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Hardcore Steeler fans know him as the longtime Steelers scout with the five Super Bowl rings or the former Courier sports writer, local promoter, collegiate basketball star. For certain, he was celebrated locally for many things, a jack of many trades. But when he constructed a bridge between the Steelers and the black colleges that produced such players as John Stallworth, Mel Blount and Donnie Shell, this Bill Nunn became notable simply in one respect: “Super Scout!”
This painting is traditional oils on Ampersand Gessobord Masonite. The finished size is 13″ x 16″. Here is day one. I went at this painting a little different. I laid in the darkest areas in first and left them dry.
This is day two. Here I have added in the base flesh tones on his face.
Day three. I finished detailing his face. I have added the base flesh tones on his hands and roughed in his 1979 Super Bowl ring.
Day four. I spent the entire day finishing his hands, ring and laid in the background color.
This is day five. I roughed in the base coat on his shirt.
Here is the final. I finished detailing the cloth detail on Bill’s shirt and finally signed it.
This is a photograph that my wife Leigh took of Bill Nunn, myself and Hall of Famer, Jack Butler. This was taken in Art Rooney, Jr’s owners box during a Steeler home game.
The main reason for doing this painting was to have a limited edition collector card made for Mr. Rooney. Here is that card that I designed.
Thanks for riding along everyone. There are many more of my works-in-progress to come. Go Steelers! Denny |
Posts Tagged ‘Steelers’
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Hardcore Steeler fans know him as the longtime Steelers scout with the five Super Bowl rings or the former Courier sports writer, local promoter, collegiate basketball star. For certain, he was celebrated locally for many things, a jack of many trades. But when he constructed a bridge between the Steelers and the black colleges that produced such players as John Stallworth, Mel Blount and Donnie Shell, this Bill Nunn became notable simply in one respect: “Super Scout!”
Funny thing is, he tried to hang up his binoculars almost 20 years ago. “I retired in 1987,” said Nunn, who the team lists in its scouting department as college personnel. “I think Dan Rooney, the only reason he keeps me around – I do some things – is because I’m the only one here older than him. Every year I tell him, ‘I’m going to quit coming in.’ And he says, ‘Nah, you’re not.’” Nunn, 81, then laughed at the irony. For he was telling this story from the Steelers’ South Side complex office he sort of shares with Doug Whaley, the team’s pro personnel coordinator, old enough to be his, uh, very young son. He was born and raised in Homewood, PA the son of the first black football player at Westinghouse High and later the longtime managing editor of the Courier, hence the reason why Louis, Owens, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine and a parade of politicians came by the house. He followed his father to Westinghouse, but the son’s sport was basketball. After playing at West Virginia State with Earl Lloyd, the first African-American to play in the NBA, he was offered tryouts with the New York Knicks and the Harlem Globetrotters, who were a bigger deal back then and didn’t pigeonhole blacks into a stereotyped role such as designated rebounder. But he wound up at the Courier, in the newspaper business, from where he rose to sports editor (promoting Indianapolis Clowns baseball visits to Forbes Field) and managing editor, before he was asked to join the Steelers’ staff part time in 1967. He then worked full time with his good friend, Art Rooney, Jr. under new coach Chuck Noll in 1969. Write-up courtesy of Pittsburgh Post Gazette. This painting is traditional oils on Ampersand Gessobord Masonite. The finished size is 13″ x 16″. Commission for Pittsburgh Steeler, Vice-president, Art Rooney, Jr. Original is sold. Art Rooney, Jr. and I want to thank Pittsburgh Post Gazette sportswriter, Ed Bouchette for supplying us the outstanding photographic reference of Bill taken by Peter Diana. |
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This is Pittsburgh Steeler All-Pro Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.
This painting is traditional oils on museum-grade Masonite. The finished size is 20″ x 16″. Here is version one. I laid down the base coat for his helmet shell. A lot more detail to come!
This is day two. After his helmet and cage dried, I was able to paint the melted snow droplets on the surfaces. I also roughed in Ben’s face and added the Duke Football.
Day three. Here I roughed in the upper part of his jersey, his long sleeved turtleneck shirt along with his leather gloves.
Day four. I spent the day roughing in the front of Ben’s jersey that is a nylon mesh. I also added the Pittsburgh Steeler and NFL Equipment patches to his jersey.
Day five. Today I added a lot of the creases and folds in his jersey. I also added the faint white dots which shows his white shoulder pads underneath. I painted in his number 7 to his jersey as well.
Day six. I spent the better part of this day painting in all the black mesh holes in Ben’s jersey front.
Day seven. Here, I laid in the background color.
This is the final version. As you can see from the detail, you can probably tell this took many hours to paint in all the flakes of snow.
Here are some close-ups of my final version to show all the detail.
Thanks for riding along. There are many more of my works in progress to come. Denny |
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Benjamin Todd “Ben” Roethlisberger (born March 2, 1982), nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round (11th overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio).
Roethlisberger earned the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004 and his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007. He became the youngest Super Bowl-winning quarterback in NFL history, helping lead the Steelers, in his second professional season, to a 21–10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at the age of 23. Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a second Super Bowl title in four seasons as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, 27–23, after completing a game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the final 35 seconds. Roethlisberger has been one of the most efficient passers in NFL history. He currently ranks 10th all-time in NFL passer rating (92.9), 5th in yards per attempt (8.06), and 11th in completion percentage (63.24%) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 1,500 career attempts. He has the fourth highest career winning percentage (.710) as a starter in the regular season among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 starts. Known for playing outside the quarterback pocket in what he calls “backyard football”, Roethlisberger also grew up idolizing Pittsburgh area native Joe Montana. Roethlisberger wears number 7 in John Elway’s honor. This painting is traditional oils on Ampersand Gessobord Masonite. The finished size is 20″ x 16″. Original is sold. Write-up courtesy of Wikipedia. |
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I wanted to post a photo of the framed piece of “:09 Seconds Remaining” that I did for Brett Keisel. What a great job my friend did on the framing! If you look closely, you will see that she mounted one of my brushes that I used to paint his portrait with. The brush has a splash of “Steeler Gold” on the tip. Brett loved it! On to Pittsburgh to deliver the painting to Brett and go to the Steelers/Titans game on October 9th.
