Painting for The Pittsburgh Penguins

Paintings For the Pens

Read about Kait’s Wild Week Home, Turning 30, Painting for the Pittsburgh Penguins and More….

Packed my bags, got on my flight, throw in a nice airline Bloody Mary, and I was on my way back to the ‘burgh’ baby. It was going to be a whirl wind, jammed packed 10 days back to Pittsburgh for me. Not only was I going to catch up with my friends and family after a 6 month absence, but I was also going to be celebrating my 30th birthday. Did I mention my birthday also happened to fall on the same night as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Night of Assists Gala? Alright so it wasn’t just a birthday trip home that I was taking. It was a work trip, but being asked to paint for the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation isn’t what I would call “work”. I call it a dream.

I grew up watching the Penguins, so naturally hockey is my favorite sport. Not only was I going to be able to create a painting for the Pens Foundation while I was home, but I was asked to create a live painting at the 3rd Annual Night of Assist event. On top of creating a live painting, I donated three other paintings I had previously painted that we would auction off at the gala.

Pretty much as soon as I landed it was go time. I had to start the live painting that I was going to finish in front of all of the guests of the gala in just a couple days so I had to act fast. The Pen’s Foundation wanted me to do my quick, chunky style for the painting and really wanted me to create a painting of Captain Sidney Crosby. Knowing that I was going to be in town for the event, local new station KDKA’s Rick Dayton reached out to me and asked if he could run a story about me painting for the event. I was super excited to say the least, but I felt like it wasn’t my place to represent the Penguins Foundation and give detail about the event itself. A lot of people put a ton of work to go into this event, and I wanted the right people to get the credit they deserve so I asked my friend Kevin if he’d like to do the interview with me. We thought shooting our segment at PPG Paints arena, the home of the Pens, would be a great place to film. We stuck my paintings that I would be donating down next to some trophies. I guess they’re kind of a big deal or so I’m told.

Below in the photos you’ll see my city skyline painting covered in resin, my “Geno” painting of Assistant Captain Evengi Malkin, and the partially started live painting of Sidney Crosby. The last painting I would be donating would be my Andy Warhol on the Andy Warhol bridge. I love that painting, but I have had it for years. I figure might as well donate it to a good cause.

You can watch my interview with KDKA just down below!

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Night of Assists Gala

February 12, 2020

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In between catching up with family and friends, a couple days shot by and 30 years some how sneaked up on me. It was the day of the gala as well as my birthday. I like to joke with my friends and say the gala was actually just a giant birthday party they threw for me. Not a shabby party I’ll say! The theme of this years Night of Assists Gala was Disco 70’s theme. Dress to impress, and put on your boogie shoes! The night had me started out once again at PPG Paints arena where I would be placed in the VIP section live painting my Sidney Crosby painting. During that time I got to catch up with some old friends and familiar faces that I missed so much.

After VIP hour was over, and I had finished my live painting, 800 guests and I walked down stairs where the ice rink was transformed into a disco diva paradise. People dressed in costumes, go-go dancers in cages, all while the hockey players for the Penguins manned their stations ready to entertain guests with casino like games. Throughout the night, guests ate, drank, danced, and gambled all in the name of charity, including yours truly. By the end of the night, Captain Sidney Crosby was kind enough to sign my painting I had created of him to help raise more money for the Penguins Foundation. The total tally raised for the night was a whopping $450,000 that will go to benefiting youth hockey and special needs programs. Not a bad way to start my 30s. I’ve had some really cool experiences throughout my career, and have attended a lot of events, but I gotta say the Pen’s Gala was the most fun event I’ve ever been to.

A couple days after the gala, for Valentine’s Day I found myself painting again at PPG Paints arena. I KNOW. They should just make a bed for me in the back. I’d totally live there. During the Valentine’s Day game while the Pen’s faced off against the Canadiens, I live painted another Pittsburgh city skyline to be donated and raise funds for the Pen’s Foundation. While my work week had wrapped up, there was just one more surprise before I left to go back to Seattle. My newest nephew Alex surprised everyone by showing up three weeks early. It was always something that was in the back of my mind that I wished so badly I could be home for when he’s born, but it probably wasn’t going to happen. My sister and I are extremely close,and I was there with her when my first nephew was born. I know Mick Jagger once said “You can’t always get what you want.” Well Mick, I did, and it was the best trip home I could ever ask for. So much love to the Penguins for having me for their event!

Hail To Pitt 2019!

Another year has come to pass and another year of talented former Pitt athletes have come to grace my canvases. I was honored as always to continue my work with The University of Pittsburgh for the second year painting their 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees. Now that I’m living in Seattle, I feared I wouldn’t be able to continue my business in Pittsburgh, but the Yinzer Gods have looked down upon me and have let me continue to paint Pitt’s long lived legacy. You can’t get rid of me Pittsburgh. We have way too much love and history together.

This year we have another amazing batch of 12 Pitt athletes who have trail blazed their way into Pitt’s 2019 Hall of Fame class. Just like last year, each painting I created is on a 16x20in canvas painted with acrylic paint. Please scroll down and enjoy viewing this year’s newest inductees! If you also would like to see progression photos and videos of some of the paintings be sure to check out my Instagram Story @Paints By Kait.

Charles Hyatt

Don Hennon

Jim Covert

Joe Schmidt

Johnny Majors

Lee Mcrae

Lorri Johnson

Mark May

Sam Clancy

The Peery Family

Sue Heon

Najuma Fletcher

Game Changer Gala

Kait Schoeb With Her Painting "Blue Steel" Before Auction

As you read in the previous blog post I had the pleasure of creating artwork and attending the Game Changer and Mike Ditka Day Celebration Gala in honor of the Save Jon Foundation.  This year the Game Changer Gala was held July 30th at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. Coach Ditka along with multiple doctors and founding members, Dr. Lisa Boyette and Dr. Dietrich Stephan serve as executive and active board members to serve Save Jon's mission. Throughout the evening aligned a ray of entertainment with everyone suited in their tux and gowns. Throughout the course of dinner were speeches by multiple PSC survivors and activists including Jamie Redford, Dr. Coach Mike Ditka, and performances by Broadway singers.

After dinner there was a live auction that was held along with my painting "Blue Steel" to help raise funds for Save Jon. Although the original painting is being loved in a great home, prints are available for sale in my store section found here.  Each print sold is going to raise proceeds to the Save Jon organization. At the Gala I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Ditka who serves on the board of Save Jon in honor of his friend Walter Payton who passed away from PSC. One of this year's honoree's and former Steeler Jahine Arnold also suffers with PSC disease. He was unable to attend the event, but fortunately it was due to good reason because he had received a successful liver transplant just a week before the gala. I'm very honored to have been asked to donate my work, and proud to help raise money for Save Jon and help spread their message. To learn more about Save Jon please go to their website at www.savejon.org

Kait with Former NFL Coach Mike Ditka. Photo by Lovas Photography

View the slide show below to view photos of the Game Changer Gala! 

All rights and photography provided by Lovas Photography. 

http://www.lovasphotos.com