Season's Greetings!

(art image is pen, brush & ink with digital color effects) Visit SASgolf.com to view all the limited edition golf art prints available from Steven Anthony Salerno.

"OHIO FATS" (AKA: Mr. Nicklaus)

latest limited edition print, "OHIO FATS" -visit SASgolf.com

Back in the early 1960's, when a young Jack Nicklaus began his professional golf career (and began winning tournaments over established stars such as Arnold Palmer) hecklers in the tournament galleries shouted derogatory names at at Jack, such as "Fat Jack" and "Ohio Fats" -including cheering whenever he missed putts, all in an attempt to get under the young player's skin. Little good it did to derail him, because not only did Nicklaus apparently have very thick skin, but he also possessed a superior game that produced winning scores over the next 25 years which earned him a record 18 major championship victories and the title of being the best player on the planet to ever have played the game of golf.

And his record may very well stand forever, if Tiger Woods who currently has 14 major victories (and is the only active player remotely close) cannot at least tie the record. My feeling is that if Tiger does not tie or surpass the 18 majors mark within his career, that no one in the future will either. There is such a growing depth of superb top professional players around the world now, that for any one player to amass more than 18 major championship victories will be virtually impossible. There may be a cluster of current and future superstar players who may all attain 4, or 6, or 8 major wins, and maybe a couple astounding superstars will reach 10 major victories... but to surpass Sir Jack's golden number 18 will probably never happen. That is, of course, unless the "man in red" can indeed fabricate a Second Act which produces 4 more (or 5 more!) major championship victories. And if you read my previous post (about my golf art print entitled, "14 red shirts") then you know I think Tiger can indeed match or surpass it.

(posted above) My new golf art print now available entitled, "OHIO FATS" depicts a young, stocky Jack Nicklaus in the early 1960's at the top of his powerful back swing. Above his head is the phrase "OHIO FATS" ...but the insult has no effect on the player who has a protective halo of cool blue color around him, representing the strength of his concentration and single-minded focus to play the course. Floating out in front of the player is the burning red number "18."  The original art was created with pencil, gouache, oil crayon and pastel.

Visit SASgolf.com to see this new limited edition print created by golf artist Steven Anthony Salerno, located in the exclusive edition gallery.

"The Opening Tee Shot"

"The Opening Tee Shot" by Steven Anthony Salerno. Visit SASgolf.com

"The Opening Tee Shot" by Steven Anthony Salerno. Visit SASgolf.com

I recently released a new limited edition golf art print, available on my site SASgolf.com, entitled, "The Opening Tee Shot." 

This nostalgic drawing depicts an early 1930's scene from the North South Women's Championship, held at Pinehurst, with one of the top ranked female players of the day hitting her opening drive off the 1st tee. The sizable gallery intently watches the flight of the ball. With a minimal, impressionistic background of a hazy fairway and shadowy bank of pine trees, this drawing also has over a hundred and thirty distinct characters in the gallery, seen in their period fedoras, caps, suits, furs, dresses, and knickers... with the player on the tee at center stage, poised in her lanky follow through, looking equally fashionable. The original art was created with pastel, crayon, and gouache on paper, with added digital color enhancements.

Posted here is a full view, as well as a close-up detail of the main player hitting her drive. 

fourteen red shirts (a new golf art print of Tiger Woods)

"fourteen red shirts" by golf artist Steven Anthony Salerno     -visit SASgolf.com

Back in 2009, when the PGA Tour's official web site pgatour.com was showcasing many of my golf art portraits of top Tour players in their Player Spotlight feature section... I had started a somewhat ambitious "portrait" of Tiger Woods, which was going to consist of fourteen very small gouache & watercolor paintings (each one is only about 3.5" tall) of the (then) world # 1 ranked player. The concept for this art image was to depict Tiger Woods in his recognizable Sunday red shirt from each of the final rounds of his 14 major championship victories... but I didn't finish the project, and put the paintings aside, some finished, but many were not. Then, a couple weeks ago I finally decided to go ahead and finish all these small paintings... wanting the resulting piece, a new limited edition golf print entitled "fourteen red shirts" to express my view that Tiger is still a top contender and still the one to chase down the record for the most major championship victories held by Jack Nicklaus. 

