An exhibit of original illustrations by local artist C.F. Payne will be on view in the Main Library’s Art and Music Department through August 29. The illustrations are from Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888, which was recently published by Simon & Schuster. Of his work, Payne says: “I grew up with baseball and I grew up with “Casey at the Bat.” Being asked asked to illustrate this great American tale has been one of the greatest pleasures of my professional career, but it was also one of my biggest challenges. “Casey at the Bat” is an American icon. It has been illustrated, animated, and the subject of countless paintings by countless artists, many of which are classics in their own right. With the help of a dear friend, Jay Bauer, who posed for the photos I used as inspiration of Casey, I created this body of work. I am proud of the effort and can only hope it meets the expectations deserving of this great American tale.” Payne, who graduated from Miami University with a BFA, has developed an impressive client list, including Time, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, GQ, National Geographic, Spy, NFL, and the U.S. Postal Services. He has won numerous awards from professional organizations and publications.
In conjunction with this exhibit, C.F. Payne will present a slide talk, The Art of Illustration, on Saturday, July 19 at 1:00 p.m. in the Main Library’s Huenefeld Tower Room.