Happy Summer!

Pam & Robert

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Soon to be available the official 2013 College Baseball Hall of Fame limited edition prints.

Robert Hurst has been the Official Artist to the College Baseball Hall of Fame since 2006. Each year he paints the inductee’s official portraits then limited edition prints are made of the paintings. The inductees sign the prints, which are then offered for sale to the public. This is a fundraiser for the museum. For more details about the artwork, and to view and order go to the below page on Robert’s website:

http://www.adamnfineartist.com/college-baseball-hall-of-fame-2013-inductee-artwork-by-robert-hurst.html

Heisman Trophy Study III

If you’re a Heisman fan and/or collector – as I am – then check out my new Heisman Trophy Winners category. Here you will find my collection of artwork, both prints and paintings, featuring Heisman Trophy winners. I try to add one or two new paintings and/or prints featuring Heisman Trophy winners to the collection each year. When possible, I’ll get the artwork signed by the subject. Below is a listing of the prints I have available with a brief description and link to the artwork. Click the links go to my website for more information about each piece and to view and order from the Heisman Trophy Winners Collection.

Also, I have available a 24″ x 36″ Heisman Trophy painting autographed by 26 Heisman Trophy winners. (I have another painting with 40 or so autographs, but sorry folks hanging onto that one for my private collection.) For more information about the available painting and to view it go to my website. As always, if you have any questions just contact us.

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Robert Hurst has been the Official Artist to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame since 1997. Each year limited edition prints are made from paintings Robert creates to honor the Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductees. The paintings and prints are signed by the inductees and sold by Robert. This is a fund raising project for the museum. Additionally, each inductee is presented with a limited edition print or canvas giclee of the artwork by Robert at the annual Texas Sports Hall of Fame Banquet held at the museum in Waco, Texas. The public has an opportunity to purchase the artwork at the banquet and from Robert through his website or at one of his shows. This year the banquet will take place on February 18th. Below is more information about this year’s artwork and event

About the 2012 inductee artwork:

Paintings:

Original paintings of some of the 2012 inductees are still available. With the purchase of any of the official Texas Sports Hall of Fame paintings you will receive two tickets to the February 18th TSHOF banquet and reception in Waco, Texas. This is a great opportunity to attend this sold out event and mingle with 2012 inductees and many past inductees. The 2012 class includes New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, former Dallas Cowboys RB Walt Garrison, former Milwaukee Braves 3B Eddie Mathews, former Lubbock Monterey HS baseball coach Bobby Moegle, former San Antonio HS & NBA basketball champion Shaquille O’Neal, former UT softball pitcher Catherine “Cat” Osterman, and UT Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams

Go to our website to see the available 2012 Texas Sports Hall of Fame paintings or contact us

Note: A select number of autographed paintings of past year inductees are also available. Contact us for more information

Prints:

Pre-order the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Series 2012 Autographed Prints and receive a 15% discount for a limited time. Click on the links below for more information and to order

Drew Brees autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Brees
Walt Garrison autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Garrison
Eddie Mathews limited edition fine art print
Bobby Moegle autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Moegle
Shaquille O’Neal autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Shaq
Catherine “Cat” Osterman autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Osterman
Ricky Williams autographed limited edition fine art print signed by Williams

About the event:

The 2012 Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductees are scheduled to appear in Waco for the induction banquet on Monday, February 18, 2013 at 6:00PM.  There will be a reception at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame before the banquet from 4:00PM – 5:30PM. The banquet will be held at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center. Patrons will be limited to two autographed items per person at the museum reception from 4:00PM – 5:30PM. Backpacks and duffel bags will not be allowed. Parking will be limited, so please consider using the trolley shuttle from the Ferrell Center’s Lot C1 to the museum and back from 3:45PM – 6:15PM on the 18th. The museum is located at 1108 S. University Parks Dr. Waco, Texas  76706 just off I-35, exit 335b. For more information about the museum and/or event call the Texas Sports Hall of Fame at 800-567-956

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Go to Texas Sports Hall of Fame 2012 inductee artwork

http://youtu.be/z268ob7aFLM

Coach Royal’s career as the Longhorn football coach (1957–1976) is widely known. He was much beloved for both his contribution to the university and his charitable outreach.

I had the opportunity to visit Coach Royal at his house and to spend time with him on the golf course. During visits to Coach’s home I perused the personal photo albums his wife Edith put together chronicling Coach Royal’s amazing career. Here’s one of my favorite Coach Royal golf course quotes: In response to an errant tee shot that went deep into the woods. Coach Royal sidled up to the duffer and said, “You could wrap that ball in bacon and Lassie would never find it”.

