2012 Wallpaper - Bayou Blue - Sugar Bowl
If you read only one wallpaper explanation this year I hope it's this one because this time I have an offering AND a request.
The Offering
In between family events and having my throwing motion critiqued by Al Borges at Chuck E. Cheese's, I scraped together a little time during our Christmas visit to Ann Arbor to create this Sugar Bowl wallpaper. I've never been to Louisiana but I have been on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride at Disneyland more than once so I know a little something about how a sleepy, firefly-occupied swamp is supposed to look. One of my girls is Princess Tiana-crazed at the moment so I was also inspired by the bayou color palette from Disney's 'The Princess and the Frog'. Conveniently, it turns out that nighttime ambiance in the Louisiana swampland adheres strictly to the athletic department's brand guidelines - even the fireflies know that the split Block M is no longer welcome in these parts.
The images below are previews only. You can get the widescreen, 4:3, iPad and mobile wallpapers at The Art. The Art. The Art!.
The Request
I have received kind comments, emails and tweets from many of you over the last two seasons. I create Michigan football-inspired artwork to satisfy a personal creative need and as a way to participate in the fan community so your enjoyment of my work is very gratifying. Some of you have asked if you can donate money to say thanks or pay royalties for hanging prints of my artwork on your walls. Beyond getting me into trouble (again) with the University's legal representation, money exchanging hands doesn't feel right given the spirit of my work.
So, if you're looking for a tangible way to tell me "thanks" I have a non-monetary idea that could be really fun. For the last decade I've coached local youth flag football, and for the last 5 years my family and I have coached and supported the teams at Sunshine Acres Children's Home in Mesa, Arizona. Sunshine Acres takes in children whose parents cannot or will not care for them. I think this year's flag football team will be covered on the budget front so I have an idea that I think will have a way bigger impact on our kids than your dollars anyway.
Here's how you can help:
1. Become a virtual fan by liking the Acres Football Facebook page. The page is pretty sparse at the moment but will be updated as the season goes on. Our first game is Saturday, January 14.
2. Check the Facebook page during the season for game recaps and to post an encouraging comment or two for our players. I'd love to have a few fun comments from out-of-town fans to share with the kids each week.
During most seasons we only have a fraction of the fans that our opponents bring to the field, so we invite our friends and families to act as partisan seat fillers. Fans have a noticeable positive impact on our kids' energy and excitement and it would be pretty cool to be able to tell our players that they have fans all over the country following them on Facebook. Last season was the first where we had enough people for a postgame arm tunnel and, after several seasons of going "feated" (the exact opposite of undefeated) both of our teams made their respective Super Bowls with our 6-8 year old team winning the big trophy for the first time. You can see that championship squad in the image above (yes, I am just as crazy about my Acres football team as I am about Michigan).
The teams we play against are made up of kids who (for the most part) are playing with the specific goal of developing into better football players. While we usually have a few players with strong athletic ability, many of them are raw first-time players without much experience and all of them have burdens much heavier than any child should carry. The chips, as they say, are stacked in an orientation not to our favor, but our players fight on and learn great things about themselves in the process.
Go Acres! Go Blue!
December 28th, 2011 at 10:17 AM ^
You sir... are amazing.
December 28th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
out of the park again!
And done,I will make sure my wife and son like the page also.
December 28th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
Where amazing happens...
December 28th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Subtle and classy while perfectly appropriate, as 2011 has indeed been a shining beacon for the faithful Michigan football fans.
Thanks again for your contributions.
December 28th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
and man, does it look good. I showed my wife and her jaw literally dropped.
After the request you've made, I think it's especially appropriate that the name of your website has the word "heart" built right in. Keep up the great work -- in art and in life.
December 28th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
To a great new year for you and yours.
December 28th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Michigan Man.
December 28th, 2011 at 12:40 PM ^
Well-done, sir!
December 28th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
You do wonderful work.
December 28th, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
I love mythical stuff.... this looks great!
December 28th, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
and even more impressive that you take the time to coach those kids.
I'm sure that your work with them will positively impact their lives for many years to come.
December 28th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
just fantastic. subtle and beautiful. always love looking back through your work
December 28th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
you simply rock.
December 28th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^
I will follow your team closely. Go Bears!
December 28th, 2011 at 4:14 PM ^
Not sure if serious, but go on, I really wanna hear your cool story, bro.
And awesome work, btw. You never cease to amaze me.
December 28th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^
Truly inspiring, monuMental. Thanks so much for the great work. Go Bears and Go Blue.
December 28th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^
Great wallpaper and great service you do for those kids. The facebook page has been liked! I look forward to reading updates on the Bears in addition to the Wolverines now!
December 28th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
You should be very proud of yourself. Reading this and the Ricky Powers' piece today has filled me with hope. Michigan men and women everywhere.
Congrats, another new Acres fan here.
December 28th, 2011 at 9:07 PM ^
Very cool: The art work and the Kid work! Thanks! Likin' that page.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who became Acres Football fans on facebook yesterday. We gained 70 new fans in one day. We had people all over the country (and in Canada) "like" our page. Our kids will really enjoy this. Happy New Year and enjoy the Sugar Bowl!
December 30th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^
I have the ability to get an NFL player on-board with your program. I will send an email to Brian asking him to provide my email address to you (I'd prefer not to post my email address here for obvious reasons). Hopefully we can connect and I'll let you know my thoughts.
February 28th, 2012 at 4:52 AM ^
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