Dennis Hopper - Actor, Artist and Racing Fan

...I just heard that Dennis Hopper passed away today at 74 years old. Mr. Hopper was a great actor, an avid racing fan and a prolific painter. I had the opportunity to discuss artwork with him on numerous occasions. This is a photo of us at the 2003 Kentucky Derby.

Thomas Allen Pauly - "Derby Day" Art Exhibit

Thomas Allen Pauly Art Gallery 2010 Kentucky Derby Video on Vimeo.
Thomas Allen Pauly Art Gallery 2010 Kentucky Derby Video on YouTube

What a great experience I had exhibiting at this year's Kentucky Derby. It is an extremely rare opportunity for an equine artist to be invited to have a one man art show at the historic Churchill Downs Racetrack during the Kentucky Derby and Oaks. Except for the huge storms that arrived on Derby day, I couldn't ask for anything better. The gallery spaces was absolutely perfect and the management/sales teams were incredible. It was great to see many of my longtime collectors as well as meeting new ones.

My exhibits were located at the 3 main gates, displaying 38 of my original oils, watercolors and graphites.  I had the wonderful opportunity to have my oil painting of "Derby Day" published as the "Official Commemorative Print of The Kentucky Derby 136" along with numerous licensed Derby products.

But, the highlight of the weekend was painting on location and discussing my portfolio and painting style with collectors, racing fans and aspiring artists. My portrait of "Zenyatta" was a crowd favorite, especially since her rival Rachel Alexandra came in second in the La Trioienne Stakes earlier on Oaks day.

Although I didn't get an opportunity to shoot many of the undercard races, I did get to photograph my 12th Derby/Oaks. This year, I had a team of 5 shooters capturing many of the pivotal scenes of the 2010 Derby. My photos will be published by GIA Marketing as licensed Derby/Oaks Winners Prints.

I would like to thank The Game, Gloria Irwin and the team of Gia Marketing for making this event an amazing success.  Also, a very special thanks to Shawn Toth for assisting me with my artwork displays.

I'm already making plans for my 2011 Derby art show....

The Kentucky Derby Features the Equine Art of Thomas Allen Pauly

http://www.horseartist.com/

LOUISVILLE, KY (April 29, 2010) --- I will have the great honor to present a one man art exhibit at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the 2010 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. The show will run April 30 - May 1 at several gallery locations throughout the grounds of historic Churchill Downs and at the Kentucky Derby Museum on May 2, 2010.

My exhibit will feature original oils, watercolors and graphites along with numerous official Kentucky Derby licensed art products. Among the highlights of the exhibition will be my commissioned portrait of this year's Kentucky Derby champion which will be published in a very limited Derby edition of 136 fine art prints.
Throughout the event, I will also have the opportunity to be painting the great champion
"Zenyatta" in Churchill's paddock and also at my main gallery
located near the walking ring.



..........

Thomas Allen Pauly's Artwork "As Seen On TV" in Undercover Boss

My "Undercover Boss" viewing at Pair O' Lakes Lodge in the Northwoods

It was a very surreal experience seeing my artwork on the huge Plasma TV screens deep in the heart of the Northwoods.  The Pair O' Lakes Lodge in Trego, Wisconsin (pop. 885) was a perfect venue to share this special event with my friends over beer and the lodge's famous fish fry.  Not only was it an honor to have my work displayed in pivotal scenes, but it was great to see my friends at Arlington Park and view horse racing in a positive light.  Thank you to Undercover Boss, Arlington Park, Producer Rachelle Mendez and CBS for including my artwork in their #1 hit reality show.

The paintings that were featured in

Arlington's board room and the executive office.

