By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

This year’s Art Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly is at the printer, but we got a different kind of delivery on Thursday that we wanted to share with readers and collectors alike.

We got our first looks at Chris Speakman‘s step-by-step screen printing of his Mike Trout piece that will appear on the cover.

While every copy of the June 2013 issue of the magazine will roll off the printing press in the traditional offset printing manner — four plates per spread of cyan, magenta, yellow and black just like printing plates for sports cards — the screen prints are different. Each and every print is hand-done for every color and each shade — one at a time as it is applied to every one of the 250 prints.

See the result of each plate and more about the final piece … after the jump.

Above is the finished piece, which is an MLB-approved print in his style known over at ThatsMyTicket.com. It is limited to just 250 hand-signed and serial-numbered 17- by 21-inch pieces signed by Speakman and are just $64.90 — or $114.90 framed. They can be purchased here.

A smaller quantity of different — and much, much rarer — proof prints will be available through Beckett Media at the National Sports Collectors Convention later this year.

Below is a step by step look at the process as each of the colors are added.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

If you’ve collected the last few years, you may have seen the work of California-based artist Dave Hobrecht in packs of cards such as National Chicle or his work on sketch cards.

Or, you might have seen his striking black-and-white pastel-and-charcoal pieces – but you haven’t seen his latest.

It’s game-used art.

What? It’s game-used – as in artwork with actual game-used dirt from MLB stadiums ground and mixed into his charcoal and pastel pieces – a sort of sepia-toned version of his previous pieces with a bit more to them.

We caught up with Hobrecht for this Q&A about his newest creations …

Q: How did this idea come about?
A: I wanted to think of something that used my art but also combined my love for baseball cards. I always dug the game-used part of the business. Having something from a stadium or a player brings you back to that moment, the memory of our past trip. My past visits to Wrigley Field and AT&T Park are etched in my mind.
With game-used items like jerseys, bats, etc., getting into the mix at Topps over the past years, it led me to this idea. It’s a perfect fit for me. I already paint in dust, charcoal and pastel, so using the infield dirt was a no-brainer.

Q: Does it make the piece harder or longer to do?
A: It actually does, although I like working with it. Prepping the dirt is the first step. Then painting with it is the next challenge. I dry apply it with brushes. I didn’t want to lose the look and feel. The cool thing about my originals is that you can still touch and feel the dirt. If it was mixed with regular paint, you would lose that feel and texture so I was the right guy to use it.

Q: Do you have to grind down the dirt? Most MLB dirt pellets I have seen are almost like small rocks.
A: Yes, you are right. It does come to me as pellets. I take it in that form and use a simple pestle and mortar set. I grind it up to get the dirt into a more dusty feel. Once I have it the way I want, I dip my brushes and off I go! I don’t add anything to make it get to that consistency. I just grind it down.

Q: Did you do any collaboration with MLB on this one — or obtain the dirt from them?
A: I did pre-buy all 30 stadiums’ dirt. All my dirt is authenticated and has the hologram.

Q: How many pieces have you done in this style so far?
A: We just started painting on Opening Day. I will be painting 25 per month. Right now, I am at eight pieces completely finished with the rest in the works.

For more information about the artwork and lithograph options, visit Hobrecht.com.

Look for more on sports artwork like this in the upcoming Art Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

 By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

From vintage sets to today’s sketch cards and countless collectable lithograph options, art is everywhere in the collectibles world.

In a future issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly, we’re going to explore memorable artwork, sets (1953 Topps, anyone?) and artists who we think define the times — both the past and present.

And here’s where we want your help.

If you’re a sports artist, we want to hear from you — whether you paint, do sketch cards, comics, lithos, sculpt or do other types of work. (If you don’t do sports, but are in the non-sports card field, drop us a line, too.) Or, if you’re not an artist — but you collect certain artists’ works — tell us about them.

We hope to profile a few of you in the issue — and we have some other surprises in store as well.

In a comment below, tell us your (or their):

– Name, link to website or  portfolio along with a Twitter handle and/or email.

– and some of your past credits.

– and some of your specialties (media, sports, topics, etc.).

– and some of your influences.

We’ll use this as a launching pad for some of the issue’s inclusions — and a teaser of sorts for some of the surprises we hope to have in store for the issue.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor

A new lithograph by artist Ron Lewis celebrates the place that Jewish players hold in MLB history.

The 24×36 piece showcases the 26 living Jewish players as well as the late Hank Greenberg along with 10 spectators who are notable contributors of the game — from Sandy Koufax to Ryan Braun and from Marvin Miller to Bud Selig. 

