John Tavares
This piece is a part of a set of three paintings featuring John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly. These were made using a hockey helmet, hockey sticks and pucks as a paintbrush. The imprints from gliding, rolling and tapping the hockey equipment against the canvas embody the active and fleeting movements that are in the game both mentally and physically.
The colored jersey highlights the team and all the emotions that bring a community together whether it be on or off the ice. The different poses for each painting reflect different celebratory moments that occur in hockey. In the John Tavares painting, he is seen holding a stick in the air. This is a reflection of the pose that is often seen as a way to acknowledge the fans in the crowd. For the Morgan Rielly painting, his pose reflects the moment heading into a celebration. A feeling that can be experienced both by players and fans. Finally, for the Mitch Marner painting, his pose reflects the celebration after a goal. A celebratory experience that can be felt by both players and fans. The added use of yellow paint to this painting was meant to further define the moment and location on the rink. The yellow paint was also used to reflect the iconic yellow kick plate found around the bottom of the board that protects and helps guides players on the rink.