Vince Lombardi Poster

To follow up the earlier artwork with another quote from Lombardi was irresistible. I wanted something that every business owner, coach, and fan of football would like and how do you argue with this speech from Vince Lombardi on what it takes to be number one.

I am not sure where or who he gave this speech to originally but I think it was to newsmen asking questions on how does he keep his teams winning? What is the secret? I think Mr. Lombardi pretty well sums up winning with this reply that is part of my art work.

$50.00 and you can own this work, signed & numbered.
This work is available as a signed limited edition canvas giclee print . It measures 7"x18" (image area) and will retail for $50.00. That includes mailing. Contact: steve@bergerfinearts.com and leave your contact information to get one of these collector prints.

Viince Lombardi Color Painting

After watching the Packers play in last weeks playoff game I wanted to finish this painting which I started some time ago. I was doing this painting at the same time of the black and white version I did for the celebrity series of paintings posted on my blog last year. Lombardi and his quotes are synonymous with football excellence and the Super Bowl so here is my salute to the Green Bay Packers and their quest for another Super Bowl and the Lombardi Trophy.

Green Mountain Boys Flag

Recently I had a request for information about the Green Mountain Boys Flag I had painted earlier. See my blog post (July of 2009) for a look at that flag.

I have wanted to repaint that flag for some time and finally did a watercolor study for a new painting and showed it to some one who was in my studio at the time to see what they thought. After some discussion I felt that this painting was ready for a new look and set up to paint the new image on canvas after the watercolor study was refined.

Before I completed the final new acrylic painting the watercolor study was purchased. I usually wait until I am done with the final painting before I sell my reference work but they could not wait, they had to have it immediately and purchased the study.

The new Green Mountain Boys Flag original acrylic painting dimensions are 32"x19" so a limited number of signed Giclee prints are now available of this painting at an image size of 16"x 9.5" printed on canvas for $75.00 each.

If you do not know who the Green Mountain Boys are and what the connection between Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and Benedict Arnold was look at that previous blog of my (July 2009) for a brief background picture of the interesting character's behind the flag.

Cartoon Messaging

A new year is here. I wanted to show some recent cartoons and how companies and individuals are using cartoons to tell their story.

If you have a message you wish to convey quickly and with a smile cartoons are a fantastic way to accomplish both. I have used cartoons in plenty of companies branding efforts (Aflac Insurance, General Mills, Once Upon A Child Retail Stores, Heartland, etc,) because they are so darned effective. If they are done right they will be kept in front of and continue to message to a targeted audience long past the initial delivery. I know of some cases and I am sure you have seen at one time or another a framed cartoon in a office or on someone's desk years after they recieved it.

At any rate besides fine art I have done a lot of cartooning over the years for publishers and companies that want to send a brand specific message. If you need something specific contact me at steve@bergerfinearts.com

Woman at Window Watercolor

I have not posted many watercolor paintings or pencil drawings of non historical paintings but I do paint other things. (see post below)

I do enjoy using either medium and I wanted to show commission work that does not involve something of historical significance. Samples shown here will give you an idea of the style and range of my experience with both mediums. I like working in watercolors or pencil because they are both quick without the hassle of longer drying times that you can run into with oil and acrylics.

So if you are looking for some custom commission work using watercolors or pencil let me know what you are looking for and I will provide it to you before the holidays. Contact:steve@bergerfinearts.com

The holidays are coming soon and no is the time to get your request in for a portraits of your family pet.

Capture your pet(s) likeness in a beautiful formal acrylic painting that you can hang proudly in any room. All I require is a decent photo to capture the likeness of your pet. Remember when submitting photos If I can not see it I can not paint it so please send a decent photo.

Send your requests to steve@bergerfinearts.com and I will get a quote to you after I know size and other specifics. Painting prices start at $150.00 without frame and I usually require a two week turnaround depending on the size.

First Minnesota At Gettysburg

I have finally finished this painting "The Spartans Of Gettysburg" after about 7 variations. I wanted to capture the moment at Gettysburg when the First Minnesota Volunteers all 262 of them were ordered by General Hancock to charge down a hill into 1,800 Alabama soldiers moving up the hill. General Hancock needed time to rush in reinforcements to counter the 11000 man force forming behind the Alabaman's that were rapidly moving into positions to flank the Union lines -- "five minutes time," he'd write later. So he ordered Col. William Colvill and his men to charge the larger Rebel force to gain time to get his reinforcements into position.

“Every man in the first Minnesota realized in an instant what that order meant; death or wounds to us all, the sacrifice of the regiment, to gain a few minutes’ time and save the position and probably the battlefield," wrote Lt. William Lochren of the First Minnesota. Though the Minnesotan unit was outnumbered five to one they did not hesitate and lunged forward with fixed bayonets in a spectacular charge that could in all fairness be called suicidal.

The Alabamans were disorganized and winded after charging nearly a mile, and the sudden attack by the small group of Minnesotans caught them off guard. The Confederates were momentarily thrown back; but they regained cohesion, and then delivered staggering fire into the Yankees.

The First Minnesota was virtually destroyed within ten minutes. Only 47 soldiers made their way back to the ridge. Colvill was seriously wounded, one of 215 casualties. The Rebels were repelled and Hancock succeeded in bolstering the Union line with reinforcements in that 10 minutes--but at a great sacrifice. 82 percent of the First Minnesota men were killed or wounded the highest casualty rate of the any American unit in any war. Hancock succeeded in bolstering the Union line with reinforcements in that 10 minutes, and the Alabamans were forced to retreat.

"I would have ordered that regiment in if I had known every man would have been killed," Hancock wrote. "It had to be done."

"They had not taken the Alabama flag, but they had held on to their own,' Historian Shelby Foote wrote. "And they had given Hancock his five minutes plus five more for good measure."

The Next Day the First Minnesota Helped Repel Pickett's Charge
Decimated as it was, the First Minnesota was not finished fighting at Gettysburg. Two companies that had been detached from the regiment, rejoined the unit, bringing the numbers back up to 150 men. On the third day of the battle, the Minnesotans were called in to help smother Pickett's Charge -- the climatic Confederate attack led by Gen. George E. Pickett. The First Minnesota suffered 45 more casualties, but Pvt. Marshall Sherman managed to capture the colors of the 28th Virginia. This flag which I have seen is today at the Minnesota History Museum.

This acrylic painting measures 24"x 36" and the original is still available. Signed Giclee prints with an image size of 20" x 15.5" are available for $250.00. Other sizes are available with framing options. Email me at steve@bergerfinearts.com if interested.