Jonathan Toews — The Moment That Changed Everything
The Turning Point
This painting of Jonathan Toews came at a time when I was seriously questioning my direction as an artist.
I was considering stepping away from sports art altogether. I wasn’t sure if people were connecting with it the way I hoped, and I didn’t know if it was something I should continue pursuing.
The Opportunity
Around that same time, I found out that Jonathan Toews—my all-time favorite player and the captain during the Blackhawks’ three Stanley Cup runs was coming back to Chicago for an autograph signing.
I knew immediately I had to create a painting of him and bring it to be signed. It felt like something I needed to do, even if I wasn’t sure what would come from it.
The Wait
The day of the signing, there were hundreds of people lined up. We waited for over three hours just to get the chance to meet him.
While we were in line, I started looking back at old photos from the Stanley Cup years 2010, 2013, 2015. I came across a picture of me meeting Toews back in 2013.
When I looked at the date, I realized it was the same day—just 12 years later.
That was the moment it clicked for me. It felt like everything had come all together.
The Moment
When I finally got up to him, I asked if we could take a picture together with the painting.
He looked at it and said,
“You painted that? Wow… that’s really good. That’s so cool—you’re very talented.”
What It Meant
That moment changed everything for me.
It reminded me exactly why I started creating this kind of work in the first place—not just to paint athletes, but to capture moments that matter and connect with the people behind them.
The moments where I get to meet the athletes and see them genuinely appreciate something I created are the ones that stay with me.
This experience gave me the clarity I needed to continue pursuing sports art—and to go all in on it.
The Artwork
This piece represents more than just a portrait of Jonathan Toews—it represents a turning point in my journey as an artist.
This limited edition framed print captures Jonathan Toews, one of the most iconic captain in Chicago Blackhawks history. This painting holds a deeper meaning for me, as Toews has always been one of my all-time favorite players. Growing up watching the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups, he was at the center of that era. What makes this piece especially significant is that it became a turning point in my art journey. At the time, I was considering stepping away from sports art, but when I found out he was coming to Chicago for an autograph signing, I knew I had to create this painting. When he saw it, he said “that’s really good, that’s so cool, you’re very talented!”—reaffirming the path I was about to walk away from.
The original painting is signed by Jonathan Toews. These limited edition prints are high-quality reproductions of the original artwork.—reaffirming the path I was about to walk away from. The original painting is signed by Jonathan Toews. These limited edition prints are high-quality reproductions of the original artwork.
Limited Edition Release
16x20 — edition of 20
18x24 — edition of 20
24x32 — edition of 10
Limited Edition of 50 — once sold out, it will not be restocked.