“Just A Lawyer Drawing Sports Icons” (One of a kind book set for grand launch on Sept. 15)

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano lawyer Jovi Garcia Neri, who is also a dedicated sportsman, artist and writer, will be launching his “Just A Lawyer Drawing Sports Icons” book during the opening event of Tubô Cebu Art Fair on September 15 at Ayala Center Cebu.

The hardcover, large size coffee table book showcases the highly-acclaimed illustrations of Neri, totaling 36 sports icons - including nine Filipinos - featured in ready-to-frame, removable pages printed on specialty art paper designed to mimic the look and feel of the actual original art.

Neri takes the reader along his own art journey told through drawings, sketches and doodles that span four decades. He provides commentary on each illustration, revealing his creative process and artistic evolution, and recounts his personal encounters and interactions with some of the global sports icons who have acknowledged his depictions of them.

Neri,a champion golfer who is the brains behind the successful junior golf program of the Cebu Country Club, emphasized that while his book seems to have an international flavor, it is still very much Cebuano.

Testament to that, two of his masterpieces are full-blooded Cebuanos in boxing great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde from the City of Bogo and basketball star June Mar Fajardo from Pinamungajan town. Moreover, the final art page of the book is his interpretation of the Santo Niño de Cebu.

Neri made special mention of billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes as his driving force in coming up with the book that is one of a kind.

“In July 2020, he was the first sports icon I ever drew - the “alpha” of my upcoming book. I even made a special sidebar in the book on how I came up with the drawing of him without a single reference photo,” Neri shared on his Facebook page. “In some twist of serendipity, he was also the last image I submitted to my printer for final inclusion in my book.  So he was also the “omega”. I guess if I never drew him, I would never come up with my book.”

Aside from Elorde, Fajardo and Reyes, the other Pinoys taking the spotlight in the 162-page book in full color are Manny Pacquiao, Robert Jaworski, Hidilyn Diaz, Eugene Torre, Yuka Saso, and Paeng Nepomuceno, who write the book’s foreword. The bowling Hall of Famer and Guinness world record holder will also be Neri’s special guest for the book signing on Sept. 15.

Completing the list of Neri’s fascinating collection are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Canelo Alvarez, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Hulk Hogan,  Tom Brady, David Goggins, Royce Gracie, and Shohei Ohtani.

Interestingly, some world-class athletes have recognized, commended, and shared Neri’s drawings to their social media platforms.

Aside from the book itself, Neri said at least 15 pieces of his original artwork, including some cover art as well as matching stickers and postcards, will be offered for sale to the public in their booth located at the Ayala Activity Center “rotunda” along Leona’s and TGI Friday’s.  He will try to be available as much as possible on all three days (Sept. 15-17) to sign the books and even do some remarques (aka live sketches) on the flyleaf page as an added treat for those who support his endeavor.

Priced at P2,000, those who want to buy the book may place an order through website sportsiconsbyjovi.com or direct message to social media pages:Sports Icons by Jovi (Facebook) or @sportsiconsbyjovi (Instagram). — (FREEMAN)