{"title":"Boyhood Legends","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMy whole life, I have loved Art and Sports. As a kid, I pretty much was always either doing one or the other. In 2020, I made the choice to return to paint what I loved most as a kid, and \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003edive back in to the world of Sports and Sports cards through my Art. Creating these paintings took me right back to those days with my boyhood buddies. All year we'd be opening packs of cards \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eoutside of the Quik-Pik, stuffing our faces with Fun-Dip and bubble gum, talking sports and feeling nothing but the innocence and pure joy only youth can bring. They say paint what you love, and it will show in your work. These paintings were created with lots of love, and I hope it shows.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-swing","title":"The Swing","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on linen \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e14\" X 11\" (36 X 28 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eHis mission was to have people say, \"There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived.\" \u003cbr\u003eTo me, The Kid is always my guy for the most beautiful swing, and indeed the greatest hitter that ever lived.\u003cbr\u003e Many hitting records were shattered in the steroid era, but not Ted's '41 season average of .406. That will never be touched. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eI couldn't wait to paint him. In my mind I have so many images of him to paint, and his swing will always be the first one.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31934158088,"sku":"TSWNG-OP","price":1600.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/products\/swing_750.jpg?v=1489618631"},{"product_id":"i-woulda-van-goghd-him","title":"I Woulda Van Gogh'd Him","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on linen \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 20 (41 X 51 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eI asked The Spaceman Bill Lee what he was saying to Umpire Larry Barnett from the dugout, during the infamous Armbrister incident in game three of the 1975 World Series, which led to me creating this painting. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHe said,\u003cbr\u003e\"I told him I woulda Van Gogh'd him.\" I wondered \"What do ya mean?\" He said, \u003cbr\u003e\"I told him I woulda bit his *@#!in' ear off.\" \u003cbr\u003eFollowed by the most charismatic laugh anyone has ever heard.   \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31935102216,"sku":"IVGD-OP","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/i_wouldaa.jpg?v=1745592982"},{"product_id":"charlie-hustle","title":"The Hit King","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on gallery wrapped canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 12\" (40 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eI have always loved this image of a young Pete Rose with that sparkle in his eye. The reference is from his second year baseball card in 1964, and his most sought after by almost all collectors, I feel it captures a young Charlie Hustle and the era so perfectly. The excitement of a kid who loves baseball, and just cant wait to play, is what I always got from looking at it. He would later say \"I'd walk through Hell in a gasoline suit to play Baseball\", and it showed. I could relate, and I never forgot it. I loved watching him play as a kid. He always hustled, always. There were no satellite feeds or sports networks in the mid 70's in Canada. I saw him play against the Expos on CBC-TV a few times, and at the height of The Big Red Machine in their back to back World Series Title years. Later on we had This Week in Baseball where my buddy Trevor and I watched him get a hit every single game for six straight weeks in '78. It was through baseball cards, and newspaper boxscores where I mostly watched Pete become the MLB All-Time Leader in games played, at bats, plate appearances, most hits, most two hit games and the most 200 hit seasons of 10. The Hit King. Then we were lucky to have him in ‘84 in Canada and watch his hustle style of play more often. I think the most overlooked thing about Pete is that, nobody, but nobody played in more winning games for their team than he did. No matter what your opinion is of him, it can't be denied that no one played the game of baseball harder, or with more passion than Pete Rose. He was an absolute joy to watch play baseball, and an absolute  joy to paint, and I can't wait to paint him again.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e #RIPCharlieHustle  \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41128457109693,"sku":"PETE-1","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/products\/PeteRose14copy.jpg?v=1638664228"},{"product_id":"the-cathedral-captain","title":"The Cathedral Captain","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 12\" (40 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eAs a young hockey fan growing up in Canada in the 70's, you were usually either a Leafs fan or a \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCanadiens fan. Kids would argue about who was better, Darryl Sittler or Guy Lafleur. