JR de la Paz Stone Crab Portrait Study

JR de la Paz Stone Crab spent the day before the game harvesting and macerating coastal indigo, making a bright salmon-pink paste, which would surely be visible even to those in the nosebleed seats.  Carefully emblazoning the number 21 on his shell, he waited a few minutes for it to dry before tucking himself into bed early, knowing full well his excitement would impede sleep anyway.  

Soon enough, the sun was up.  Junior eagerly scurried onto the field, ready to play.  "Baseball is beautiful” he thought, "Governed not by a clock, it perfectly encapsulates the idea of an August afternoon, boundless and languid.  Yet, at the same time, it so eloquently mirrors the pushes and pulls of society”.  

Two outs into the seventh inning, a booming crack reverberates through the bleachers, delivering the ball well beyond the field and halfway into the neighbouring village, finally leaving a good solid ding in the chocolate-coloured Alcan of the third house beyond Waveland Avenue.  The crowd went silent in awe.  At that moment, for that batter, who was only even standing in that box by pure love of the game and a rather large miracle, everything was awash with the notion of freedom and possibility.  The team stood stunned.

JR, eyes still gazing yonder, realized that this, this is what baseball is about. Not the jersey; not the score; not even the kids on the corner, mitts out, hoping to catch the fly. It is about simply steping up to the plate.

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Portrait Study, 8x10” or 9x12” in protective cello. Each Portrait Study is accompanied by a whimsical tale of the animal featured. Entirely collectible, the stories intertwine, creating a much-loved community of characters. We print on a luxurious 318 gsm, 100% cotton paper. Soft and durable, this paper showcases crisp detail and vibrant colour.

We donate a portion of gross sales to animal welfare.