"Longchamp" - Print on Canvas,
24" x 36" - Board Room

"Waiting for Secretariat" - Print on Canvas,
  24" x 36" - Board Room

 "Red, White & Blue" - Oil on Canvas,
 20" x 30" - Executive Office

"Longchamp" - Oil on Canvas,     
16" x 24" - Executive Office

Undercover Boss scene featuring Thomas Allen Pauly's artwork in the executive office.
Air Date: 03/14/10
Video time: 1:25 minutes
C.O.O. Bill Carstanjen reveals his identity to Arlington Park valet Kenny Rice


 Link to "Undercover Boss - Churchill Downs"
Full Episode, 42:55 minutes, Air Date: 03/14/10

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/undercover_boss/video/?pid=EmuM0xef3jz3heV1EOhIErKwye3BiA9s&nrd=1

Undercover Boss TV Show Features Equine Art of Thomas Allen Pauly

 "Arlington Park"

This Sunday, there is a very good chance that 8 of my paintings will appear in the hit reality series Undercover Boss.  Last summer, I received a phone call from Arlington Park and CBS requesting to use my artwork in numerous shooting locations. They will be featured in Arlington's board room and the Executive Suites. It was tons of fun taking part in the filming and it should help promote horse racing.

I hope everyone watches.


Stay tuned and get your VCR, Tivo, DVR ready.

Sunday March 14, 8pm CST


Here's a preview....Undercover Boss - Churchill Downs ... The COO of Churchill Downs Bill Carstenjen goes undercover at his own racetracks where he must face his fear of horses and is brought to tears after working for one employee.

To view preview:
 Undercover Boss

Pauly commissioned to portray 2009 Illinois Stallion of the Year "Shore Breeze"

 Shore Breeze's owner John F. Haran receives my oil painting of his Stallion of the Year at Hawthorne Racecourse on February 21, 2010

Recently, I was commissioned by Illinois Racing News to portray "Shore Breeze", the 2009 Illinois Stallion of the Year. He is a 12 year old brown horse (Danzig - Sea Breeze, by Gulch) bred by Morven Stud, Ltd.  He stands at John F. Haran's Eagle Valley Farm North...Please visit my "At The Easel" Blog for additional information regarding my oil painting titled "Shore Breeze". http://tapstudio.blogspot.com/

A Legendary Weekend

That had to be one of the most amazing weekends that I ever experienced in my 31 years in horse racing.

It was an incredible honor to spend time with 23 of the greatest jockeys in the sport. 16 of them are Hall of Fame inductees...among their totals are: 95,639 winners, 22 Derbies, 2 Triple Crowns and 8 decades of riding the greatest horses in the world. We all came together to help support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and the Racetrack Chaplaincy at the Dining With The Dynasty fundraiser held on the eve of the Million at the beautiful Arlington Park Racecourse.


Nancy LaSala, Executive Director of the PDJF and Tony Petrillo, VP of Arlington Park commissioned me to portray caricatures of the 23 legendary jockeys breaking out of the starting gate at Arlington. My painting titled "The Legendary Start" was reproduced as a commemorative art print which was autographed by the jockeys and was also included in the program featuring each legendary jockey. It was much fun watching the jockeys run around getting autographs from each other and exchanging stories from the past. The original painting was auctioned off at the luncheon by CBS sportscaster Howard Sudberry. Also, my video tribute of "The Jockeys" premiered at the fundraiser.

Thomas Allen Pauly's "The Jockeys" Video

I am very proud to be part of the PDJF family. It was founded in 2006 and it brings much needed financial assistance to a group of athletes who have given so much to the sport of horse racing. The PDJF is committed to working with both industry and medical research groups to improve the safety of both the human and equine athlete as well as medical research projects dedicated to reducing catastrophic injuries.

ESPN video of the legendary jockeys signing the DWTD event posters.



Dave Erb (he starting riding during the Seabiscuit's years) & Pat Day signing for hundreds of racing fans during the Arlington Million Festival.

Jan Hortyk & Stacy Burton in Arlington's paddock... Stacy suffered a severe brain injury in a terrible accident in 2000. She is one of 60 former jockeys that PDJF assists with their daily living.
(I spent much time with Stacy & Jan, they are amazing people)

Thank you to Nancy LaSala, Tony Petrillo and all of the legendary jockeys who helped make this affair very successful...
I am looking forward to the future projects that we have planned for the upcoming PDJF events.

Triple Crown champion Secretariat's jockey Ron Turcotte and Tom
at the DWTD jockey reception