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eI was a Bruins\/Bobby Orr fan, and Montreal was my favourite team not to like, so I couldn't go for anything Habs. I always chose Sittler. In 1976, I was nine, and totally immersed in hockey. I became hooked on hockey during the 1972 Summit Series, and I could not wait for the upcoming Canada Cup tournament. This was also the winter that Darryl Sittler became a legend to every young Canadian hockey kid, whether you were a Leafs fan or a Habs fan. In February he set an unbelievable scoring record of 10 points in a single game. Then in April he scored 5 goals in a single playoff game. But it was in September when he truly became a household name and a true Canadian Icon. The 1976 Canada Cup tournament was the world's first best-on-best multi-nation event that included professional players. Sittler scored the Canada Cup Championship game winning goal in overtime for Canada that beat Czechoslovakia, that set off a wild celebration in the Montreal Forum and all across the country. When we played street or pond hockey we would claim what NHL star we wanted to play like, and from then on, every kid wanted to be Darryl Sittler, including myself, and probably most adults too. Darryl Sittler was The Captain of the Maple Leafs and of The Cathedral of Hockey's Maple Leaf Gardens. His rookie card is iconic to collectors, as well it should be, and I remember when he became an icon. It was a joy to paint and to remember the days when he was the Canadian Hockey King, and to remember being nine again, with my buddies, playing pond hockey with frost bite on my toes, scoring the neighbourhood Championship game winning goal in overtime, and raising my arms up over my head with joy, just like Darryl Sittler did.  \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44965275795645,"sku":"Darrl-rook","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Darryl_Sittler_Art.jpg?v=1744227730"},{"product_id":"the-goalie-goat","title":"A Dryden Rookie","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 12\" (40 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e I grew up not liking the Montrêal Canadiens, and I grew up not liking Ken Dryden. I later came to realize how silly that was of course, and that it's human nature to not like the ones that are keeping your clan from winning battles. Dryden single handedly regularly stopped his rivals, in fact almost 80% of the time he won. In hindsight, I wish I could have watched the Greatest Goalie of All-Time with young eyes of appreciation, instead of young eyes of resentment. I certainly appreciate him now. No goalie has come close to dominating a complete decade the way Dryden dominated the 1970's. I couldn't imagine if he played with today’s goalie equipment, he would be unbeatable. Had there been overtime in Dryden’s era, it’s almost a given that his 258 wins, 57 losses and 74 ties in just 397 NHL games would have easily turned into 300+wins, and an .800+ winning percentage. The 1971-72 Canadian hockey card set is gorgeous, and featured mostly posed photos, but Dryden's is a game action photo. Most players in that era got their rookie card in their second NHL season, Dryden was technically still a rookie when this came out. As a kid with my friends, none of us had a Dryden rookie card, but one of my friends older brothers did. We knew him simply as “the guy with the Dryden rookie”. From an Artist's perspective, what I love about this set is they were at least a quarter century away from any type of computer aided Photo Shop of any kind being used by trading card design teams. The colour separations on these cards were done the old-fashioned way, with layers of negatives and talented Artists wielding exacto knives and opaque brushes. His rookie hockey card is not only beautiful and iconic, but to me it is an absolute work of Art, and I've wanted to paint it forever. My young eyes looked at this card so much differently than the older wiser eyes that painted it. These eyes now see nothing but joy and appreciation, with a smile instead of a frown. \u003cbr\u003eOver the past 50 years, Hate has turned to Love right in front of my eyes. \u003cbr\u003eThat's the power of nostalgia through Sports Cards. That's the power of Art. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44967157072061,"sku":"","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Dryden.jpg?v=1744322809"},{"product_id":"the-hammer","title":"The Hammer","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on linen\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\" X 18\" (61 X 46 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe first painting I created for this \"Boyhood Legends\" collection was this one of Hank Aaron. I had not written down who to paint, and had no specific order, I still don't. I think I just paint who I am feeling the most deep down admiration and love for on that day. One of the first books I ever read was about The Hammer. I'm thinking I was age seven or so, grade two, maybe three on a school field-trip to the big City library. Basically, since I was old enough to read I've had nothing but love and admiration for Hank, and it's only grown even more in the 50 plus years since I read that book. When I think of an image of Hammerin' Hank