Raise It For Roberto!

Home Run Painting

Kait in front of her 6ft x 8ft painting of Roberto Clemente

When a client comes to me and requests a commissioned painting, the typical size is usually a small to medium size, but when I was asked if I could paint Roberto Clemente 6ftx8ft, I accepted the challenge. My client Rob who wanted the massive painting wasn’t my average client. Rob is a sports FANTATIC, and has a passion and love to collect sports memorabilia. Now I could have chosen from hundreds of photos of Roberto to paint from, but Rob had a particular photo in mind. It turns out the baseball bat that Roberto is holding in the photo, my client Rob now owns.

Now this isn’t just a baseball bat that Roberto Clemente once used. That alone in itself would be special and something to adore. THIS baseball bat was the bat used for Roberto Clemente’s historic 3000th hit. Not only did I need to make sure Roberto looked incredible, but Rob really wanted to showcase the detail in the baseball bat in the painting as well.

Overall with using acrylic paints to create this special project, it took me about two weeks to complete the massive 6ftx8ft structure. Considering I’m 5’2, to say it was challenging and physically tiresome would be an understatement, but I think we can all agree it was worth it brush stroke. In order to get this bad boy to Rob in Florida, I had to dismantle the canvas, and roll it in order to ship it safely. Once it got to Rob in Florida, not only did the local Boca Raton paper do a fun article on him owning the historic bat, but also USA Today caught wind and also did a feature on Rob with my painting. Forever grateful to a wonderful client!

Pittsburgh Penguins Paintings and Pucks

Pens & Painting

Check Out Kait’s Latest Work With The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation

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It may be my first year, but this is the Pittsburgh Penguins 10th year for their annual Penguins Charity Game on AT&T SportsNet. This has been months in the making, and I’m incredibly excited to finally share the project the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and I have collaborated on. Although the project was for the 2021 season, we got started much earlier in 2020. I was initially asked to create 4 paintings in black and white of captain Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Jake Guentzel, but the foundation had another idea to add to the mix. The paintings would go up for auction as planned for the April 29th charity game event, but we could also print them on limited edition hockey pucks as gifts in the charity bag giveaway. I mean seriously? How cool is that?

I got started finding the photos I thought would fit best since it was mainly going to be their faces that were presented. We also liked the idea of having two players in the home jerseys, and the other two in the away game white jerseys. Each painting is 24x24 inches and I used black and white acrylic paint with a smear of yellow to represent the Pens team colors. My personal favorite painting of the four was probably Kris Letang’s. I love painting facial hair for some reason and I had a blast getting to paint all of his.

Pittsburgh Penguins Charity Bag 2021

Once I was done creating the paintings, I had them scanned into a digital file that I gave to the foundation. From the digital file, they had their printers in Canada create the stunning set of pucks you see below. On the day of the event, each charity bag will contain a set of the 4 limited edition pucks. With three different levels of the bags, each contain different unique items including a signed jersey, autographed puck and more. The event is being held on April 29th where 5000 Pens fans can purchase their bag and memorabilia! to benefit the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mario Lemieux Foundations. Lets go Pens!

To learn more about how you can purchase a charity bag and the items inside please visit

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/fans/charity-game-preview

Kait’s 4 limited edition hockey pucks curtesy of The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation 2021

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Hockey Is For Everyone Day

April 17th 2021

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In addition to my work with the Pens for the April 29th event, on April 17th they are also holding a hockey is for everyone event. For this event the NHL shows their support and solidarity to create a safe and including community to all. For this year’s inclusion day I created two rainbow themed pieces. One of my signature Pittsburgh skyline, and the second of the Pittsburgh Penguins logo with a geometric rainbow background and a smear of rainbow colors. Each painting will be up for auction to benefit the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation! To learn more about hockey is for everyone check out https://www.nhl.com/community/hockey-is-for-everyone

Pike's Mike

Read About Kait’s Newest Passion Painting!

