Todd Marinovich Learns Art to Succeeding in Life

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Todd Marinovich was trained to be an artist with a football. That career didn't work out. Now, he's drawing on another talent ... and finds himself at peace as an artist.

Marinovich went from being a standout college quarterback at the University of Southern California, to an NFL first-round draft pick with the Raiders, to a convicted drug addict.

That would only be telling a portion of what it's been like being Todd Marinovich, who has found happiness in his new life.

"I am not one to bring up [my past experiences], but if I somehow end up in a conversation and someone wants to talk about it, I am open to do that," Marinovich told FanHouse this week.

"By all means, I am not ashamed or disappointed. Everything that has happened is just part of my journey. It's all a part of me, the good and bad."

Over the last year, Marinovich has committed himself to making art. All types of art, from abstract paintings to oversized wood sculptures. Marinovich sells his pieces through his own art gallery website (www.toddmarinovich.com) and many of his works are featured at an art compound owned by artist/author Bob Abbott in Fallbrook, Calif.

"Todd is a very talented man who's very creative," said Abbott, who wrote the top-seller book "Art and Reality," which is featured/used by prison systems throughout the world.

"He's able to capture feelings and emotions very well. And the thing about Todd is that he's a fine artist. He's not just an illustrator."

To his father, Marv, Todd Marinovich was not going to be just any quarterback. That led to an unsettled relationship, which has stabilized. Marv Marinovich is proud of his son, the artist.

"Todd's artwork is pretty amazing. I feel very good with what he's doing and I'm happy that he's become an artist," Marv told FanHouse. "For us, it's been good to have a medium where we both are closely involved. He feels the same about his work like I do with mine.

"For me, art has always been a personal thing. I don't make art to be sold. It's has to a do a lot with my own self-satisfaction.

Like father, like son. Todd Marinovich always saw his dad as an artist.

"He's definitely an artist. He has his own issues in not having confidence in his ability to create something that people would buy," Todd said. "Without a doubt, he can. ... but he's very reserved and held back in his own way."

Finally, Todd Marinovich seems to have found his way.

"It goes way back with me," Todd Marinovich said. "Going back to my first memory of school, the art portion of the day was never long enough. It was the same with P.E. ... Those two aspects of school always flew by. I think that was an indication then. ...Those two things were fun to me."

For whatever reasons, Marinovich never seriously considered himself an artist.

"Growing up, you hear a lot of things," said Marinovich, 41, who is now married with a young son and lives in Orange County. "Over time, you learn that some of those things are true and some aren't. It's really up to you to figure things out.

"For me, one of those things that I heard was that you could not make a living being an artist. I heard that all of the time. You know, that old' Starving Artist' stuff."

So even though Marinovich majored in Fine Arts at USC, he never pushed himself as an artist and mainly kept to black-and-white portraits, using charcoal or pencils.


That's when Marinovich's artistic desire began to fade.

"I just got bored with art," Marinovich said. "Black and white drawings were cool at first but all it really was, was recreating from a picture. ... for people who are not able to do that, they are blown away and really impressed.

"But as you get older, I know with me, I didn't feel very creative. I felt like I was a human Xerox. I was copying things that I saw and there wasn't much creativity to that. That's when I put it down. For years."

In this period , Marinovich's life path took a different direction. He was let go by the Raiders after three seasons and then bounced around playing in the Canadian and Arena Football Leagues.

Marinovich's problems off the field were also well documented as he found himself getting into one legal situation after another.

Enter Abbott.

"Bob Abbott, my mentor and really good friend, invited me down to his art compound in Fallbrook and he completely opened my eyes to painting and color," Marinovich said. "Abstract paintings where you don't see figures or forms...it was just colors."

Thanks to Abbott's encouragement, Marinovich began to explore different elements of art. And it's been one steady learning experience ever since.

"I had never spent that much time painting, where I really appreciated what I was doing," Todd Marinovich said. "So, I know that I am relatively new at it.

"But I know that it doesn't matter if you are playing football, working in the business world, or anything else that you want to do well in ... it's going to take some time to get good at it."

And for Marinovich, it's better late than never.

"In some ways, playing football was detrimental to my art career," Todd Marinovich said. "I don't blame anybody ... but I did not nurture that part of me. That part of my character. Part of me as a human being ... It feels good to be able to express myself."

Todd Marinovich is especially proud of one particular work, a project shared with his father.

"One of the greatest experiences I have had with him -- father and son-wise with him -- maybe ever," Todd said of working on a sculpture and having it as a lasting memory. "I haven't told anyone about that ... it changed our relationship together in a positive way."

And art has allowed the Marinoviches to shed a darker past for brighter days. Just like a work of art.

"If I do fall down or make a mistake, there's always the next day," Todd says. "And with life, there's always tomorrow."

For more examples of Todd Marinovich's artwork click here.