Versikaitis

" There is nothing like going to a live sport event. The excitement of the crowd and the drama of the players is a wonderful sideline to my creative inspiration.  As I watch sports from a television’s point of view, I can only tell you who scored, who won, and very little on what the crowd was doing. The real excitement comes from actually being there. Observing the players as they demonstrate their talents and then listening to the reaction of the crowd as they cheer on their super stars.  The cheering, booing, clapping, flag waving and the hackling are all elements of any game and therefore are my rendering interpretation. Throughout the years I have created different characters that I incorporate into the crowd of every of my paintings. One sample is the cheering character, the person who has his hands to his face yelling. The other one is the thunder stick person. But I believe the one I really like and I will use more often is the character with the red wig and a black mask. I saw this guy during a break at a Calgary flames game. He was walking towards me wearing this costume. A red afro wig, black mask, face painted red, a Flames jersey, black gym shorts, red leotards and white runners. Oh yeah he was also wearing a red cape and waving a Flames flag..priceless... These are just a few.
With the main character or in this case player it's pretty simple. I’m always looking for a certain pose or a distinguish look of that player. An example of this would be Ken Dryden’s standing and resting his hands on top of his goalie stick. That pose is his character pose. People associate Dryden to that pose. In my world, I would have to say the Theo Fleury painting, that stance is viewed as one of his signature stance. The passionate look just before a face off has to be one of my favorites pose. Do to the fact that A) I had the thrill to watch him play so many times and B) well after painting his portrait, on behalf of my family, it was an honor to meet Theo and his son Josh at the signing of the limited edition prints of " Theo #14 ".. This is what that stance means to me.
I've always said that a good painting starts with good reference photography and the proper props. The props are the equipment. This equipment will show me what the fabric does or is doing under certain lights. The leather on the gloves, goalie pads, the cage of the goalie mask or the visor on the helmet each with their own define characteristic on how they reflect or absorb the lights and shadows. I have been fortunate enough to be able to take my own photographs at sport events in the past few years. Whether it is hockey, soccer or baseball I’m always fascinated by the action, the emotions (both players and the crowd) and the talent of these sport minded individuals. It is these individual frames in time and a moment in their lives that I wish to capture first in a photograph and then in a drawing or a painting. To render that pose forever....
 

I believe the final touch would be to have my image exhibited in the sports fan home.”

" It would be my pleasure and honour to converse with you on any detail involving the creation of one of a kind art work."

 But first enter the site, take your time, and view for yourself these wonderful characters..