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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“BlueWhite in Black and White” is photographed by Jim Valent. This New image was captured by Jim Valent a PSU graduate in AgEcon who loves capturing images of his Alma Mater and surrounding area in its natural state.
“BlueWhite in Black and White” is available in the following sizes: 8×12, 11×17, 16×24 and 26×44.
Unframed images come in a white mat and are shrink wrapped for protection. The unframed 26×44 comes rolled in a tube. Each framed image includes double mats, glass, and your choice of black, mahogany, or walnut frame.
***Please Note: Although we try to keep the Plak Mounts in stock they do sell quickly. If we are out, it does take 4-6 weeks for us to replenish our supply.***
“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…”
Nittany Lion Mascot by Minimalist Artist S. Preston is a digital print enhanced on matte paper. All art posters measure 11×17 in size. Framing options are available in mahogany, walnut, or black.
About the print:
The Nittany Lion traces its origins to 1907 graduate Harrison D. “Joe” Mason. Before a baseball game against Princeton in 1904, Mason and other members of the University’s baseball team were shown a statue of Princeton’s Bengal tiger, which the Princeton students claimed was “the fiercest beast of them all.”
In recalling the moment four decades later at the Nittany Lion Shrine dedication, Mason said, “An idea came to me, and I replied, ‘Well, up at Penn State we have Mount Nittany right on our campus, where rules the Nittany Mountain Lion, who has never been beaten in a fair fight.’”
In the coming decades, the Nittany Lion evolved to become “the symbol of Penn State’s best,” appearing not only at athletic events, but at celebrations, fundraisers and outreach efforts on campus and in the local community. In June of 2019, Penn State’s Nittany Lion was officially inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame on June 16 in Whiting, Indiana.
The Nittany Lion was one of four mascots enshrined over the weekend, including Tommy Hawk from the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawk, Benny the Bull from the National Basketball Association’s Chicago Bulls and Sluggerrr from Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals. (Courtesy: Penn State News)
“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…”
Penn State Proud is 8” wide by 24” tall. There is no glass on these pieces, instead they have a textured crackle finish. The “O” has been replaced with the state of Pennsylvania and a heart denotes University Park. These pieces are ready to hang.
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Word Artist Dan Duffy brings a new twist on We Are. Both words and background are made up of words that include all the branch campuses, the different college, and iconic buildings on campus. Each print is 16 x 20 and only $49.95 unframed. Each print is hand signed by the artist on archival acid free paper.
The framed print measures 26 x 22 and is only $225. The print comes framed with a blue mat with a white v-groove and your choice of a mahogany, cherry, black or walnut frame.
This Penn State logo looks great on any bookshelf or table. The logo is hand-cut from solid white pine wood. The Nittany Lion symbol measures over 7″ long, 5 1/2″ high and 1 1/2″ wide.
Penn State Loyal is 8” wide by 24” tall. There is no glass on these pieces, instead they have a textured crackle finish. The “O” has been replaced with the state of Pennsylvania and a heart denotes University Park. These pieces are ready to hang.
Blocks aren’t just for kids… These hand cut, hand painted decorative PSU blocks are a great addition to any room. Stack them vertically or horizontally, either way they add a PSU touch to the room. *Please note blocks are only sold in sets of four.* Each block measures 3 ½” x 3 ½” x 3 ½”. The set of four measure 14” h or w x 3 ½” depending on how you stack them.
“PSU Stadium Seating ” is on a 16 x 20 pallet of reclaimed Pine. It shows the seating chart of Beaver Stadium as well as the Nittany Lion logo. It comes ready to hang. Because each one is made of reclaimed wood each piece is unique with signs of weathering.