(detail view) "14 red shirts" by golf artist Steven Anthony Salerno     -visit SASgolf.com

From a graphic standpoint the art print is a simple grid of the 14 little vignette portraits of the star player. Each pose depicts his swing, putt, or stride -from the actual final round action of the corresponding major championship event, as well as the specific style red shirt he was wearing when he won the tournament that day. Underneath each painting is text giving the year and site of the event. At the bottom of the print I purposely left some blank spaces, to pointedly imply that Tiger's record of 14 majors is not going to end there... he will certainly be adding more major victories. When people view my print "fourteen red shirts" I know some will read an opposite meaning to the blank spaces... that Tiger has imploded and his major record will remain at 14. Time will only prove them wrong.

A lot has transpired for Tiger from the time I first started the paintings in 2009 (he was still ranked #1), to when I recently completed them in 2011 (Tiger is now ranked about #17th in the world), all which has required him to catch his emotional footing and to redefine himself. Relative to his quest to reach and possibly surpass the record of 18 major championship victories, Tiger's fall from grace, injury, and the simultaneous rise of new younger players has lead many to believe Tiger's magical momentum is not just interrupted, but gone. A better person arises when getting up after a fall... so don't count him out. Tiger is young, his body will repair itself. He will continue to regain stability within his personal and public life...

(detail view) "14 red shirts" by golf artist Steven Anthony Salerno     -visit SASgolf.com

So, whether it is later this year, or next year, or even the year after, at some point Tiger Woods is going to start playing well again...and when he does, his experience of 71 victories and 14 major championships is going to kick back in. He is a different person now, and will have to find a corresponding different way to get it done on the course... I suspect in a similar manner to when Hogan had to find a new way to win again after a major car accident altered his personal landscape. Can Tiger win at the same pace he did before? The answer is no, but does it really matter? If my math serves me correctly, to date as a professional, Tiger has played in about 61 majors and won 14 of them... an astounding win rate of about 23%! 

Hypothetically, let's assume that Tiger does not play in the remaining majors of 2011. So, at age 36, if Tiger then plays in every major until he is 46 years old (the same age that Nicklaus won his last major championship), this is 40 more major events in which to compete. Therefore,Tiger will need to win 10% (4 victories) of these remaining 40 events to tie Nicklaus. Most players would love to win 4 majors in their entire career, so as a mere "next segment" of Tiger's golfing career, a task of winning 4 more majors could seem daunting if not impossible... but considering he has the experience of already winning 14 out 61 majors, it begins to seem possible that such a great player could now go on to win 4 out of the next 40 majors. There is also the possibility that Tiger could effectively contend in even more majors, until he is 50 years old (channeling the spirit of Sam Snead) which would mean he'd only have to win 4 out of the next 56 major events to tie the Nicklaus record.

(detail view) "14 red shirts" by golf artist Steven Anthony Salerno     -visit SASgolf.com

At age 22 Rory McIlroy just won his first major championship. And understandably the critics are already predicting he could very well be the next superstar player to attack the Nicklaus majors record. Again, using the age of 46 as a hypothetical "competitive stop date" for competing in majors, if Rory plays in every major for the next 24 years (96 events), he will have to win about 18% of them to attain a total of 18 majors by the age of 46. There is sound reasoning at this early stage to believe that Rory's amazing talents could make this all happen... but if one can imagine such a magnificent future career arc for Rory, one would also have to concede that 4 wins out of 40 for the likes of a Tiger Woods is just as distinct a possibility as well. 

Whatever transpires, golf fans are in for some amazing championship tournament golf over the next couple decades, and Mr. Jack Nicklaus could still be sitting on top when the dust clears. 

This new golf art print, "fourteen red shirts" signed and numbered by artist Steven Anthony Salerno is available in an exclusive edition (limited to only 100 prints) at SASgolf.com in the "exclusive edition" gallery. Each print is printed on 100% cotton archival fine art paper with vivid permanent pigment inks.

