Tod Gunter, the owner of Plane Profiles studio and gallery in Stowe, Vermont, presented a work of art he created to Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. The illustration is of a Vietnam era fighter airplane, adorned in a livery that Gunter created, to commemorate the Patriots’ championship in Super Bowl XLIX.
Gunter got the idea while watching the game. “There was a Navy squadron back in the ‘70s and ‘80s that used to paint their aircraft in some spectacular motifs. The squadron, VX-4 Evaluators, were a stateside unit that performed weapons evaluation, so they didn’t need the tactical liveries that were typical of squadrons in the theatre of operations,” Gunter said.
Tod, who is a designer as well as an illustrator, used his graphics skill to come up with the special paint job for the plane. Gunter added, “It was a lot of fun, since I’ve been a Patriots fan all of my life.”
Reaching Robert Kraft to make his presentation went “incredibly smooth,” especially since the Patriots owner is an exceptionally busy man. “Robert Kraft is well-known for accomodating the fan-base,” Gunter added. “I wrote a letter to him, and within a week, the meeting was set up! My timing turned out to be excellent, and it all came together very quickly”.
So what was it like, meeting one of the most powerful men in sports? “It was almost surreal, for me.
He’s an incredibly nice man, and very personable. He made a point of giving me a Super Bowl baseball cap, as well as a personalized pin, which he reserves for selected people. I’m humbled by his gesture,” Gunter shared.
A copy of the artwork that Tod created for Robert Kraft will be on display in his new gallery, which will be opening in late March / early April, in Stowe. Gunter added that prints of the illustration won’t be sold, due to licensing restrictions by the NFL. The artist remarked, “It’s an extremely costly process to license the use of an NFL franchise logo. I’m just pleased I was able to give the illustration to Mr. Kraft, whom I greatly admire.”
Photo credit: Christy Berkery