There will be five editions of the work, which will begin shipping on Nov. 7, and can be found via Art O Graphs Limited of Buffalo Grove, Ill., at JewishBaseballPlayer.com. Each version will be autographed with differing features.

Some of the players include Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, Al Rosen, Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler, Kevin Youkilis and Adam Greenberg — shown as a Cub, not a Marlin — while spectators include commissioner Bud Selig, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, Theo Epstein, 61* creator Billy Crystal and Larry King.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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The five versions of the lithograph, each limited to 100, are:

– The Rookie of the Year edition. This version is $6,500 for standard copies and $8,000 for seven selected “gold issue” numbers.

Licensed by MLB as well as the MLB Players Association and signed by the artist, the prints will be sold starting with the lower-numbered prints for each edition. A DVD chronicling the making of the project and a booklet about the work will be included with every piece. Each item also will be authenticated by MLB. Meanwhile, a portion of the proceeds from each will go to a charity of each player’s choice.

For more information, visit the JewishBaseballPlayer.com site.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Beckett Baseball’s Chris Olds talks to Cal Ripken Collector Ed Sawyer about his latest Ripken buy during this year’s National Sports Collectors Convention — something you likely saw on the cover of a recent Beckett magazine.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

While Junior Seau became a star on the gridiron and entertained countless fans, he also was known for his charitable efforts that helped kids go to college and perhaps inspired a new generation of superstars both on and off the football field.

But for all that success, that prowess, as a larger-than-life figure, Seau also is serving to inspire someone else who was quite close to him — particularly now in the wake of his untimely death last month at age 43.

In the past, Junior Seau inspired and encouraged his big brother, Savai’i, to pursue his dreams of being an artist — and an ongoing project they started months ago that was meant to culminate with Junior’s likely induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a few years has taken on a somber turn.

In an exclusive interview with Beckett Media Contributing Editor Susan Lulgjuraj, Savai’i Seau discussed The Junior Seau Print Collection, his brother’s wishes for his work and more. Here’s an excerpt of the story that will be found in the August issues of both Beckett Football and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines arriving in hobby shops and bookstores soon.

Savai'i Seau shows a painting of his younger brother as a member of the USC Trojans. He gave Junior the painting after he was drafted fifth-overall by the San Diego Chargers in 1990.

The Plan
This wasn’t the first project the brothers worked on together. Savai’i drew murals on the wall of Junior’s restaurant and created logos for his brother’s clothing line. This was just the next way to help each other.

“You just can’t take life for granted,” Savai’i Seau said. “We all have moments, but that has changed because of what had happened. There is a message and the message is don’t keep everything in. That helps when I talk to people. Now, when I do say it, it comes from the heart. Don’t take life for granted.”

Savai’i decided to move forward with the project because Junior has always inspired him and supported his artwork.

“He was always saying ‘You can do it,’” Savai’i said. “We had some good things planned. Unfortunately, with what happened it’s not the way it’s planned. I know with him upstairs looking down, I know he is happy. It was a dream I always had and a dream he always supported.”

Family friend Scott Turesky, who is helping with the business-side of the project, also knows this to be true. More than a year ago, the three men were at Seau’s The Restaurant  in Mission Valley, Calif. There, Junior was signing several of the lithographs.

Savai’i had left the table leaving Turesky and Junior alone. Junior paused from his work and looked at Turesky.

“Of all the things I have ever signed,”  Junior said, “this is the most important to me.”

If the importance of the lithographs wasn’t understood before, Turesky knew then just how much this project meant to the brothers.

“He had tears in his eyes when he said it,” Turesky said. “I got goose bumps. You could see the love he had for his brother.”

The first edition lithographs are currently available online at bug55.coinpalace.com, while future editions of lithographs featuring Junior in other uniforms from his football career will be available in much larger quantities. Those will not be signed by Junior and instead will have facsimile signatures.

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The Healing Process
Savai’i paints as a way to connect to the younger brother he lost, the man family members affectionately called “June Bug” growing up. Savai’i paints to remember all that was great about his brother.

His personality. His generosity. His smile.

… Drawing and football were part of both of their lives for a long time, despite Junior being good at only one of these. They would paint murals on the garage walls in their home in Oceanside, Calif., and Junior wanted to help, so, of course, Savai’i would let him.

“Draw this straight line here,” he’d tell his younger brother after drawing dots on the wall for him to connect.

Yep, that was Junior’s contribution. But it was fun and the two loved it. Savai’i and his brother would sketch together – although Junior was more into paint-by-number pieces — run around the neighborhood, play football and watch their favorite sport, basketball.

