As an artist, Tom Mosser is always looking around for ideas. In the alleyway dumpster near his studio a discarded tire became a paintbrush to get tread marks on his canvas.
“That’s how I ended up painting with balls,” said Mosser, a Pittsburgh-based painter and muralist whose work appears in sports venues across the country. “If you look around and ask, ‘How can I make art in a different way that hasn’t been done before?,’ you start rolling tires or balls across a canvas and you’re creating art.”
“I don’t think anyone in the history of mankind has demonstrated painting with old basketballs,” said Mosser with a hint of sarcasm, acknowledging there’s no such thing as an original thought but that no other artists that he is aware are painting with tires, balls and shoe bottoms.
Many of Mosser’s clients are professional sports organizations. Using footballs to apply the paint, Mosser completed seven paintings for U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where Super Bowl LII was played in February. He also contributed 36 pieces to Prudential Arena, home of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, including a 200-foot-by-30-foot mural that is believed to be the largest interior mural in the world.
Inspired by an Andy Warhol quote, the theme of Mosser’s talk at A & I is “ideas,” in that everything that people do is an idea, whether that’s what to eat for breakfast, a shot selection in tennis or, in Mosser’s case, how to create art.
“Ideas and art are all around, you just have to look,” Mosser said. “The idea of looking around you and finding something completely fresh and new, if you do that, stuff happens.”
Mosser is no stranger to engaging audiences or the sports world. From 1990-97 he was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ mascot, the Pirate Parrot, before becoming a full-time, self-employed artist, commissioned for fine art as well as working with commercial clients.
In addition to his sports murals, some of his most successful commissions include “A Golden Retriever at the Museum,” a depiction of his dog, Lucas, staring at a still life painting of a tennis ball, a painting that Mosser said changed his life.
| Image Selection | "S" Logo, Vintage Lion Logo |
|---|---|
| Framing | Framed, Unframed |
| Size | 20 x 24 |
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“Late nights, early mornings for four years while attending Penn State, State College became my “second home”. Photographing my alma mater Penn State (’93 BS AgEcon) not only captures memories for myself but also provides a way to share the beauty of a campus and the town that shaped many of us. Throughout the growth and changes, the iconic sites can always rekindle a memory, a laugh and even a friendship. We Are…”
“Road to Victory” is available as 16 x 20 pallet made of reclaimed pine which shows the Lion Logo superimposed over a map of University Park and downtown State College. It comes ready to hang.
Because each one is made of reclaimed wood each piece is unique with signs of weathering.
Each diploma is professionally mounted and matted with the Honors Medal (mounted on suede below the diploma).Choose from a selection of black, walnut, or mahogany wood finishes and choose a horizontal or vertical layout for your honors medal diploma frame.
Another moment in Penn State football history, the October 22, 2016 match-up with Ohio State. Previously unbeaten, Ohio State sustained their first loss of the season when the Nittany Lions blocked a field goal attempt, recovered and scored. PSU beat the Buckeyes 24-21 in Beaver Stadium during the forever famous “WhiteOut” of 2016.
All unframed photographs are matted and shrink wrapped ready to give to any PSU fan. Framed pieces are mounted, double matted, glassed and framed in your choice of Black, Walnut or Mahogany wood finishes.
If this is a gift, we will gladly gift wrap it for you…no charge…no kidding.
Each print is signed by Tom Mosser, triple matted and framed in your choice of Black, Mahogany or Walnut wood moulding. Finished size is 17″ wide by 22″ high.
“Strolling up the mall to Pattee is one of my most favorite views. Photographing my alma mater Penn State (’93 BS AgEcon) not only captures memories for myself but also provides a way to share the beauty of a campus that shaped many of us. Throughout the growth and changes, the iconic sites can always rekindle a memory, a laugh and even a friendship. We Are…”
“Pubs of Happy Valley” by Brian McElevey will put a smile on any Penn Stater’s face. “Pubs” depicts all the bars and clubs of State College in a fun cartoonish style. This is the finishing touch for any “man-cave.”
“Pubs of Happy Valley is 18″ x 24” in size.
Unframed images are shrink wrapped for protection. Each framed image includes glass, and your choice of a black, mahogany, or walnut frame.
