Many athletes chose to remain in sports after finishing their careers. But this wasn’t an option for former baseball player Blake McFarland. After spending so much time surrounded by sport, he wanted to leave that world and focus on his true passion: art.
McFarland spent most of his career as a relief pitcher in the minor leagues, where he played for Dunedin Blue Jays and New Hampshire Fisher Cats, among other teams. His career was abruptly finished in 2018 when he had to say goodbye to baseball due to a severe shoulder injury. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Walking away from baseball allowed McFarland to become a full-time artist. He focused on sculpture, creating impressive pieces inspired by nature using various materials. His favorite combination is wood and resin although he occasionally does pieces from rubber as well. The subjects represented in his works are usually animals like whales and bears.
“I love working with new materials and always challenging myself to learn something new,” McFarland explains on his website.
McFarland’s new venture proved to be quite successful as the sculptures he makes became well appreciated among art lovers. His works also attracted attention from several high-profile companies and landed him collaborations with sports teams like NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Check out more of his creations below.