in his prime, this one pretty much personifies it. In a classic Braves uniform, his Adirondack raised high, ready to lose yet another ball over the fence. The original photo reference is from Los Angeles in 1964 by Neil Leifer. There is no aspect of the game that Hank didn't excel, and many aspects he did better than anyone. It can be argued that he is THE Greatest all-around baseball player in the history of the game. I only got to see him play on television a couple of times that I remember. I do remember seeing him play in 1975 on WLBZ-TV against the Red Sox, on the Magnavox. I don't recall much about it, but I knew it was special, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eI knew I was lucky to see it, and I knew I was looking at a Legend, which is why I remember it I guess. I admire him, not only for his statistics and his influence on baseball, but mainly for his character. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAaron broke racial barriers during a time of significant social change in America. He faced immense pressure and adversity, particularly as he approached Babe Ruth's home run record, yet he handled it all with nothing but class, grace and dignity. So, in writing this I just realized, if I was wanting to paint possibly The Greatest ball player ever, as well as one of the Greatest humans ever, someone I would love to be like, Hank Aaron is a pretty good place to start. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44967177715901,"sku":"","price":3000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Hammer.jpg?v=1744325040"},{"product_id":"cheesie-art","title":"Cheesie","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e12\" X 16\" (30 X 40 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003eGrowing up as a Big Bad Bruin fan, Gerry Cheevers was my guy in the net. What I used to love most about goalies in the 1970\"s was that they were all so unique. They all had very distinct ways of playing, with such personality. Cheese was known to often stray from his net to play the puck much more than other goalies. In fact, he was the first goaltender recognized as a \"third defenseman\". He of course, was also the first goalie to add Artwork to his legendary mask, literally changing the standard for all goalies, forever. You will never see a single goalie today without Artwork on their mask, anywhere in the world. Although he is fondly remembered for his “stitches” goalie mask, a tradition he started every time he made a save with his face, often lost among his career accolades is the fact he’s held the NHL record for the longest undefeated streak for well over 50 years. In 1972, on one of the greatest teams in the history of the NHL, he went undefeated in 32 consecutive games, a record that still stands, and one that will likely never be touched. Cheevers is also the only goalie in NHL history to win at least 50 playoff games in fewer than 90 appearances. But that mask is so iconic, those stats are almost never mentioned, and always overlooked. \"At times, I did feel like I was somewhat of a pioneer in hockey because I actually decorated my mask,\" said Cheevers. \"If you know goalies the way I do, none of them would probably be smart enough to put anything on their mask - so if I didn't do it, they might have all been white masks. And what good is that?!\" What good indeed. It was a no brainer for me to choose to paint Cheevers. Not only is he one of my favourite goalies ever, but it sure felt good paying tribute to the man who is responsible for so much amazing Art that myself, and the whole world have enjoyed. Thanks Cheesie \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44979346014397,"sku":"","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Cheevers_9cd68b65-2654-4de6-8d97-362098e67a90.jpg?v=1745592581"},{"product_id":"were-trying-like-hell","title":"We're Really Tryin'","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on gallery canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18\" X 24\" (46 X 61 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMy earliest hockey memories of any big sporting event is The Summit Series from 1972 when I was five. I had no idea of the political magnitude of the Canada vs. the Soviet Union at the time, again, I was five. But I had three older brothers, and my Mom and Dad, who were all immersed in the series, and they most certainly did know of the Cold War political magnitude. The first ever competition between the Soviet National team and Team Canada represented by NHLers was talked about in my house non-stop for weeks before it started. We had every newspaper report on the upcoming Series and every book you could get, some of which I still have. The Press was unanimous in that Team Canada was going to make short work of the Russians. The Soviets were not expected to even give the Canadians a challenge, and Canada was going into this series expected to win handily. The first four games were in Canada. Canada won only one of those games. My family was as shocked as everybody else I'm sure, Russia was dominating. Team Canada was booed off the ice at the end of game 4 in the final game played in Canada. The press now said they weren't prepared, they had not taken the series seriously and some questioned if they were even trying. Responding to the negative public and media reaction in light of the expectation for an overwhelming Team Canada sweep of the series, Phil Esposito made the most important speech in Canadian Sports History. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003eThe speech inspired the entire nation to get back behind Team Canada, and they won the final 3 games and the Championship in the final minute of the final game in Russia. It also instilled in me, and likely millions of other Canadians a deep sense of pride in being Canadian. Over the years I've only grown more appreciative of that September in 1972. I've only grown more appreciative of Phil Esposito for not only the incredible speech that turned the country around, but also for teaching us to just work harder and to never give up. What I remember most from seeing this speech on TV with Legendary Canadian broadcaster Johnny Esaw, was how much Espo was sweating. Sweat was literally pouring off of him. He definitely was really trying, there was no doubt about that. I tried to paint the magnitude of the moment, and I tried to capture the intensity and emotion of the Speech. I tried to portray the atmosphere of the few remaining fans in Vancouver at the Pacific Coliseum, who only stayed to yell their disappointment at Phil or anybody else wearing the Red \u0026amp; White Maple Leaf. I'm not the only Canadian kid from 1972 who became proud of their country for the first time because of this speech. I still get chills as I remember those times in our old house, with my family, with our country. I'm sure if you are of a certain vintage, you do as well. I tried to paint that memory that will be in my head forever, \u003cbr\u003eand I really tried to help you remember it too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44982419161277,"sku":"","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Espo_535d21fa-a5b8-46b7-b7d5-dd017e2ef3ad.jpg?v=1745592793"},{"product_id":"my-name-is-bobby","title":"My Name is Bobby","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoil on linen\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\" X 18\" (60 X 46 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003eBobby Orr has been my favourite hockey player all of my life, since before I went to school. In those days you would mostly learn about players in books and magazines and from The Hockey News. I also learned from \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e3 older brothers who were fans, and always had Hockey magazines around at the house. I used to cut them up and make scrapbooks of my favourite players, and still have some from 1975. Hockey cards were also one of the best ways to learn about the players, and I still have a lot of my cards from Elementary School, as I'm one of the lucky ones that had a Mom who never threw them out. From grade one, my first year buying and trading sports cards at Sherwood School with my friends, one of my earliest hockey card memories I have is being attached to the '72-'73 Bobby Orr card. I’ve had it now over 50 years. It used to travel with me everywhere. I can’t tell you how big Bobby Orr was to us kids in 1972 at the peak of his power. Everyone, and I mean everyone worshipped him. Girls and boys, young and old. I remember bringing that card to elementary school in my Jean jacket pocket to show it off. There were no plastic sleeves to protect them back then. We collected for the love of it. It was Bobby Orr. I would flash this card like a Wayne and Garth backstage pass to the older kids, and bam, instant respect. This was my first hockey painting in the \"Boyhood Legends\" collection. I have been dying to paint Bobby Orr for decades. I used to draw him a lot as a boy in the 70's. The reference image I chose was from Tony Triolo, at Madison Square Garden, 1967. It captures a 19 year old Orr on the cusp of becoming The Greatest all-around hockey player ever. I painted myself in the crowd as a boy because I know what young fans like myself would look like, we'd be staring in awe. If you are lucky enough to paint what you love, I hope I get to paint Mr. Orr 100 more times, in all phases of his career. Many fans still feel the need to debate on who the Greatest hockey player of All-Time is. \u003cbr\u003eFor me, Hockey is a two way sport. Five Bobby Orr’s on the ice against Five Wayne Gretzky’s?! \u003cbr\u003ePlease, it's Mr. Orr every time, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eand it ain’t even close. \u003cbr\u003e\"Cut out that Mr. Orr stuff, my name is Bobby.\"  \u003cbr\u003eWhich l also learned from a hockey card in grade one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984227135677,"sku":"","price":4000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Orr4.jpg?v=1745702250"},{"product_id":"the-tower-from-power","title":"The Tower from Power","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoil on gallery wrapped canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\" X 12\" (60 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eGrowing up in the 1970's as a basketball fan, Kareem was already a Legend to us kids, playing in his prime. No one could deny how he would dominate a game. In high school, while attending Power Memorial Academy, he led his team to three straight New York City championships, a 71–game winning streak, and a 79–2 overall record. Which is why he got \"The Tower from Power\" nickname. Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, perfected the sky hook, an offensive weapon that no one could stop during his reign. All of us on the Jr. high team would try and copy the sky hook, and of course none of us could. We did not have any basketball cards for sale on PEI in the 70's, at least I never saw any. It was later in the 80's when I first saw his rookie card, and instantly thought of it as a beautiful piece of Art. The 1969 \"Tall-Boy\" cards are not everybody's favourite, but I feel the size suits the most prolific offensive player in NBA history perfectly. His Legend is bigger than most, so it's only fitting his rookie card is as well. There aren’t many players that have had the impact on the game of basketball like Kareem. Not only was he a great basketball player, but he is still a prominent cultural figure for Humanity, and the African American community. The Harlem Globetrotters offered him $1 million to play for them, but he declined the big money and was picked first overall in the 1969 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were in only their second season of existence. He was the NBA Rookie Of The Year on this card, and then won the NBA Championship the next year, winning the Finals MVP and NBA MVP, and his Legend only grew taller from there for another 20 years. If I was to paint the most beautiful legendary basketball rookie card of my boyhood, or maybe any era, this is it. \u003cbr\u003eI just wish I could have painted him, even bigger.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44985908723901,"sku":"","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/LewA4.jpg?v=1745332018"},{"product_id":"the-game-changer","title":"The Game Changer","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e12\" X 10\" (30 X 25 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003eIf you were to look up \"Hockey Game Changer\" in an old school book of definitions, you would find an image of Stan Mikita. Mikita changed the game as much or more than anyone, and in my youth his stories were stuff of Legend, and still are. His first few years in the NHL Stan was known to be nasty, by his own admission. In his first year in the league at age 18, Mikita topped 100 penalty minutes, and did it again his second season. Quick to run his mouth, quicker to drop his gloves, he then hit 97 in year three. He had spent over five hours in the penalty box. A hefty chunk of those were misconducts. This reference image is from a black and white photo by Lee Balterman of that young fiery Mikita enjoying a smoke between periods, and it epitomizes that tough era of hockey in the early 60's. In 1965 his young daughter asked why daddy always sat by himself and never with his friends on the bench. Mikita felt terrible explaining it to her, and changed his game overnight. From that day forward he became the perfect role model on how to play the game hard, but clean. He then won consecutive Lady Byng awards for gentlemanly play, with back-to-back scoring titles and MVP honours. His peers noticed, and it changed the game. Mikita is widely credited with popularizing, if not outright inventing, the practice of curved blades. When his blade got caught in the bench door and bent like a banana, he noticed something extra on his shot. Before long, Mikita was borrowing the trainers’ propane gas torch and making blades that created slap-shots like no one had ever seen, until teammate Bobby Hull figured out how to use one. Thanks to Mikita, it changed the game. In a December 1967 game against Pittsburgh, an errant puck ripped off a chunk of Mikita's right ear. Doctors stitched the missing piece back on, so Mikita taped a steel athletic cup to the side of an earless helmet and played the next game. Thanks to Stan, a new generation of safety helmets began. A dozen years before the NHL began mandating protective headgear to new players—and much longer before calling it “concussion” instead of “he got his bell-rung”. Stan was among the first to start wearing the new style helmet full-time. His peers noticed, and it changed the game. If I'm painting a series on Boyhood Legends, this guy is absolutely one of the first to be chosen as a subject. It's hard to find a bigger game changer, or anyone more Legendary, than Stan Mikita.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44987299889341,"sku":"","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Mikita.jpg?v=1745334563"},{"product_id":"mr-november","title":"Mr. November","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil, mixed media on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 12\" (40 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eI do not have many \"modern\" baseball cards. The shiny multi-variant cards of today are  really not my thing. I appreciate them, I just relate more to the cards of my youth. By the late eighties I had stopped buying baseball cards all together. In the early nineties, by happenstance I remember picking up a few packs in Toronto on Queen St. West of fancy Upper Deck cards more to see what they were all about than anything. If I'm not mistaken I was shocked at the more than $20 price tag for a pack of baseball cards. I would have opened them and put