JAMES BENNETT
James Bennett cites MAD Magazine as one of his greatest influences – specifically artists Mort Drucker and Jack Davis. “They were, and are, my heroes,” Bennett says.
At 12, James was reading the sports pages of The Philadelphia Inquirer and created drawings from the black and white photos of the previous night’s games. “From there, I taught myself how to paint in oils, so I could enjoy the colored uniforms,” he says.
One of Bennett’s early paintings came in 1993 when the Philadelphia Phillies were headed toward the World Series. He created a rendering of John Kruk “with his signature mullet and dirt-covered round belly.”
Fast forward several years and Bennett was painting live on ESPN for Opening Night at Wrigley Field. Kruk, then with ESPN, taped an interview with Bennett about the artist’s career, and James presented Kruk with a framed print of the Kruk work. ESPN then used the image of Kruk for the backdrop when he and Curt Schilling were on air during Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. “A Phillies fan’s dream,” says Bennett.
Bennett believes his unique style helps him stand out among a crowded field of artists. “When people commission my work, whether it’s a private collector or a professional organization, I think they’re looking for a different look or perspective of sports,” he says. “I try to give them a personal take on a legend that we’ve all seen the same photo of a million times.”