Mets Art - Joe Maracic
Let’s Go Mets. Joe Maracic (GrafixJoker) has been making Mets art since before it was a thing you could search for. Born a short fly ball from Shea Stadium in Queens, he’s spent decades turning Mets fandom into actual artwork: cartoons, charcoal sketches, and oil paintings that go beyond the standard “player standing in front of a logo” category.
The Mets art on this page ranges from loose, funny toons to tight pencil portraits. Some pieces are reverent. Some are not. All of them are the work of someone who has watched too many ninth-inning collapses to take any of this too seriously, but cares enough to draw it anyway.
Mets toons anyone?
Joe’s art is a combo of illustration and painting. His style, rotating fine art and cartoons, particularly with his beloved New York Mets, captures the hearts of art enthusiasts and Mets fans alike.
Yet, what sets Joe apart isn’t just his technical skill or formal education; it’s his ability to infuse each piece of paper and canvas with a little bit of emotion. As we explore his evolving creative process and notable contributions, one can’t help but wonder, what drives the man behind the toon?
Artistic Beginnings
Born down the road from Shea Stadium in Queens, NY, Joe Maracic’s journey from drawing with crayons at the tender age of four, then onto working with charcoal, pen, watercolor, and oil painting has made him the creative he is today.
Joe’s dedication to art led him to seek formal training, further refining his abilities and shaping his artistic style. He began his studies in the 1980’s at the Roslyn School of Painting. Under the guidance of Charles Pasqualina, a renowned portrait painter, Joe learned the fundamentals of design and painting. Speaking of the 80’s, 1986 was a great year for Joe.
Later in the 90’s he was accepted into the Parsons Summer Studies Program in NYC, eventually completing his education at the School of Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Joe tried his best to not rub his Mets fandom in the face of his Red Sox friends.
This formal education acquired equipped him with a blend of impressionism and realism, a style that he put on display in his work.
Joe’s artistic voyage took root in the vibrant landscapes and seascapes of Croatia, where, he first discovered his passion for painting old wooden boats in water. The picturesque Adriatic Sea and its surrounding islands, served as his initial muses, deeply influencing his early compositions. This connection to Croatia’s settings laid the groundwork for his artistic vision, marking the inception of a lifelong pursuit.
Incorporating influences from artists like Monet and Mihanovic, Joe’s work began to reflect an evolution, merging traditional techniques with a modern sensibility. The beauty of Croatia, coupled with his formal training, played pivotal roles in the formation of his artistic identity, setting the stage for a diverse and evolving art portfolio.
The Mets Art
Mets art covers a wide range here, and that’s intentional.
On one end are the toons: cartoons of players like Edwin Diaz (drawn mid-entrance, trumpets implied), Pete Alonso in full Polar Bear mode, and David Wright, who deserves better than what happened. These are loose, expressive, and built for people who love the Mets and have a sense of humor about it.
On the other end are the charcoal and pencil portraits: Tom Seaver, Robinson Cano, Jeff McNeil’s Flying Squirrel moment. These are slower, more careful, and closer to what you’d find in a gallery than a sports bar. Both approaches live on the same page because that’s how Joe actually works.
Who Buys Mets Art
Most Mets art online falls into two camps: licensed merchandise and generic prints. Cartoons with no personality, or photos with a filter slapped on. Joe’s work sits in a third category: original art made by a Mets fan who trained at Parsons and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, and who has been drawing these players long enough to have opinions about all of them.
That combination of genuine fandom and formal training is not as common as you’d think. It shows in the work.
Mets fans who want something for a wall (not a shelf) tend to respond to the charcoal portraits. Fans who want something that captures the feeling of being a Mets fan, the absurdity, the hope, the chaos, tend to go for the toons. Both are available here.
Artistic Contributions
Joe’s work has shown up at sporting events, on television, and across social media. Beyond sports, his oil paintings and charcoal portraits have appeared in solo and group exhibitions, and in private and corporate collections. The range goes from Mets toons to Croatian seascapes to portrait work that has nothing to do with baseball at all. That’s what happens when you actually paint things instead of just picking a lane and staying in it.
Family Life and Inspirations
Joe lives on Long Island with his wife AnnaMaria, and daughters, Lia and Scarlett, Joe’s personal life keeps him busy. Joe’s daughter Lia’s initials are LGM, of course.
The support of his family fuels his creativity and keeps him connected to the community, serving as a continuous source of inspiration for his wide-ranging artistic endeavors.
Mets Art: Common Questions
What kind of Mets art does Joe make?
Four formats: cartoons (toons), charcoal/pencil portraits, watercolors, and oil paintings.
Are the pieces originals or prints?
Both. Original pieces are available, and prints are available for most work. Contact Joe directly for availability on specific pieces.
Is this officially licensed by the Mets?
No. This is independent fan art made by an independent artist.