The Making of Wall Ball-Traditional

I still do wall-ball multiple times a week, or almost everyday for at least 10 minutes. Growing up in NYC it was the ONLY way to learn and get better because nobody else played (more like, I didn’t know anybody else who did). Aside from watching the ball into my stick, I was also watching the wall in front of me. All these times, I still look at the wall the same way, as if it’s telling me something: you can always be better.

The same goes for my lacrosse art. Never settle, because it can always be better. I had this idea for quite some time now, and finally executed it. Instead of an action, or an image involving the process of doing wall ball, I wanted to portray a subtle message. The idea of a classic, Native-American stick to be the focus, or highlight, came to mind.

After some stages, I decided to have it leaning on a brick wall. However, to not crowd the composition of the piece the technique of scattered, faint, finished and unfinished bricks was decided. To make it less uniform, the different shades, hues and values for each brick were made.

To put the focus back on the Native-American lacrosse stick, the tedious, yet careful application of highlights to bring out the leathers was done. A traditional, deer-skin ball was made to make it authentic. I don’t know how much of bounce one would get from a brick wall with that ball.

All in all, I was very proud of how the piece finished up – exactly as I imagined. To close this article, I wrote in the product description on the website about this piece:

“Wall Ball is a must in this sport, so is the respect to the traditional roots and ways of lacrosse. This piece honors those traditions that complete the player in us.”