A slight mishap made for one of the greatest photo opportunities in Red Sox lore, as the 2007 World Champs banner caught a small gust of wind, blowing upwards, unveiling the 2004 Championship banner at the same time. This artwork makes for a fantastic tribute to an unforgettable moment in Red Sox history.

This print is available in the following options: 11”X16” print, a 22”X14” giclee (either of which can be framed black on black), as well as a complete note card set featuring the print – a new feature to the Waitkus Studios online store (not found anywhere else).

So make this Father’s Day one to remember – order this special edition print today!

Boston, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008—Boston-area artist Mark Waitkus has officially announced the launch of his new website www.markwaitkus.com, which offers affordable framed art to Boston Red Sox fans looking for a unique gift.

Each month, Waitkus delivers a “Featured Collection” of four (4) previously-unreleased paintings that match a common theme (MLB Playoffs, World Series, Boston Red Sox). Prices range from $35-$50 for a single 11” X 17” print to $150-$175 for a custom framed print. In addition, Waitkus offers his customers the unique ability to frame their ticket stubs from memorable sporting events alongside his original artwork.

Widely considered one of the greatest sports watercolor artists in the US, Waitkus is expanding his roster of Major League Baseball teams he plans to paint in 2008. He also intends to cast a wider net across a spectrum of other sports, including some exciting images for the NBA, NFL, NCAA, The Boston Marathon, and NASCAR.

“Mark is a truly gifted artist,” said Waitkus Studios online manager Pat Patterson. “He is extremely appreciative of his fans, and gives back in concrete ways – offering these paintings at an affordable price is a reflection of the type of person he is – he is a generous, hardworking American success story. It feels good to own one of his paintings, knowing your money was well-spent on a masterpiece, created by a person you can root for.”

Waitkus paints every brush stroke of his artwork, and has a hand in framing every custom-framed painting ordered through his website. He plans on offering fine art (giclee) reproductions in the Spring of 2008.

For more information on Waitkus Studios, please visit www.markwaitkus.com

About Mark Waitkus
Mark Waitkus is a professional watercolor artist from Boston, MA. His work has earned accolades from numerous clients, including Major League Baseball and scores of legendary athletes.

Contact Information:
Pat Patterson
manager @ markwaitkus.com
617-538-6943
www.markwaitkus.com

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Major League Baseball took notice of Mark’s work with the Red Sox and commissioned him to design the commemorative All-Star Game home plate which was used during the official opening ceremonies in this year’s Mid-Summer Classic at AT&T Park in San Francisco. While in San Francisco, Mark had the opportunity to showcase some of his work at the All-Star FanFest including portraits of the two 2007 Cooperstown Hall of Fame inductees Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. Mark had the opportunity to present his work in-person to both inductees and promised he would be on-hand for their induction a few weeks later. Mark and his 12 year old son Griffin made their inaugural pilgrimage to the village of Cooperstown, New York for the July 29th ceremonies.

In addition to being invited to sit in the VIP section for the official ceremonies, Mark was summoned to the majestic Otesaga Hotel. Anyone who has been to Cooperstown knows that it is home to all the returning Hall of Fame players who participate in the induction weekend ceremonies. For the more than 70,000 fans who arrived in Cooperstown that weekend, it was a stately site almost all would view through its’ wrought iron gates some 200 yards from the grand entrance. Mark and Griffin, got a rare glimpse into the fortress-like hotel as a guest of Hall of Fame pitcher, Gaylord Perry. Gaylord and his wife met Mark in San Francisco at the All-Star Game and immediately hit it off. Mrs. Perry is a huge fan of watercolor art and has gained an appreciation for Mark’s style and, of course, the way he captured Gaylord’s delivery in a portrait he presented to them. So sitting in rocking chairs overlooking the banks of the beautiful Lake Otsego, with Hall of Famers all around him, Mark and son shared special baseball moments with Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Harmon Killebrew and many others.

While things were heating up for Mark this summer with his debut on a national stage, the Red Sox were also enjoying some national success on the field. Mark continued to support their art needs and his activity was highlighted by work he did for their star pitcher, Josh Beckett. Josh was launching a fundraising event to support Boston’s Children’s Hospital and Mark was commissioned to capture the star pitcher working from the mound at Fenway on the occasion of his 17th season victory. Mark personally presented his piece to Josh and his Dad and they were both thrilled by the results. As exciting as that encounter was, including a special invite by the elder Beckett to the family ranch in Texas, the highlight of the evening came when Mark’s art commanded among one of the highest bids at the The Beckett Bowl’s silent auction and helped contribute to a very successful evening.

At the close of the season, Mark combined his affinity to the Red Sox and his ascent to a national platform, as he was once again commissioned by Major League Baseball to capture images of the 2007 post-season playoffs. It was almost serendipitous that the team that gave him his entrée into professional baseball would be playing for the championship in a season where Mark was beginning to showcase his work to a broader, national audience. It all seemed so natural as he stood in Coor’s Field, as a nation looked on, that he was there to witness the Red Sox capture the World Series Championship.

As his distant relative’s story became the basis of one of the most popular baseball movies in cinematic history, Mark Waitkus could never have imagined a script like the one that was written for him, in real life, in the summer of 2007. It was, as Mark simply states, “The best summer of my life”.

Mark has already visited Yankee Stadium on several occasions during the ’07 season in preparation for a very busy 2008 baseball season in the Big Apple. The Yankees will play host to the 2008 All-Star Game in the team’s final year at the House that Ruth Built. In 2009, the Yankees will be moving across the street to a new facility already taking shape in the Bronx. All-Star Week is always an exciting time for baseball and it’s sure to be bigger than ever this July given the venue and all the nostalgia and history behind the Yankee tradition. Mark plans to have a strong presence at the All-Star FanFest as well as a number of other initiatives currently under consideration.

While Mark is expanding his roster of professional baseball teams he plans to work with in 2008 he also plans to cast a wider net across a spectrum of other sports. Included in his plans are some exciting images on the professional and college football scenes, the Marathon world and NASCAR.

Of course, staying true to his roots, Mark will be at Fenway on Opening Day, April 8, to capture all the excitement and energy that is sure to be in the air. While Opening Day on Yawkey way is always a happening, the Red Sox will all receive their championship rings and Mark will be mapping out a whole new series of images which will be featured on this site.

Mark will also be looking to expand his offerings in 2008 to include a series of note cards. These popular sets have been a huge hit in the Boston area and Mark plans to add new images in the New Year and widen the distribution through both his website and retail outlets. Some of the new sets will also include a matching stamp series which is sure to be a popular complement.

With all the activity planned for 2008, Mark will continue to support the community through donations of his work to non-profit fundraising events. Mark has had a longstanding affiliation with The Jimmy Fund and The Dana Farber Cancer Institute and has been responsible for raising significant sums of money through his artwork. Mark also plans to support the Josh Beckett Foundation once again as well as the non-profits of a number of other high profile athletes in the New England area.