Phil Mickelson’s foray into social media this past year has produced its share of artworks. But the masterpiece – or should we say, Masterspiece – that’s making the digital rounds takes that phenomenon to a new level.
Matt Landers is an artist specialising in oil canvasing. A fact we only know thanks to this thing of beauty:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2eRNIlp1xX/?utm_source=ig_embed
According to the caption, Landers is putting together a series of Masters champions seen through the prisms of “old masters” paintings. This Mickelson joie de vivre is an homage to Dutch painter Frans Hals’ “Laughing Cavalier”. Or, as Landers says with a nod to Phil’s workout routines, the “Laughing Calf-alier”.
“Activating the calves while painting has transformed my brushwork, especially in areas of high detail. Painting bombs,” Landers says. “However, the initial inspiration was simply that I thought ‘The Laughing Cavalier’ was just a perfect way to sum up one of my boyhood heroes’ personality and how he plays the game of golf.”
This is Landers’ second part of the Masters collection. His first? Tiger Woods riding a stallion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2bW2mkJSd8/?utm_source=ig_embed
We can only pray this leads to further golf-related works. Like the 2014 US Ryder Cup team in “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” or Jason Dufner as “Mona Lisa”.
Matt, if you’re reading this, our chequebook is heading your way. Write whatever number you want. We must have these.