In the owner’s booth with the Rooneys at the Steelers/Titans game on October 9th! Good times for all! Did I say, the Steelers won?
Steeler owner, Art Rooney, Jr and I discussing football at the Steeler/Titans game on October 9th. What an honor to sit in this great man’s presence! Mr. Rooney said it looks like we are getting ready to send in the next play!
Art Rooney, Jr. and I signing Brett Keisel prints. I donated one of these prints to the Steelers for their next upcoming charity event.
Denny |
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L.C. Greenwood shown next to my painting in this article about him being cheated from the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Twenty-nine years after retiring from professional football, L.C. Greenwood’s time in the spotlight is again coming around. The former Steelers defensive end turned 65 this month, and thousands of fans from his native Mississippi to Pittsburgh are mounting a campaign to get him elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Despite impressive statistics that include twice being named All-Pro and selected to six Pro Bowls as a member of the legendary Steel Curtain defense that helped the 1970s teams win six AFC Division Championships and four Super Bowls, Greenwood isn’t enshrined in Canton, Ohio, despite seven nominations since 1991. Though quarterback sacks were not yet an official statistic, Greenwood recorded 73.5 sacks during his 13-year career and recovered 14 fumbles. Knee injuries forced his retirement before the start of the 1982 season. "I don’t know what my career would have been without him," said former defensive tackle Joe Greene, inducted in 1987. "He should absolutely be in the Hall of Fame. Bottom line, he’s being cheated."… Read full article: Greene: L.C. Greenwood ‘being cheated’ out of Hall – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |
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Jack Butler is nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This career highlights video showcases my work!
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This is Pittsburgh Steeler Defensive End, Brett Keisel from Greybull, Wyoming. I posed him where he hunts, which is up on the famous Carter Mountain Range. This is located right above where we live in Cody, Wyoming. He and his father Lane, have hunted this area for many years. Matter of fact, this is the very area that I hunt as well. It’s absolute God’s Country with a view that is second to none!
Around Brett’s neck is a grizzly bear claw necklace along with turquoise and bone necklaces as well. He is holding an original “Lancaster” muzzleloader rifle that was made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It is almost 200 years old. This painting is traditional oils on museum-grade Masonite. The finished size is 18″ x 24″. Original has been sold. One little side note, if you look close, you will see a small pair of buffalo tracks after my signature. This is to commemorate Brett’s High School mascot and my company name. I want to thank Brett for allowing me to paint his image. Also, I want to thank my wife Leigh, for taking her valuable time to photograph all the work in progress images of this painting. Please check out the other portrait that I did of Brett as a Pittsburgh Steeler, titled “:09 Seconds Remaining.” Original has been sold. |
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This is Pittsburgh Steeler Defensive End, Brett Keisel from Greybull, Wyoming. I posed him where he hunts, up on the famous Carter Mountain Range. This is located right above where we live in Cody, Wyoming.
This painting is traditional oils on museum-grade Masonite. The finished size is 18″ x 24″. This is day one.
Day two.
Day three.
Day four.
Day five.
Day six.
Day seven.
Day eight.
Here is the final version of Brett’s portrait.
Here are four close-ups of my final version to show all the detail. One little side note, if you look at the last close-up, you will see a small pair of buffalo tracks after my signature. This is to commemorate Brett’s High School mascot and my company name.
I want to thank Brett for allowing me to paint his image. Also, I want to thank my wife Leigh, for taking her valuable time to photograph all the images of this painting. Thanks for riding along. Stay tuned, there are many more of my works in progress to come. Denny |
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Brett came to the ranch in Cody, Wyoming on July 3rd 2011 to see his painting that he commissioned me to do. I offered up my suggestion for the title of my latest piece. In my painting, he looks up at the scoreboard, giving me the title, “:09 Seconds Remaining.” He loved it! We also picked the proper framing which will feature one of the actual brushes that I used to paint the piece. It has a splash of gold paint on the tip. It will be mounted in a small opening in the matte.
Needless to say, Brett really liked the painting! (See below) It was all Brett’s idea for this photo! At first, I thought it was funny but after he left, the more I thought about it, I considered this one of the best compliments I could receive!
While Brett was here, he signed some special items for me and two special friends, Becky Jones and Scott Spillman of Tampa, FL. Scott and I were fellow artists at VF Imagewear. Scott and Becky were seated right behind the Steeler bench fall of 2010 when they defeated the Tampa Bay Bucs. This was the infamous game where Brett intercepted the ball and returned it for a 79 yard touchdown! Here is Becky. After the game was over, Brett turned around and threw his left glove to Becky. Now, wouldn’t you have thrown your glove to this young lady too?
The glove!
I brought “The Glove” back to Cody from Tampa with me because Brett offered to sign it for her. Along with his signature, he added “79 YRD TD.” What a prize!
Brett also signed Becky’s Steeler helmet. This is the same helmet that Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris signed the night the Steelers beat the Jets in the 2010 season playoffs.
Brett also signed my Keisel jersey! Along with his signature, he wrote “To Denny, A true artist! Thanks for the great work.” Brought a tear to my eye!
Brett even signed a few things for the neighbor kids! Leigh and I can’t begin to say what a gracious and kind guy he is! What a great afternoon! “GO STEELERS!!” Denny |
