John “Jack” Weaver
January 31, 1925 – October 23, 2014
Over the course of several years, John "Jack" Weaver hand-painted 77 caricatures of baseball and football figures. They are gathered here, and in the book If You Don't Know Baseball, You Don't Know Jack. as one continuous body of work.
The collection is held in a family trust and is co-owned by his four children. Among the portraits is one Jack painted of his grandson, Reed Verdesoto, as a child. Jack's son Scott Weaver digitized and preserved the collection, and his grandson Reed Verdesoto built this site so the work could be seen the way Jack kept it: framed, matted, and close together.
The Drafting Desk
This desk now resides with Reed, and is his daily work space, where this website was created.
Jack and Jane
Jack married Jane. Four children, and a life measured out in summers at the shore, holidays, and a house full of paintings.
Pop Pop's House
every wall was covered with artwork, Wheaties boxes, and jazz references. Every surface was covered in ink, sports clippings, or art materials. This was his grandson's favorite place. - Reed
Later years
The mustache went white, the glasses got a little rounder, and the eye stayed exactly as sharp as it had always been.
Family
Jack was married to Jane Weaver. Together they had four children:
- Andy Weaver
- Meredith “Merry” Weaver
- Scott Weaver
- Eric Weaver
Merry’s children: Zoe and Reed
Scott’s children: Jamie, Toni, and Ella
Eric’s children: Ellis and Evelyn (in loving memory)
His life
More to come.
The work
Jack was known for his fine line work and his gouache paintings. From American Greetings to Alpo dog food to Philadelphia Whiskey, his graphic style was clean, precise, and full of life.
Remembering Jack
More to come.
The spoon trick
The infamous spoon trick. It was his best joke, and the one he never stopped telling.