GOAT by John Mark Gleadow

"G.O.A.T." by John Mark Gleadow

• Gallery Wrapped Giclee on Canvas - Ready to Hang
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Made in The USA

A note from the artist:
I researched this painting for about 6 or 7 years. It was a prominent theme for me to tackle, but in researching the piece, I always got hung up on a sport or two where the greatest of all time wasn't clear.

I loved sports growing up and was a baseball player throughout high school, along with running cross country. The athletes I grew up watching informed my decision of who to include, and I also considered their characters. Of course, stats were essential to my choices, as was public opinion. I considered including Pele but decided to do seven books instead of 8. 

Joe Montana was originally in the football book, but I sanded him off, and
I went with Tom Brady instead, as Brady's stats made him the obvious choice to me.

I strongly considered painting Tiger Woods again, but after thinking about controversies surrounding him and talking with golfers, I decided the Golden Bear would be my choice. Roger Federer was a more straightforward choice to me when I began the piece - since then, Nadal has surpassed him in some metrics. But I admire Federer for how he handled himself on and off the court.

I'm already considering a sequel painting. Lebron James, for example, is a great basketball player who is still on the court putting up numbers. Patrick Mahomes may be considered the greatest of all time. He'll need to stay healthy and win many more Super Bowls. So, the greatest of all time is an evolving list, but as for me, at the time of painting G.O.A.T., in my heart and my mind, these are the greatest of all time in their respective sports.