Both Coach and his wife were active in the community. Edith is a big supporter of Austin Recovery and Coach Royal was a supporter and fan of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. The two limited edition prints I have of Coach benefit these organizations. A portion of the proceeds for the Darrell Royal – TSHOF limited edition print goes to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Austin Recovery benefits from the Darrell Royal Stampede limited edition print.

Darrell Royal Stampede limited edition print

Darrell Royal - TSHOF limited edition print

Slater Martin was not as widely known as Coach Royal, but his mark at UT is secure. Texas retired his jersey number 15 on January 31, 2009. Martin became only the second Longhorn basketball player to receive this honor. He was a 5 time NBA World Champ and is the only UT basketball player in the NBA Hall of Fame.

I met Slater a few years back. During my brief visits to Houston we would meet for dinner and indulge in steak and stories. As the years went on, word got out about our dinners and the gathering grew. Slater developed quite the entourage. This is one of my favorite stories that came out of those evenings: “We were not having a good year and this game was getting pretty lopsided… and NOT to our advantage. The fans started clearing out. The owner of the team came up to me (I had a well deserved reputation for being scrappy) and said, “Slater, I noticed you’ve been admiring my alligator shoes. Well I don’t make money when the fans are not in their seats and if you can do something to bring them back I’ll give YOU a pair of alligator shoes.” I said okay and made my way to the biggest guy on the opposing team. He was so tall I had to jump up to hit him in the stomach. That started a melee, which cleared the benches. The fans came rushing back in to participate in the brawl. It went on for a while before calm was restored. The fans, however, were not going anywhere after that. When we got back home I had TWO pair of alligator shoes waiting for me.”

On August 4^th of this year the Texas Sports Hall of Fame re-honored Slater Martin and Nolan Ryan as past inductees. I was out of the state and not able to attend the event to my great regret. However, everyone I spoke to later said Slater stole the show. I believe this was his final public appearance. It was great to see Slater receive recognition in his later years.

The UT All American Point Guard Trio painting and prints I created is the reason I met Slater. A UT collector suggested the idea. I did the painting showed it to Slater and we became friends. Sometimes I really love my job.

I am honored and inspired by both these men and will miss them. RIP Coach Royal and Slater Martin.

UT All American Point Guard Trio autographed fine art print

Pura Vida by Jim Utsler

Find the Pura Vida e-book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks, or go to Jim’s website jimutsler.com to order the hard copy.

Hurst was severely visually impaired until the 5th grade. He used to take small photographs of his friends, and by peering at them closely, transfer them into large drawings so he would know what his friends looked like. Hurst’s family moved from south Houston to Spring, Texas in 1970 where, for the first time, Hurst had his vision corrected. While in high school Hurst helped run a small gallery/frame shop in the now flourishing “Old Town Spring”. Upon the recommendation of his high school art teachers, Hurst was recruited to paint reverse-cells of new homes for Pen and Quill, a small architectural firm with cutting edge ideas.

From the beginning of his career Hurst has followed “the path less taken”. He continues to be independent and to forge his own unique path. Patrons offered twice, first when he was 19 and second when he was 21 to support him while he “just paints”. Hurst declined because that isn’t his way. Out-of-the-box is an apt description for how Hurst approaches situations. Often underestimated by other fine artists during his early years – mostly because of the subject matter of this art – Hurst now has the respect and admiration of the fine art community, along with patrons, who recognized his skills and talents first. A former athlete, country boy, and lifelong music-lover, Hurst has never had a problem with his subject matter as he paints what he loves.

As an artist, native Texan, and former athlete, he considers being the Official artist for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (16 years and still going) and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame (3 years) to be pretty special. Many artists have tried to take these honors away from Hurst, but to no avail, as he held in high esteem by his art/business associates.

Although Hurst does not enter art competitions he does recognize the need for them and is the Chairman for the Rodeo Austin Competitive Arts Committee. The art competitions Hurst has participated in are ones whereby others, such as teachers, gallery owners, and patrons, have entered on his behalf.

Robert attended Stephen F. Austin University, as a medical illustration major, and the Art Institute of Houston in 1983.

Hurst is dedicated to encouraging young, aspiring artists and enjoys opening them up to the possibilities of “actually making a living” as an artist. He speaks to several high school arts programs around state throughout the year, and has tutored several aspiring, and subsequently, successful artists. Hurst likes to give back and has raised approximately $150,000.00 over the past 3 years for various charities in Texas through donations and commissioned artwork.

