The Albany Gazette - Artist says criticised Ronnie O'Sullivan mural is unfinished

The artist behind a 30ft mural of Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sheffield says the painting remains unfinished after social-media users criticised its depiction of the seven-time world snooker champion.

Dan Kirkland, owner of the Spot On Snooker and Pool Club, commissioned Chris Ashmore to paint the mural on the side of the club near the Crucible Theatre. The work took more than six weeks.

Online commenters compared the unfinished portrait with a zombie, Michael Jackson and a primate. Scaffolding was later reassembled against the wall, which shows O'Sullivan leaning over a shot with a cue and rest.

Ashmore told the BBC that the mural still required touch-ups. He said uneven ground prevented him from using his usual scissor lift, which would have allowed him to stand farther back and assess the complete image.

Kirkland defended the artist, citing earlier works Ashmore had produced inside the club, including a recreation of the Crucible Theatre and portraits of John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and the television character Bullseye. He said the club regarded the online comments as humorous and expected the finished mural to look different.

The attention came as O'Sullivan, 50, withdrew from the British Open for a fourth consecutive year for medical reasons, according to the World Snooker Tour. His withdrawal followed a 6-3 loss to Chang Bingyu at the Wuhan Open. Mark Joyce replaced him in the British Open draw against Poland's Mateusz Baranowski.

(Y.Harris--TAG)