Maxx “The Marauder”

Colored pencil and watercolor illustration of Maxx Crosby #98 in both Raiders home and away uniforms with The Autumn Wind poem and pirate ship

“Maxx The Marauder” (Crosby), colored pencil, ink and watercolor, 22in x 30in, (2025). Commissioned Art

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A detailed close-up captures Crosby's intense focus through his Raiders helmet—the "silver hat upon his head and a bristling black mustache"—and showcases the intricate colored pencil work on his uniform details, including the captain's "C" patch. Th
This extreme close-up showcases the intricate detail captured in Maxx Crosby's elaborate arm tattoos, revealing personal elements like the eye-clock design and his Eastern Michigan "E" tribute. The meticulous colored pencil work brings these meaningf
This portrayal of Maxx Crosby in his Raiders away uniform captures his boisterous swagger, embodying "The Autumn Wind" poem's spirit with the #98 prominently displayed. The detailed colored pencil work showcases his tattooed arms and confident stance
The center of the artwork features "The Autumn Wind" poem hand-lettered in Gothic-style ink calligraphy, positioned between Maxx Crosby's home and away uniforms. This intricate typography showcases the iconic Raiders poem against the Raiders shield b
This detailed close-up showcases the intricately rendered pirate ship in watercolor, deliberately painted with translucent technique to reveal the Raiders shield logo beneath. The maritime imagery serves as a visual metaphor for "The Autumn Wind" poe
A behind-the-scenes look at the artist's drafting table upon creation of "Maxx the Marauder," showing the various colored pencils, reference materials, and tools used to create this detailed artwork. The recently completed piece is mounted on a profe
The artist proudly displays the completed "Maxx the Marauder" watercolor and colored pencil artwork, revealing the full composition with both home and away uniforms, The Autumn Wind poem, and Raider imagery in its finished state. This perspective pro

This original 22" x 30" colored pencil and watercolor illustration celebrates Maxx Crosby's dominant defensive presence with the Las Vegas Raiders and two verses from the iconic "Autumn Wind is a Raider" poem made famous by NFL Films Co-Founder Steve Sabol. Close attention was paid to the intricate details of Maxx's arm and neck tattoos, of interest is the triangle neck tattoo and facemask, representing the sobriety emblem. Maxx has shared that he draws a lot of strength from his sobriety. Also of note is the "eye clock" on his right shoulder and "E" on his right forearm paying homage to Eastern Michigan where he played college football.

The composition of the painting represents elements of the poem itself. Maxx's "boisterous swagger" is captured in the smaller figure on the left, while the "silver hat upon his head and bristling black mustache" is depicted in the larger image on the right. The pirate ship was added to note the "pillaging just for fun" aspect and of course the Raiders legendary logo tying it all together.

This piece was a commission for a client in Albuquerque, New Mexico who is a life long Raiders fan. It was fun and challenging to complete, especially the gothic lettering of the poem and the detailed tattoos.

Be sure to view the video of “Maxx The Marauder” synced to the “The Autumn Wind is a Raider” poem read by the legendary John Facenda below.