No one paints like Hurst, or has forged the career path he has. Both he and his work have a unique style, technique, and color sense.

AFFILIATIONS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

Official Artist Texas Sports Hall of Fame 1997 – Present

Official Artist National College Baseball Hall of Fame 2006 – Present

Official Artist Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame 2010 – Present

Rodeo Austin (AKA Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo)

Official Artist 2001 – 2010

Chairman Competitive Arts Committee 2011- current

Judge for Competitive Arts 2007-2010

Hall of Fame Players Association, Houston, Texas  2002 – 2007  Affiliated Artist

College Football Hall of Fame, South Bend, Indiana  2003 – 2004  Authorized Artist

First artist invited into “The Gallery at the Ballpark” Arlington, Texas 1994

Serie X (Serie Print Project), Serie Project, Inc., sponsored by the City of Austin and the Texas Commission on the Arts, Austin, Texas, 2003

Best of Show Beckett Sports Art Gallery, Beckett Publications, Inc., 1998

First Place Beckett Sports Art Gallery, Beckett Publications, Inc., 1997

First Place Beckett Sports Art Gallery, Beckett Publications, Inc., 1996

Finalist Beckett Sports Art Gallery, Beckett Publications, Inc., 1993

SELECTED COMMISSIONS AND COLLECTIONS

University of Texas, Austin, Texas Portraits of various University of Texas coaches and athletic Director DeLoss Dodds for permanent display at the university

Dallas Cowboys, Dallas, Texas Portrait of owner Jerry Jones for permanent display at their stadium

Dennis and Kimberly Quaid, California  Portrait of Hollywood couple, 2006

National College Baseball Hall of Fame Portraits of inductees from 2006 to Present

Rodeo Austin Original paintings of poster artwork from 2001 to 2010 for permanent display at their corporate offices

Houston Dynamos, Houston, Texas Commissioned artwork of three players for permanent display at their corporate offices

Beyond Meetings & Incentives, Carlsbad, California  Commissioned paintings of noted professional baseball player Jimmy Wynn for Urban League’s Celebrity Golf Tournament, 2005 and 2006

Fergie Jenkins Foundation, Inc. Thorold, ON, CAN

Painting for a limited edition print of Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams autographed by Jenkins, Banks and Williams, “Cubs Trio”, 2005: Painting for a limited edition print of Fergie Jenkins, Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry autographed by Jenkins, Ryan and Perry, “Rangers HOF Pitchers”, 2004

Round Rock Express: Triple A Baseball Organization, Round Rock, Texas   Commemorative ticket artwork titled “Opening Day” 2003

Baltimore Orioles  Multi-canvas artwork for the reception area at Camden Yards, “History of Baltimore Orioles” 2000

Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, Houston, Texas

Portraits of President George W. Bush and Texas Governor Rick Perry for presentations to Bush and Perry, 2003: Portrait of former Texas Governor George W. Bush for presentation to Bush, 1995: Portrait of MLB player Juan Gonzales for presentation to Gonzales, 1994

The Sports Legacy Art Gallery at the Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas Painting for autographed giclee of Dallas Cowboy Dat Nyguen, “An Evening with Dat”, 2002

New Orleans Saints Artwork of former New Orleans Saints Ricky Williams used for promotion, including, but not limited to, billboards, print advertising and programs, Fall – Winter 1999 – 2000

Louisiana Special Olympics, New Orleans Commemorative autographed poster art featuring four Saints Hall of Fame Players 1998

Children’s Hospital and Kids Classic Charity, Austin, Texas Poster art, “Tom Kite at River Place” 1996

Tri-Star Productions, Houston, Texas Painting of Joe Namath for a limited edition print autographed by Namath, “The Guarantee” 1994

Over a hundred professional athletes own and/or have been presented with artwork by Hurst over his career

MEDIA

Fox Austin TV Interview February 2012: “Mack Brown Featured in Robert Hurst Painting”

KEYE TV We Are Austin TV Interview March 2011: “Texas songwriter artwork by Robert Hurst”

Texas Country Reporter TV Interview January 2011: “Meet a painter whose heavy hitting sports art is a hit with fans. Robert Hurst, On display at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame 1108 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX”, Show #1220, Air date Weekend of January 15th 2011

2003 – 2010 Select TV Interviews and Articles: Go to this link for more information and to view articles http://www.adamnfineartist.com/articles2.html

GALLERIES

Robert Hurst’s works have been featured and can be found in noted galleries in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Arlington, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Austin

REFERENCES