Steve Skipper
Steve R. Skipper (born January 13, 1959) is a sports artist whose paintings, depicting the exploits of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers football teams, are licensed through the Collegiate Licensing Company. He also paints NFL, NASCAR and religious scenes.
Steve is the son of Johnnie and Elnora Skipper. He grew up in Rosedale. He was transferred to Edgewood Elementary School in 1968, and went on to Homewood High School. While in school he became associated with a set from the Crips street gang which operated at the Southtown Court public housing project, and was involved at selling drugs in his school, and in an armed robbery at Rosedale Park. A lifeguard, Mike Mitchell, confronted him and told him if he attended a service at Faith Outreach Church in Pratt City, he wouldn't bother him again. Skipper felt peace at the church and professed his Christian faith. He left the Crips and graduated high school in 1977.
Skipper had scholarship offers in football and fine art, but decided not to pursue formal art training. He worked on his art while working at American Cast Iron Pipe Co.. He was encouraged to bring a sketch he did of Alabama football players Mike Shula, Derrick Thomas and Cornelius Bennett to Tuscaloosa. Coach Ray Perkins bought the sketch on the spot and commissioned Skipper to make 20 new portraits of graduating seniors. His association with the Crimson Tide continued through the tenure of Nick Saban. He has been operating his own Anointed Homes Art business since 1982.
Many of Skipper's football-themed works were exhibited for sale at Butler's Grooming for Men. He was honored as "Sports Artist of the Year" by the United States Sports Academy in 2023. In 2024 the British Consul General in Atlanta, Georgia commissioned a painting by Skipper of Queen Elizabeth II.
Publications
- Skipper, Steve R. with Don Keith (2017) Dream On: A Journey to Deliverance. CreateSpace ISBN 9781544212494
- Skipper, Steve R. (2023) 9780 Paul Bryant Drive: The Integration of the Football Team at the University of Alabama. Anointed Homes Art LLC
References
- Temple, Chanda (June 17, 2012) "Birmingham artist Steve Skipper paints some of the big plays of Alabama & Auburn football." The Birmingham News
- Grant, Rubin E. (January 24, 2023) "The Way It Was: Skipper’s New Book Tells Story of Integration of Alabama’s Football Team." Over the Mountain Journal
- Sutton, Amber (May 10, 2024) "Homewood native unveils portrait of Queen Elizabeth II." AL.com
- Karle, Rick (June 3, 2024) "His mom once told him to get a real job. So how did Steve Skipper come to paint royalty?" AL.com
External links
- Steve Skipper website