Wingtips & Practice, Practice, Practice

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE by Steven Anthony Salerno -available at SASgolf.com

WINGTIPS by Steven Anthony Salerno -available at SASgolf.com

This week I offered two more limited edition prints on my golf gallery site, SASgolf.com -both being fun, pop graphic images. The first print, entitled WINGTIPS is a boldly drawn close-up view of a player wearing bright blue wingtip golf shoes stroking a putt, that hopefully ends with the ball successfully in the bottom of the cup! The second print, entitled PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE is a simple graphic depiction of some golfers all in a row at the driving range, in various stages of their swings beating balls... with the definition of the word practice embedded within the art image.


These two prints can be seen in the golf graphix gallery section of SASgolf.com and are both available in two different print sizes, 11x17 and 13x19.

2012 US Women's Open Championship at Blackwolf Run

full view of "Mercy"   visit sasgolf.com

detail view of "Mercy"   visit sasgolf.com

In February of this year I was contacted by Whistling Straits's GM/Director of Golf, Jim Richerson. As you know, Whistling Straits (in Kohler, Wisconsin) hosted the 2010 PGA Championship, won by Germany's Martin Kaymer in a play-off. 

Jim discussed with me the fact that the 2012 US Women's Open Championship (conducted by the USGA) will be hosted at Blackwolf Run, which is the 36 hole sister complex next to Whistling Straits, and also part of The American Club Resort, owned by the Kohler Company. Blackwolf Run has two courses: the Meadow Valleys Course and the River Course, though, the 2012 US Women's Open Championship will be played on "The Original Championship Course," which is comprised of select holes from both the Meadow Valleys Course and the River Course. Jim explained that their committee was looking for a golf artist to create golf art images for the upcoming championship event, and I was on their short list along with a couple other artists. He asked if I would submit a bid proposal...

So, I put together my fee proposal, containing not only my suggestions for what art images to create, and for what specific uses (e.g. event poster, limited edition prints, merchandise items, etc...), but I also included numerous samples of my limited edition golf prints. The added touch to the proposal was that I specially created two new "golfscape" drawings depicting a couple holes from their Meadow Valleys Course... holes which will be part of the "Original Championship Course" the women competitors will compete on in 2012.

Posted here is print of a drawing I created of their 15th hole, a par three which is named "Mercy." It was created with crayon and pastel and added digital color. (posted is the full view and a detail).

There has not been a decision yet on which artist they will select... so I am hoping it was fall my way. It would be a fun project to be associated with.

When Woods Were Really Wood

"The Match" is available as a limited edition print at sasgolf.com

"The Match" is available as a limited edition print at sasgolf.com

Recently I was using a chunky oil crayon doodling on some discarded printing paper, and quickly drew a golfer with a straw hat swinging a club, poised at his finish. Just a simple line drawing -a glorified doodle really, culled from my memory of golf swings and combined with my ability to draw the human figure without needing a model or a photo or even a preliminary sketch. It had the retro look of a player from the 1940's (using a persimmon wood, of course!) I really liked the rough line quality of the thick crayon because it disallowed me from fussing with any detail, which forces the essential gesture to describe the form. 

So, then I did another quick crayon drawing of a caddie, complete with knickers and holding a canvas golf bag, followed by another player (leaning on his club and puffing on a cigarette), and second young caddie. These drawings were done on separate scraps of paper, so I scanned them all into Photoshop and arranged them all together into a scene such that it looked like one player and the two caddies were watching the other player play his shot. Then I took a previous rectangular color field I had painted on paper with green gouache, executed with rough, loose, brushstrokes and scanned that into Photoshop, too. I placed the green color field painting behind the layer with the line drawings of the players and caddies, then further modified it by bringing in additional shapes I created to make the bunkers and the smaller pine trees in the distance, including the flagstick. Using a digital "fuzzy" paintbrush tool, I painted the skin tone and clothing color of the characters on another Photoshop layer between the existing layers. Of course, there is a lot of subtle adjustments of the colors, and even alterations of the drawings, too. 

