It was while browsing the internet that I came across a story of the crazy things fans will do in order to meet a celebrity. The levels of craziness range from waiting days outside of a hotel, to swimming in an ocean just to catch a glimpse of one’s obsession. Apparently in order to meet Justin Beiber some girls hid in a dumpster. That seems mild in comparison to one fan who spent over $100,000 on surgery to look like the singer. Now I would never go to these lengths to meet someone but I can definitely relate to the excitement that one gets when a celebrity is spotted in public.
One summer I was attending a Cleveland Indians game with my family. It was during a lull in the game that I decided on taking a restroom break. While on my little trip I stopped by a food stand and began to debate if a hot dog was indeed worth a king’s ransom. It was at that moment I noticed someone decked head to toe in Tribe gear. The celebrity alarm went off, and I knew immediately who was standing a mere 10 feet away from me. It was Joe Haden, a cornerback from Florida who the Cleveland Browns had just drafted. Now for those of you who don’t know, Joe Haden is a perennial pro bowler who has made quite a successful career for himself in the NFL. So I did what anybody would do in that situation. I introduced myself and asked for a picture. Cliché I know, but Joe greeted me like we were high school buds, and instantly won himself a lifelong fan.
As a portrait artist from Cleveland, it has been a desire of mine for quite some time to paint a portrait of someone who has contributed to the community. For someone as passionate as Joe, it was a simple decision. Even though he was born in Maryland, and went to college in Florida, he has fully immersed himself in the Cleveland sports scene and culture. If you attend any sporting event in Cleveland, or hit up some of the restaurant hotspots, it’s a good chance that you may catch a glimpse of Joe decked in Ohio gear and happily taking pics with fans.
For this portrait I chose to highlight the moment that the Browns took Joe in the draft. I can imagine that for athletes all around, the draft is one of the biggest and most critical moments in their life. Everything that they worked toward in college is analyzed and the decision is made, will they make it in the pros? For many this is their big break. As an artist I can understand the work and effort that is put into something. People will glance and in a slight moment critique something that you have spent years developing. It is at that moment where you realize just how important it is to capitalize on any opportunity you are given.