Stanford Sports Art Prints by Drue Kataoka
Stanford University's Department of Athletics commissioned Drue on multiple occasions to commemorate its definitive moments in collegiate sports history. In preparation for each painting, she immersed herself in the sport, talking with athletes and Coaches alike, sketching from the sidelines, observing motion. Her prints have been sought after by Stanford and non-Stanford alums alike from around the world.
Stanford commissioned Drue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Stanford/Cal Big Game with the limited edition print, Kick Off 100. For her research, Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame curator Lloyd McGowan gave Drue access to all 100 past Big Game programs from the last century. She also interviewed many football "old-timers" about their Big Game recollections. The print was the first of many of Drue's to sell out and was featured in local print and TV media. Following the success of the Big Game print, Stanford football commissioned Stanford Legends: Portrait of John Elway and Jim Plunkett. Drue interviewed the two giants of Stanford Football history and each print was signed by Elway and Plunkett.
Men's Golf
Stanford Men's Golf Coach Wally Goodwin coached some of the biggest names in golf. For his retirement present, he commissioned Drue to paint a portrait of a player who represented them all. "Notah comes from humble digs," Coach Goodwin told Drue. Together they releasedCardinal Native: Notah Begay III. Drue also created Tee for Two andFairway to the 21st for the Cal/Stanford Celebrity Golf Invitational at Wente Vineyards as well as Big Game Tee Time. The popularity of Drue's golf paintings led to an invitation to create the signature image for the Toshiba Senior Classic in Newport Beach. The Senior PGA Tour commissioned Classic Cool.
Stanford fans were captivated by Stanford Men's Basketball's electrifying run to the 1998 Final Four. Drue's print The Art of the Steal was the only still depiction of Arthur Lee's pivotal steal, that lead to Mark Madsen's game-turning dunk. For her print On Your Mark Get Set Dunk: Mad Dog Madsen Drue met with Mark Madsen in an empty Maples Pavilion for a dunking session. She learned the anatomy of a dunk from #45 himself, Mark Mad Dog Madsen.
Trailblazing Coach Tara VanDerveer approached Drue to create a 6-part tribute to the most outstanding guards in Stanford women's basketball history. In Guarding the Tradition, Drue painted a series of 6 portraits honoring the greatest players in Stanford history. For the prints' unveilings, Jennifer Azzi, Molly Goodenbour, Sonja Henning,Kate Starbird, Jamila Wideman, and Kate Paye each flew in to attend a special half-time presentation at a different televised Stanford home game.