Kait and her 30x40 Oil Painting “Pike’s Mike”

I must of only taken 10 seconds worth of fast, quick photos of Mike posing with a giant fish, but he certainly disappoint. I remember looking at them and immediately thought, “Wow. These would make a killer painting.” It came down to 2 other photos, but I decided alright this is the one. This is the money shot right here. Next task? Find the time to paint it. It’s a problem I’ve had for well, years now. I’m thankfully always busy with creating commission pieces for clients, but I lack the discipline it takes to have an organized set schedule for myself. I become so focus on working on one painting at a time that I never make time for passion projects. Also knowing the fact that my passion painting wouldn’t be generating any guaranteed revenue verses working on commission paintings also makes it harder for me to separate and make the time.

In a time long long ago before an unwelcome presence we all now have come to know as Coronavirus happened, I was taking a casual walk through Pike Place Market in Seattle. It’s one of my favorite places to burn some time on a nice day in the city, and a lot of fun scenery. Almost two years ago I had my camera with me to practice my photography skills when I came upon Seattle’s world famous Fish Market. The first fishmonger I came across while working who is now known and loved named Mike, was exciting and entertaining to the guests, and more than willing to pose for my camera.

The last time I had created a painting in realism, in color oil paint just for the sheer joy of it, was 5 years ago with my Heinz Ketchup painting. Fun entrepreneur fact. I became so obsessed with working on my Heinz Ketchup painting that I didn’t make time to work on commissions. By the time I had finished the ketchup painting 3 months later, I found myself NEGATIVE in my bank account. No shame in my game to admit it. It’s all apart of the entrepreneur roller coaster, and a huge lesson I had to learn. Needless to say after learning that lesson, I’m sure its played a psychological role in being hesitant to work on a painting with no guarantees. So this time around with lessons learned, it’s time to make time.

I started the painting in February of 2020. Honestly there’s so much detail in the painting I didn’t know where to begin. You always start with the background of a painting, but yeah have you seen all the detail in the background? Woof. You just have to take a step back and do a section at a time to try not to feel so overwhelmed. I usually like to start with areas that are large with less detail so it tricks me into feeling like I’m getting more accomplished faster. March 2020. We all know what happens here. No need for an explanation. Any possible live painting events, auctions, commissions, have suddenly slipped through my hands. Being less busy sure got a lot easier. Business like the rest of the world drastically slowed down for me, but it was given time I had now to work on the Pike’s Market painting.

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Fast forward up to the end of June and a few hundred fish scales later, I finally finished the painting that I had dubbed in my mind as “Pike’s”. I didn’t know the initial name of the guy in the painting. I thought of calling him Derek, Eric, or maybe he even looks like a Josh? put on my FBI hat and scrolled on social media searching for his real name and found out his name is in fact Mike. It couldn’t have been more perfect. His name is Mike, and he works at Pikes. I got a hold of the fish market and asked if I could come down and take a photo with them and the painting, especially with Mike. Unfortunately Mike is in quarantine for a while since he has a young child, and I had to get the painting to the gallery I’m signed with to go on display for a summer show.

We’ll just have to catch Mike and a giant fish next time! I want to thank the guys and gals of Pike’s Fish Market for letting me come down to show off the painting and taking a photo with me, and especially to Mike. I was in a creative funk for awhile trying to find something to paint that I was excited about. I want to thank Mike for not only being a great sport and fun subject of my painting, but for helping to pull me out of a long rut.

If you’ve never had the chance to watch the fishmongers throw the fish at Pike’s Fish Market, make sure you put it on your bucket list.

https://www.pikeplacefish.com

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

Kait Paints for PITT Pt2

Photo Credit: Matt Freed Photography

Mike Ditka receiving Kait’s print and Hall o Fame statue

After dinner was finished I had the honor of standing onstage with each of the inductees as they were announced, and gave them a print of my painting I created of them. After all of the able honorees received their induction, they sat for questions and answers. I want to thank the University of Pittsburgh for having me be apart of such a special and new tradition. I’d also like to dedicate this post in honor of the late great Bill Fralic. Bill was not able to attend the ceremony and has since past away. Thank you to the Fralic family for having me and Pitt honor his legacy.