them in a box with my other cards, and forgot about them. It wasn't until the pandemic when the sports card hobby was booming that I got word that Derek Jeter's '93 Upper Deck SP card was very sought after. This was also around the time when Jeter had been elected to the Hall of Fame. I looked for my box of cards from the 90's, and low and behold there I found the Upper Deck Jeter. Shortly thereafter a pristine example sale of this card set records and made headlines, and feeling all this Jeter momentum, I decided to paint it. It would be a challenging one with the shiny mixed media, but I was up for it. These cards are among the first of when baseball cards switched to being covered in foil and shine. This modern trend is now over 30 years old, and although they are not my favourite, and the Yankees are not my favourite team, I always had respect for their Captain. He played the game the right way. I may not have many shiny cards, and I may not have many shiny paintings, but I believe this iconic image of Mr. November is a fine exception to both.  \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44989594992829,"sku":"","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/jeter.jpg?v=1745429547"},{"product_id":"lenfant","title":"l'enfant","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoil on canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16\" X 12\" (40 X 30 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eGrowing up in the 70’s in Canada and also being a catcher myself, I can’t begin to tell you how big Gary Carter was to me. He was and still is the \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eGreatest catcher to ever play for a Canadian baseball team. The Kid was such a great role model, on and off the field. We were lucky enough to see him play on CBC all those years he played in Montreal. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHe had such unique style, that I and many other kids would try and emulate behind the plate. Remembering watching the Expos on TV with Dave Van Horne and Duke Snider on a warm summer Wednesday evening in the 70's with my family is up there among the fondest boyhood memories I have. My Mom loved Gary Carter too, and we bonded over that. I became emotional creating this painting, realizing that like my Mom, this boyhood idol of mine also left us way too young at just 57 years, which was my age while I was painting it. Let me just say this, there are not too many athletes that can make a grown man cry when they pass, but in 2012 Carter's passing did, and he did it again last year when I painted this. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44993930264765,"sku":"","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Kida.jpg?v=1745588187"},{"product_id":"king-rogie","title":"King Rogie","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on gallery canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\" X 18\" (61 X 46 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRogie Vachon was my favourite goalie when I was a kid, and I have wanted to paint him forever. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHe was just so photogenic in those far out LA Kings uni's. When we were kids, everybody knew and loved Rogie, and he was known by just one name. Arguably the best one on one goaltender of All-Time, especially in those days, Rogie never allowed a goal on a penalty shot in his entire career. In 1976 Vachon was the hottest goalie on the planet. Known for his great reflexes and quick glove hand, he started every game of the \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCanada Cup for Team Canada, which was the first true best-on-best world championship in hockey history. Rogie went 6-1 with 2 shoutouts. Bobby Orr was named the tournament MVP, but the MVP for Team Canada, was Rogie Vachon. Creating this painting brought me right back to when I was 9 years old, and watched every minute of the Canada Cup. \u003cbr\u003eThe Golden age of my childhood was also my Golden age of hockey, \u003cbr\u003ewhen Bobby Orr was on top of the world, and Rogie was King.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45013779185853,"sku":"","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Rogie10.jpg?v=1746196218"},{"product_id":"clark-kent","title":"Clark Kent","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on gallery canvas\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24\" X 18\" (61 X 46 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eTim Horton is world famous for his coffee shops and donuts. I'm sure almost everybody thinks of his coffee when they hear his name, unless you are of a certain vintage. When I was growing up, I had three older brothers and I would read their old hockey magazines, over and over. Every magazine, especially if it was from the 60's would feature Tim Horton. Before the Great Bobby Orr came along and literally changed how defensemen play the position, Tim was the NHL’s premier defenseman of the 1960s at the end of the original six era. Before the term \"stay at home defenceman\" was around, when a defenceman was simply called a defenceman, Tim personified the position. He anchored the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup championships in the 60's, including their last team to win the