Oil on Canvas, 24” x 36”

This commissioned painting was created to celebrate a husband’s 50th birthday, honoring one of the most iconic moments in NFL history — “The Catch.” It captures the game-winning play in the 1981 NFC Championship between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.

The commission came from a couple I met years ago when I lived in Arizona and regularly hung my paintings at a wine bar called D’vine. They were both regulars there, and when his wife reached out to me after six years of living in New York, I was touched. It’s always meaningful when people from my past return to commission a painting.

What I love most about this piece is the balance between realism and painterly texture. The uniforms, helmet shine, and body proportions are true to life, yet the softer brushwork in the crowd and stadium keeps the focus squarely on the main figures. The rich red of the 49ers jersey pops beautifully against the cooler blue-and-white of the Cowboys uniform, creating an instant visual contrast.

The slightly blurred background mimics the way our eyes naturally focus in a high-adrenaline moment like this, adding a sense of immediacy. My goal was to capture not only the likeness of the scene, but also the energy and emotion of an unforgettable moment in sports history.