Posted by Cate Friesen, CBC SCENE Producer | Friday April 13, 2012
Legendary Coach Bowden autographing his portait, painted by Winnipeg artist Jamie Hogabaum, at fundraising event in Lennox, Georgia
Winnipeg artist Jamie Hogaboam feels like his career took a giant step forward last night.
That’s when Hogaboam got a call from Lennox, Georgia with the news that his portrait of legendary Florida State Seminole Coach Bobby Bowden had just sold for $1800.00.
Getting the call about the sale of his Bobby Bowden portrait affirmed all the hours he has put into his art. “It’s knowing I am doing the right thing”.
Hogaboam, a self-taught painter, has been working at his art for 10 years, and gaining a reputation for his sports-inspired acrylic portraits.
Hogaboam also battles depression and anxiety. He started painting as a means of escape, but says that it became greater than that. It has given him a means to express himself and has given him a greater sense of self-worth.
Hogaboam is an alumni of Artbeat, a local arts initiatve that provides studio space and community for artists whose lives have been challenged by mental illness.
He is currently combining his passion for art, sports, and mental health advocacy with a series of portraits of Manitoba athletes.
His dream is to exhibit his work, along with the work of other Artbeat Studio artists, at public venues like the MTS Centre. And in so doing, to encourage athletes and sports fans to have the courage to speak out about mental illness and promote recovery.
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