As they got older, Junior encouraged his brother to follow his dream of being an artist. Savai’i tried at different times. He had his first piece showcased in 1992. He also had his art displayed in two different galleries.

But he’s had to put that part of his life on hold at different times because of family. Savai’i has two sons, and being an artist is a difficult way to make money. Savai’i is a physical education teacher and spends time with his children, leaving little time to create.

Now, though, his creative spirit has returned.

“We said, ‘Let’s see what we can do with this,’” Savai’i said. “This is what I want to do and Junior said no problem. He wanted me to be an artist. He said do your thing, it will work out, it will play out.”

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Read the full story in the August issues of Beckett Football and Beckett Sports Card Monthly coming soon.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Join Beckett Media’s Chris Olds and Andrew Tolentino as they get the first look at the artwork you will find on the cover of Beckett Sports Card Monthly‘s Art Issue when it arrives in hobby shops later this month.

By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor

This year’s installment of The Art Issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly is nearly upon us and we want to know who you like.

You know, as in artists.

Odds are you have a favorite player — that’s easy — but do any past art-focused card sets stand out to you? Do you have a favorite sketch card artist? How about any paintings or other pieces in the sports world?

Tell us all about them in the comments below. We’ll run a selection of the best answers in the upcoming issue.

We’ll have several interesting stories about artists with sports ties included in the issue — and a few surprises in store similar to last year’s cover art by the famed Dick Perez. (Find the back issue here.) But first things first … we want to know who you like.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazine. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.

Join Beckett Baseball‘s Chris Olds and Brian Fleischer as they rip into a pair of 2011 World Stars boxes from Brothers Inc. in Japan in this latest edition of Box Busters.

What will they find inside? Watch and find out. Each box should contain one autographed baseball … maybe more.

Want to see more artballs — and get the lowdown on how to order them if you’re not in Japan? It’s after the jump.

If your Japanese is good, you can order them by clicking here. If you’re like most of us and can’t, then you can click here for their international form or contact Brothers Inc. directly via email at brothers@bd.wakwak.com.

The boxes cost $119.99 apiece (price includes express shipping from Japan) with 12-box cases also available — only 720 total boxes were made.

An autographed baseball is found in every box and artballs are found one in every 12. Some of the artball subjects and signers include:  Sadaharu Oh, Hideki Matsui, Stan Musial, Cal Ripken, Hank Aaron, Mike Tyson, Hulk Hogan, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Scottie Pippen. All autographs are certified by TRISTAR, Mounted Memories, PSA or JSA.

Because of its limited nature, many of the artballs are produced in limited quantities — most are 1/1s with some as plentiful as three. Sadaharu Oh is the most plentiful with six.  (See a list of who’s in this one by clicking here.)

– Chris Olds

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Contributing Editor

When it comes to high-ticket items, collectors aren’t settling for trading cards or autographed memorabilia anymore. Paintings – better known as sports art – is becoming a popular collectible.

Several artists displayed their work at the National Sports Collectors Convention, all with unique, distinctive styles.

The process to get the paintings into the hands of collectors could be time consuming. It seems most of the artists create a large painting first, bigger than a normal canvas size. Then use a digital scan and put that on a canvas. Afterward, they add detail with paint to create unique portraits and are able to create several paintings – sometimes in the hundreds.

Of course, these paintings come with a hefty price tag – especially if the subject has signed the artwork.

One of the coolest things about the paintings is that you can walk from one booth to the next and find the same person depicted in different ways. All of the artists at The National had Derek Jeter portraits and yet captured him differently.

At least one painting should appeal to any fan.

One of the greatest things is also seeing the artists at work. When they aren’t dealing with customers, the artists to the spare time to create.

One of the most notable artists on the floor was Justyn Farano, whose style isn’t just about the subject. The background is as important to him as is the foreground. These paintings look more like posters with the splashy backgrounds. In addition, he seems to capture the essence of the player or the team within the portrait.

William Lopa’s paintings are most distinctive. He doesn’t use every color on the palate. His paintings have more blue in them most other colors, which help the subject pop out when he paints them greens, red and yellows.

Stephen Holland’s paintings have been well known throughout the years. He started painting Muhammad Ali during his prime, moved on to Sandy Koufax and then Wayne Gretzky. Since then, he’s painted hundreds of subjects.

Art as a collectible seems to be one of the fastest growing areas in the market. The National is just one of the areas where collectors could get a glimpse of sports art.

Susan Lulgjuraj is a contributing editor for Beckett Media. You can email Susan here. Follow her on Twitter here.