Intro
For the last decade, artist Mike Noren, under the alias Gummy Arts, has been delighting sports fans with an eclectic mix of hand-drawn baseball cards that are anything but ordinary. Noren recreates iconic cards from the hobby’s past using his own unique drawing style while also using vintage card designs to pay homage to a wide variety of popular culture subjects, including musicians, actors, movies, and both historical and current events.
Briefly give us your background.
I live in Chicago, near Wrigley Field, and specialize in hand-drawn baseball cards. I worked in educational publishing for 20+ years, but these days I split my time between drawing, working in a whiskey distillery, and teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu. My cards, typically drawn in colored pencil, feature baseball players and other athletes, as well as figures from history and pop culture.
Did you play sports growing up?
Yes, I did baseball, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics.
How did you first get interested in art?
I used to make all sorts of drawings when I was a kid, but I lost interest during my teenage years. I only got back into drawing on a consistent basis around 2015 or so.
Did you study art formally or are you self-taught?
Self-taught
What inspires you most in creating art?
I was always a big baseball card collector, especially cards from the 1970s, and the joy of card collecting is very much at the center of what I do.
How do you know you’re “in the zone” when you’re creating?
When I'm "in the zone," drawing is fun, and the hours fly by. Other days it can be a frustrating grind and I'm better off doing something else.
How can Beauty of a Game readers follow you?
The best options are Instagram and BlueSky.
Favorite Sports Book?
Topps Baseball Cards 1951-1985: The Complete Picture Collection
Favorite Sports Movie?
This is a tough one. Does “The Naked Gun” count?
Favorite Sports Card?
1971 Topps Thurman Munson
Ripping Packs?
Noren periodically puts together printed packs of his cards and sells the original drawings, both through his website. Fans interested in purchasing either should definitely follow Gummy Arts on social media to be updated on availability. But be warned - packs go quickly.
Long-time readers may recognize Gummy Arts as the artist behind the promotional graphic for last fall’s SABR Presentation Celebrating Baseball Card Art.
Thanks for this post. I love it so much. I collected baseball cards when I was playing softball in the late ‘70s early ‘80s. I still have them and derive much happiness from looking at them. I love the Ohtani card. It really captured his essence. I need to contact this artist for a commissioned Freddie Freeman (the nicest man in baseball.)
Love your account!
Great post, thanks. I didn’t know that Topps book existed. I went out and bought one - it’s awesome.