View Kait’s Pitt Hall of Fame Paintings!

For 2 months I worked non stop around the clock, but I finished painting all 16 16x20 inch Pitt Hall of Fame paintings. I couldn’t be more proud and honored to have been able to complete such a special and once in a life time opportunity. The gala honoring the 16 inductees took place September 7th, 2018 at the Peterson Event Center. If I’m being honest, I’ve been to quite a few galas in my career and this one might have been the most absolutely breath taking one I’ve had the pleasure of attending. We started the evening off with VIP hour where guests could meet and greet the likes of Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, and the other attending inductees. Followed soon after was a gorgeous sea of gold glittered tables on the Petersen Centers Basketball Court where dinner and the ceremony was to take place.

Photo Credit: Adam Michaels Photography

All 16 of Kait’s Pitt Hall of Fame Paintings are on display in the Lobby of the Petersen Event Center in Pittsburgh

Scroll below to view the photos of the 16 Hall of Fame paintings along with the Hall of Fame Gala

Copyright Adam Michaels Photography

Kait Paints For Cancer Research

Read About Kait's James Conner Painting and Getting to Meet Him Herself

Kait with James Conner and her painting of James

This May I was asked for the second year in a row if I would create a painting of James Conner to go to auction  to raise money for Dr. Stanley Marks Cancer  research  department in the Hillman Center. Dr. Marks is well known in Pittsburgh as one of the greatest and go to doctors if you're diagnosed with cancer. When James Conner was playing football for Pitt University, at the age of 19 James was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. When I was with James I asked what symptoms he had and he said he almost thought he had a cold and obviously being an athlete and being so young, cancer is the last thing that comes to your mind. Fortunately James was treated by Dr. Marks and has been in remission for 2 years now. Since then James has been an inspiration to people and athletes everywhere especially to Pittsburgh where he was soon drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he currently plays.

The original painting is done in acrylic on canvas in a 3ftx4ft size and then smeared with yellow acrylic paint. I went with this theme because my painting of Antonio Brown was a huge hit and also I only had so much to make the painting. Any time I'm in a time crunch I leave my oils behind and go for acrylics. I anticipated getting the painting done in a week MAYBE two. Ha, yeah no. There was so much more detail that I didn't take into consideration which drew the painting process out for about a month. Luckily I did get it done in time for the auction but first I was asked to meet with James first so he could autograph the painting. Last year's painting of James sold for $6000 so we had high hopes for this painting, but it completely succeeded my expectations with being sold at a whopping $11,500!! I couldn't be more grateful or excited to help raise money for Dr. Marks and the Cancer Research at the Hillman Center.

" James Conner" Acrylic on Canvas 3ftx4ft

Kait Makes The List of Pittsburgh's 50 Finest!

Read About Kait's Newest Honor and Goal to Raise Money for Cystic Fibrosis

This year I'm extremely grateful to be chosen as an honoree for Pittsburgh's 50 Finest and help raise funds to help extend the lives of people living with Cystic Fibrosis. For the next 6 months I'll be taking donation, hosting a few happy hour events and auctioning off some of my artwork to raise funds. I've donated to dozens of non profits and looking forward to adding to the fundraising for The Cystics Fibrosis Foundation. With your help and donations along with me donating my time and artwork we'll be one step closer to finding a cure and helping people and children who desperately need it. People with a life expectancy up to age 5 are now living into their 40's and the number continues to rise thanks to your help. I look forward to these next 6 months of fundraising and representing the city of Pittsburgh!

Thanks for your support and helping me reach my goal this summer! If you'd like to donate money or items for auction and also learn more about Cystic Fibrosis please go to www.pgh50finest.finestcff.org/kaitschoeb

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