I did a test print of the image on watercolor paper and felt it was very nice, but too barren feeling. It needed more context. Next, I went back to the chunky oil crayon and drew two big, simple, pines trees, effectively to frame the characters. The story I was telling myself at that point was that these two players were vying for the 1948 club championship, in the final match. At that point I knew I had to add in some interested club members following the action! I scanned the drawings of the two big pine trees as well as my additional drawings of spectator characters and brought them into the final scene. Wanting to keep the image as simple as possible, I colored the big trees and the spectators all the same color blue, as if in a cool blue shadow, thus allowing the brighter players dressed in white to visually dominate the scene.

Posted here is the full view of the final image... and a detail of one of the players so you can see the rough line quality of the oil crayon which was used to create the figures. Some images/paintings I create take weeks to finalize... in this case, because it was based on using quick "sketches" as the final imagery, and the fact that I fabricated the image in an impromptu manner on the fly, making it up as I went along, it took very little time at all. It is fun to create this kind of "spontaneous" image on the heels of having spent tons of time on a more elaborate, formal images. It helps to regain some balance.

This print is available in a limited edition in the "match play" gallery on sasgolf.com

" 9/64" Measurement of a Golfer

visit sasgolf.com to view this golf art print and many others...

"9/64" -the numbers seen within the art print of golfing legend Ben Hogan is not a mysterious measurement nor a mathematical fraction... it is his professional golfing career record: 9 major championships and 64 PGA Tour victories. The most impressive detail of Mr. Hogan's history is he survived a near-fatal automobile accident at age 36 and afterwards went on to win 6 more major championships. (you may have to click on the image above to see the full composition)


This new golf art print from artist Steven Anthony Salerno is now available at sasgolf.com in the "exclusive edition" gallery. The original art was created with crayon, pastel, and gouache on paper with digital wood grain effects. Only 50 of these superbly reproduced golf art prints are available (17"x22" size) in the limited edition. Printed in the artist's studio using brilliant permanent pigment inks on archival 100% cotton rag based fine art papers, visit sasgolf.com to learn more about these limited edition prints. 

Tiger in 2011... Q: Can He Attain Major #15?

(click on image to see full size)        Visit sasgolf.com to view limited edition golf prints by artist Steven Anthony Salerno

Short answer: Yes.

In 2011 Tiger is set to add yet another major championship to his current list of 14 major titles. Of course, now there are several new top competitors on the scene with the ability to nab a major, so from this point forward getting into the major winner's circle again is going to be an even more difficult task for the man in red, but he will get it done. I don't think we will see Tiger winning majors by quite such large margins as he has done in the past. Those days are gone, but it only takes one less stroke than the closest competitor in a championship to attain the victory anyway, so what does it really matter what the winning margin might be?

The other top contenders don't have what Tiger does, which is the momentum of being on a powerful inside track to break the Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors. Tiger is still the ONE, and it's an advantage. Some may argue that Tiger's momentum has been stripped away due to his personal upheaval over the past year. This momentum has merely skipped a beat. It's still there, and well in tact.

People want Tiger to win more major championships. They want to see him rise up, and be the one who surpasses a seemingly unattainable record. With a fresh current of energy from the golfing public helping to once again propel Tiger forward, combined with the fact he is in the prime of his golfing powers including immense experience to draw upon, getting into the major winner's circle again (and again) is inevitable.

My artwork posted here originally appeared in the Player Spotlight feature section on pgatour.com, the official web site of the PGA Tour, and depicts Tiger in his putting pose. Since showing his Sunday red shirt alone visually informs the viewer that it is Tiger Woods, I purposely did not even show his face, to push the minimalist effect of the composition. To the side are his current stats: 14 majors and 71 tournament victories, which has remained the same over the past year since he did not get a win in 2010. (you may have to click on the above art image to see the full composition)

Look for those stats to tick upward in 2011...

Visit my on-line golf gallery at sasgolf.com, where you can purchase signed, limited edition golf art prints.