A 2oceansvibe reader has alerted us to an incredible local artist’s portrait of soccer star Wayne Rooney. Hidden in the “antiques/collectibles” section of Gumtree.co.za is an original acrylic painting of the English striker, on sale for R5 000. It may well turn out to be the must have work for local collectors this year.

To find a portrait of such a massive celebrity for sale at such a low starting price is a boon for whoever makes this once in a life-time purchase. The current high interest in South African art – Irma Stern’s R17,2 million painting, and Brett Murray’s The Spear  –  combined with Rooney’s rugged good looks, football skills and gigantic worldwide appeal is sure to send the price of this work skyrocketing in the future.

Delicate brush work, attention to detail – see the sponsors, and manicured facial hair – show this artist is a veritable modern master of the sports portrait genre. Not to mention how s/he captures so well Rooney’s unmistakable, beady little eyes. With one eye positioned just higher than the other, Rooney’s aggressive/playful/possibly retarded, nature is hauntingly reproduced.

We would advise any interested parties to move fast on this one a kind work, as it will surely be snapped up by the keenest art collectors in the city. For a mere R5 000, this image may not be an antique, but it’s still a bargain.

[Source: Gumtree]