Liston . The piece is signed by Ali , “ The Greatest ,” himself . “ Front Row Seat ” is another autographed piece on display , and the third , called “ The Champ ,” portrays a determined young Ali facing forward with red boxing gloves at the ready , that highlights four of his championship matches , including the legendary 1974 match against George Foreman . “ This is the fight where he did the rope-a-dope ,” says Robichau . “ Everybody expected Foreman to win because he was younger and bigger , and Ali just basically let Foreman punch him for eight rounds .” By that time , Foreman was exhausted , Robichau recounts . “ And then at that point , Ali knocked him out .”
Another signed work available for purchase is a print of “ Red ,” a cigarsmoking profile of former basketball
coach Red Auerbach , which was commissioned by the Boston Celtics . “ He was such a great coach , just a character ,” Robichau says . He remembers meeting Auerbach in Boston in a private room full of executives . “ He asked me ‘ Well , how long did it take you to do this ?’ And I told him ‘ About 50 hours .’ I said , ‘ I had to look at your ugly mug for 50 hours .’” Robichau ’ s comment caused a momentary shock among Auerbach ’ s entourage . “ Then [ Red ] started laughing and he gave me a slap on the arm ,” Robichau remembers with relief . “ I was like , oh , that could have gone bad ! It was a gamble to say that !”
“ Red ” is one of four works on display that Robichau painted using a different style , which he refers to as illusionism , inspired by the late artist Chuck Close . The stacked rows of three-quarter-inch squares are created through paint layers , four to eight colors per square . “ I do one square at a time , like reading a book ,” Robichau says . “ I just go across one at a time .” The result is similar to that of pointillism or in more modern terms , pixels on a computer screen . The up-close view of baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax ’ s eye , for example , is a far different experience than looking at the painting while standing back . “ If you squint your eyes closed , you get the same effect ,” Robichau says .
The only landscape in the exhibition is also painted in the same illusionistic style : “ Unlucky 7 ” — Pebble Beach Golf Link ’ s challenging 7th Hole in California . “ It ’ s a par-3 , which means you have three holes to make it in , and it ’ s uphill ,” Robichau explains . “ It ' s one of the most iconic holes of golf ,” he says .
Occasionally Robichau accepts commissions of works that aren ’ t related to sports , but sports is definitely his passion , he says . He enjoys doing detailed work and creating definite lines using small brushes and says there are still subjects he ’ d like to depict . “ I love old baseball players , so maybe like a Willie Mays or Hank Aaron , and I ' ve never painted Ted Williams ,” he says . “ Basketball is my favorite sport , but baseball is my favorite game to paint .” He says he particularly loves portraying the majesty of old-time baseball players that were held in high esteem . “ The image in the moment is so amazing ,” he says . “ Trying to capture that is the challenge , but also the pleasure .” IN
For more information , visit The Arts Council of Brazos Valley website at acbv . org or jasonrobichau . com .
JASON ROBICHAU
26 November / December 2021