Seeing sports as an artist

Philip McKenney captures the look of New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte in this drawing. It's time to play ball, only Philip McKenney connects with a paint brush rather than bat.

The VCU School of Arts (Class of '99) graduate has compiled a treasure chest of paintings and sketches with a sporting theme, with heavy emphasis on his lifelong affection for baseball.

Many of his works will be on display tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. in a showing at Jarret Thor Gallery in Colonial Beach.

The event is titled "Zing into Spring - the Art of Baseball."

"Art and sports are a rare combination - you don't see a lot of artists who are interested in sports, but that's where I've found my niche," McKenney said.

He will display paintings of such baseball luminaries as Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Ted Williams and former Richmond Virginians/New York Yankees hurler Jim Coates.

McKenney knew Coates while growing up on the Northern Neck.

"I used to talk to Jim about Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle - those guys," McKenney said. "I've invited Jim to the show, and I hope he comes."

McKenney, 54, managed an ABC store for 20 years before enrolling at VCU. He was 44 when he received his degree in communication arts.

During his stay at VCU, McKenney earned credit hours illustrating various Rams sports.

"I got to go on the field before the baseball games, even sit in the dugout," he said.

A versatile cartoonist and illustrator with an impressionistic style, McKenney did courtroom sketches of the Michael Vick trial for the CBS, ABC and Fox networks in 2007.

McKenney's work is top-heavy with Richmond scenes. Paintings hung at Thor Gallery include the Ukrop's 10K run, Renegades hockey and Citywide Boxing.

McKenney played a little second base well into adulthood with a Northern Neck semipro squad called the Tides.

Now, he keeps his arm limber playing a version of "stickball" with a group of men in the Montross area.

"We use wood bats, tennis balls . . . and you throw as hard as you can from 38 feet," he said. "The strike zone is a cushion from my porch swing. If the balls hit the cushion, it's a strike - no arguments."