Cup in '67. What I remember most from reading all those magazines is how they all talked about how solid and how strong he was, and nobody would ever fight him because he was just too strong. Horton was widely considered one of the strongest, toughest players in the NHL. This earned him the nickname \"Superman\"\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e coined by legendary Toronto goaltender Johnny Bower, and because he wore black rimmed glasses away from the rink, his teammates called him \"Clark Kent.” \u003c\/span\u003eGordie Howe once said, \"When I look back at the toughest guys to play against, there were a few that really stand out for different reasons, but Tim Horton was really difficult to play against. He was, pound-for-pound, the strongest player I faced in my entire career.” I'm not old enough to remember seeing Tim play, but I am old enough to know how talented and respected he was as a player. When I think of Tim Horton I don't think of the coffee and donuts first. This is the first image I think of when I hear his name, because I grew up knowing him from this hockey card. I love the fact that some of today’s most sought after hockey cards are available only at his restaurants. But even more so, I love the fact that Tim Horton's has now become synonymous with hockey in Canada to a whole new generation,\u003cbr\u003ebecause Tim Horton the man, will always will be synonymous with hockey in Canada to us of a certain vintage, and so will Clark Kent.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45013991358653,"sku":"","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Hort4.jpg?v=1746204693"},{"product_id":"uncle-roberto","title":"Uncle Roberto","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on linen\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e36\" X 24\" (92 X 61 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"overflow-x-auto relative\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eI was not lucky enough to ever see Roberto play live or on TV. I've only ever watched clips and highlights of him, which I still like to watch and share every now and then to remind myself what a talent he was. However, he was one of the first ball players I ever read about as a kid on a school trip to our City library. It was a story in a magazine called \" Boy's Life\" which I loved reading on those school trips in the early 70's.  I remember reading about how he was building a youth sports centre in his native Puerto Rico, and that he said helping the kids was more important to him than playing baseball. I was a kid, and I thought that was pretty amazing. How kind is someone I thought, as a Major League All-Star who wants to help kids more than play ball? That day I learned what the word\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"x3jgonx\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \"\u003cem\u003ehumanitarian\u003c\/em\u003e\" meant. It was shortly thereafter that I heard about his tragic death when I talked to my older brother about him. He explained to me what a Hero Roberto was, not just in baseball, but in life. I had the smallest of connections to him compared to his lifelong fans, I know that. It would be a few years later in the late 70's I was at a friends house trading baseball and hockey cards, when he showed me a 1973 Roberto Clemente card. This was the first Clemente card I had ever seen, and I didn't know it was his last card at the time, but I knew I had to have it. It was from that card that I learned we shared the same last name, and maybe my connection with him was deeper than I thought. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003eI've called him Uncle Roberto ever since. I also have a brother named Robert, and I've called him Roberto ever since.  \u003c\/span\u003eSince then, it seems m\u003cspan\u003ey love and admiration for him has only continued to grow. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ePuerto Ricans, like many other Hispanic cultures, carry two surnames: the first inherited from the father and the second from the mother\u003cspan\u003e. Some say the saddest words of tongue or pen, are these four words, \"What might have been.\"  I think there may be some truth to that, because my entire time creating this painting of this Boyhood Legend, that's all I could think about. Roberto Clemente is still a hero to millions of us to this day, more than 50 years after his death, including The Godfather of the Sports Cards hobby Dr. James Beckett, and the first and current President of the Sports Card hobby The Honourable John Mangini. It was Clemente himself that said it best, \"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA nation without heroes is nothing,\" and I know there is some truth to that too, because Uncle Roberto also taught me that. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Lindsay Walker Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45068282036413,"sku":"","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/files\/Uncle_2.jpg?v=1748788200"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/7957\/collections\/PeteRose14copy.jpg?v=1744153234","url":"https:\/\/lindsaywalkerart.myshopify.com\/collections\/boyhood-legends.oembed","provider":"Lindsay Walker Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}