanted to get something signed, this was the chance. “I raced to the airport, and there was Duke Snider, the Duke of Flatbush immortalized in the “Boys of Summer” by Roger Kahn. So I showed the painting, and the Duke, his wife, his son Kurt, and everyone nearby was impressed. I had a little spot under the bat for him to sign, and we used one of the counters at the American Airlines terminal. You can see Duke’s signature is a little bumpy due to the pebble marks on the counter.”

But the artist was even more impressed with how humble the Duke was. “He is prominently featured in books, had hit forty or more homers five straight years in a row, played on the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers, and he had no ego. We talked about the Brooklyn Dodgers, other sports stars like Bobby Hull, and the Duke said he was some hockey player, Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard round the world” was gone when it left the bat, and we talked about Dick Sisler’s homer to send the “Whiz Kids” to the pennant.”

“That started it all,” says the artist. “The goal was to capture these greats and re-immortalize them in my artwork.” Over 25 years in the making, the highs of meeting these greats at different venues to the lows of losing them to time. There is a rush to capture the figure, complete the artwork, and plan what artwork to create. All of that is invested in the artwork you see before you.

This site is for the enjoyment of those who enjoy sports and art, and this site was created expressively for that purpose and to remember the “Greats of the Game,” who touched our lives through their heroics or heartbreak…

Enjoy!

Robert Laraia

The artist retains all rights to this artwork, and no artwork is allowed to be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the artist.