September 21, 2007

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Baseball Player Combines
Passion for Art, Athletics

PASSION FOR ART, ATHLETICS – Keegan Laycock, left, and UM Head Coach Mike Jacobs, right, hold up a painting Laycock created for the new UM baseball field house. Laycock, a former UM Rams baseball player, combines his passion for art and baseball.

Keegan Laycock’s hands have power— the kind of power that allows him to be an exceptional baseball player and precision that makes him a skillful artist.

Laycock, an English and art major at the University of Mobile and a former UM Rams pitcher, combined his passion for art and baseball. The result was a portrait of a baseball player in the UM baseball uniform, which now hangs in the office of UM Head Baseball Coach Mike Jacobs.

“When he brought the painting to my office, I experienced such a multitude of emotions that there was a time lapse that passed before I said anything,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs had talked to Laycock about doing something for the new baseball field house, but Laycock did not find the time to start the project until the summer, when he also played professional baseball in Texas for the Bay Area Toros.

Laycock came to the University of Mobile for his fourth year of college. “Coach Jacobs has done a lot for me by giving me the opportunity to play here, as well as coach as a graduate assistant, and this was a way for me to show my appreciation,” said Laycock. He also said that it was a minor miracle that he was able to come play at UM and that both Jacobs and Assistant Coach Jon Seymour led him to where he is as a player today.

“Keegan is a coach’s dream. Not only is he really good, but he also has an unbelievable work ethic and is willing to listen to anything that helps him become a better player,” Jacobs said of Laycock.

“Baseball has always been my favorite thing to do, and the field is the one place in the world for me where nothing else matters,” said Laycock. Playing baseball for as long as he can remember, Laycock said that his parents have supported and encouraged him throughout his career.

Jacobs said he had no idea Laycock was an artist when he recruited the talented player. “All I knew was that he was a great student,” said Jacobs. Then Laycock painted portraits of some Rams players in their uniforms, and the artist was discovered.

As far as his inspiration as an artist, Laycock commented, “I kind of developed on my own and I learned a lot in college courses.”
Laycock has been drawing for most of his life, and started as a serious artist about five or six years. He began painting about two years ago and completed his first painting in the fall of 2005, his first year at UM. Laycock considers himself a realistic artist, and that is also the kind of art he says most he admires.

“I always like the art on baseball cards, like the ones with the paintings of players,” said Laycock.

The painting that hangs in Jacob’s office combines two important aspects of Laycock’s life and reflects his admiration for his coach.

“It’s always good when a former player takes time to give back with another of his talents,” Jacob said.

The painting is not just a gift to the baseball program at UM, but is also rewarding for the one who painted it.

“It’s nice to be able to give a piece of me to the program that will be here after
I’m gone,” reflected Laycock.

By Shaterica Sherman, senior, public relations writer

 

Last modified : Wednesday, October 17, 2007 1:21 PM
University of Mobile