When Malcolm Farley is moved by a vivid image, he has the luxury of being able to convey that scene to the world.

The Denver-based sports and entertainment artist is becoming a hot commodity as an on-site painter, having recently unveiled a Super Bowl XLI piece depicting Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning getting ready to pass against an onrushing Chicago Bears defense.

All 100 copies of the 48-by-60 inch canvas painting are signed by Manning and Farley.

Farley, who graduated from Nederland High School and is a member of the Metro State Hall of Fame for his time (1978 to 1981) as a Roadrunners basketball player, has composed numerous other notable works, including a recent U.S. Open edition of golfer Tiger Woods.

In the next few months, Farley will paint former tennis player Pete Sampras, baseball legend Willie Mays (in conjunction with the 2007 All-Star Game) and a tribute to the Broncos' Darrent Williams, with proceeds benefiting the slain cornerback's two children.

Writer Paul Willis recently caught up with Farley.

1 How do you decide what you put down on canvas? Is it a concrete image from the game or an overall impression?

Sometimes it's a certain play, like the Super Bowl painting could have been (Devin) Hester's kickoff return, but usually, it's an overall feel. I always try to get the feel of the stadium and the weather, which of course was a big factor in that game. Peyton's generalship was what I was trying to capture. It's a combination, usually. Depicting one play sometimes limits you, unless it's something like Dwight Clark's catch.

2 How does the recent success of the Metro State men's basketball team compare to your time as a Roadrunner?

Night and day. (Laughs) I don't think we were ever ranked in the top 10, I'll put it that way. What (former) coach (Mike) Dunlap did there was amazing. and I've followed it pretty closely for the last four or five years. I've been a part of some fundraising efforts down there.

3 Do you have a piece of art that you characterize as your favorite?

That's hard because so many of my pieces are varied subject matter. Some of my golf scapes, like the one at Pebble Beach with the waves crashing in on that par-3 there. That one meant a lot to me, and the last Super Bowl. The San Antonio Spurs piece that just auctioned for $115,000 and was signed by Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, we all worked together on that one. Each painting has a different piece of history behind it.

4 You do a lot of your painting live and on site. Any horror stories to speak of?

Remember the Monday Night Football game in Seattle (on Nov. 27) when snow blanketed the stadium in about a half-hour? I was set up on the sideline to paint for national TV, and within 15 minutes, all the paint had run off the canvas down onto the ground. It was a wet, heavy blanket, and everyone was scurrying for cover. . . . That was the biggest disaster as far as on-site painting. We had hair dryers on it at halftime. It was crazy.

5 You've delved into areas beyond sports, such as the Grammys. How do you hope to further expand your work in the future?

I'd like to get into some more "cause" stuff. Seeing the Oscars and knowing how that whole thing is going with global warming, if I can be of assistance there, I'd love to. I'm doing a lot of fundraising pieces for the World Peace concerts that are coming up with (U2 singer) Bono and those types of people. . . . Being live and on stage and at the Grammys has just opened up a whole different genre. I also have a trip scheduled to Africa to paint the wildlife.