This pop-realism drawing by Mike Pitzer presents a pop-realism interpretation of a vintage tennis racket, meticulously rendered in graphite and colored pencil. The wooden frame and handle retain their classic form and branding, anchoring the piece in a sense of history and authenticity. The focal point is the inventive substitution of the racket's traditional string bed with the metal surface of an old-fashioned washboard. This fusion of sports equipment and domestic tool challenges expectations, inviting reflection on contrasting themes of leisure and labor. The precise detailing emphasizes texture—from the smooth wood grain and subtle wear to the rigid, grid-like metal—creating a compelling visual tension. Pitzer’s restrained palette and exacting technique highlight the object’s materiality while evoking a quiet nostalgia.
From the Artist:
There are so many beautiful tennis racquets, pre-graphite introduction, made from laminated wood. As a kid growing up in Algonac, Michigan, I wished I could have owned anyone of these. Eventually, I was able to save up and buy the one I wanted. Years later, and thanks to eBay, I was able to acquire the others I had always dreamed of owning as a kid. My Wilson Jack Kramer Autographed Tennis Racquet was one of those.
This pop-realism drawing by Mike Pitzer presents a pop-realism interpretation of a vintage tennis racket, meticulously rendered in graphite and colored pencil. The wooden frame and handle retain their classic form and branding, anchoring the piece in a sense of history and authenticity. The focal point is the inventive substitution of the racket's traditional string bed with the metal surface of an old-fashioned washboard. This fusion of sports equipment and domestic tool challenges expectations, inviting reflection on contrasting themes of leisure and labor. The precise detailing emphasizes texture—from the smooth wood grain and subtle wear to the rigid, grid-like metal—creating a compelling visual tension. Pitzer’s restrained palette and exacting technique highlight the object’s materiality while evoking a quiet nostalgia.
From the Artist:
There are so many beautiful tennis racquets, pre-graphite introduction, made from laminated wood. As a kid growing up in Algonac, Michigan, I wished I could have owned anyone of these. Eventually, I was able to save up and buy the one I wanted. Years later, and thanks to eBay, I was able to acquire the others I had always dreamed of owning as a kid. My Wilson Jack Kramer Autographed Tennis Racquet was one of those.
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