how to make a big splash

Kerplop! The Physics of a Cannonball Splash

There's no better way to beat the stifling summer heat than to spend a day at the pool —catching rays, cooling off in the water and, of course, impressing family and friends with a soaring, splashy cannonball. But no matter how impressive your jump, inevitably a larger, or more skilled, cannonballer will take to the pool with a louder, bigger and wetter splash. It doesn't have to be that way. To make the biggest splash, all a jumper needs is a little fluid dynamics know-how, a high-speed photography cheat sheet and some practice.

What Happens During a Cannonball

The first physics lesson is simple: To get the best splash, you must act like a sphere.

"If you're doing a cannonball, it is very similar to when you drop a sphere in the water," says Tadd Truscott, a professor of mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University who studies the interface between air and water and the behavior of solid objects at that interface.

At that point, things underwater start to get interesting. As a body descends, an air cavity forms in its wake. This cavity is about the size of the object and as it descends in the water it becomes an hourglass shape.

Immediately after the cavity forms, the pressure from the water surrounding it causes it to collapse inward from the perimeter. Eventually the cavity completely collapses at one point, called the pinch-off location. After the collapse, the water that is still rushing inward to fill the cavity escapes upward, and, assuming that the body hit the water straight on, shoots straight up and out of the water. "The 'kerplop!' and the spray that comes out at the end is from this collapsing event," Truscott says. Physicists call this the jet.

How to Make the Biggest Splash

In terms of water volume launched from the pool, the jet is most influential in making a big splash. Overall size depends heavily on impact speed, says Stephan Gekle, a professor of physics at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Gekle has run similar experiments to Truscott's, using disks instead of spheres. "The jet size depends also on the impact speed, but here the object shape is very important," Gekle says. The more rounded, the object (or human) is, the larger the jet will be. Weight is also a factor, since heavier objects will form deeper air cavities.

What matters most underwater is the size and shape of the cavity formed. The larger the cavity the more water must rush to fill it—and the straighter the cavity, the larger the portion of water that leaves the pool. "That's one of the reasons you get a much better jet with a cannonball than with a belly flop," says Nathan Keim, who researches fluid dynamics at the University of Chicago. "You create a cavity that is much more symmetric and deep. Because it's symmetric you've set things perfectly for when that water rushes back in to fill the cavity," Keim says. "It gets focused, so it comes in from all directions, and then has no choice but to go up."

Another way to increase splash is to change your external chemistry. Truscott does drop tests with both hydrophobic (water-resisting) and hydrophilic (water-loving) spheres. Splash size increases as the degree to which an object is hydrophobic increases, and decreases as hydrophilicity increases. "Humans in general are hydrophobic," Truscott says. But you can become even more hydrophobic by wearing brand-new clothes, or a hydrophobic wetsuit or water polo suit. Alternatively, you could coat your body in a hydrophobic substance such as Vaseline or soot. Of course, if you get onto the high-dive covered head-to-toe in Vaseline, your ability to impress family and friends may be significantly diminished.

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How to make a big splash with a small garden

When it comes to creating a beautiful garden, size doesn’t matter. You can make big dreams happen in a small space with the right plant choices, artful design and just a little creativity. We asked three experts how you can transform a bantam-size backyard, a mini-garden or a strip of side yard into an expansive-feeling area blossoming with big vibes. Here are their suggestions.

Pick petite plants. Many seed companies and plant breeders are developing varieties specifically designed for growing in smaller spaces and pots. When purchasing plants, Callie Works-Leary, founder of the Dallas Garden School, recommends looking for ones with the words dwarf, patio or container in their names. For example, if you’re looking to grow fruits and vegetables, good options include Patio Baby eggplant, Tophat dwarf blueberry bushes and Peas-in-a-Pot.

Present a unified front. Variety is not always the way to go. “Having a collection of random pots in different colors, sizes and shapes is the quickest way to confuse the eye and make a garden seem smaller,” says Amy Pennington, author of “ Tiny Space Gardening: Growing Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Small Outdoor Spaces .” She proposes choosing containers with the same color and style to keep the focus on the plants, allowing them to provide pleasing contrasts with their colors, textures and shapes.

How to elevate a small, urban garden for maximum impact

Less is more. “The biggest mistake I see people making is trying to grow one of everything,” Works-Leary says. “Just like in a house, if you have too many belongings, that clutter will make it feel more constricted.” To create a sense of harmony, select a smaller number of plants, say up to a half-dozen, and grow enough of each one to fill the beds. The patches of plants will give a place for the eye to rest, so viewers can experience each type of plant on a deeper level.

Go vertical. “If you have limited linear space, grow up,” Pennington says. “Add plants that pull the eye up.” There are plenty of edible plants that are vining or that can be trellised, such as tomatoes, peas, cucumbers and melons. You can purchase a more upscale metal climbing structure, or simply lean two pieces of bamboo together and tie them at the top to secure them. Alternately, there are decorative vines that can adhere to walls, such as star jasmine, evergreen clematis and royal trumpet. You can also add other vertical elements, such as hanging baskets, plant stands, window boxes and containers, that attach to a wall, railing or deck.

Go horizontal, too. To make a space feel more expansive on the horizontal plane, use repeating identical elements that make a dramatic impression. When designing a garden bed set against the back end of your property, for example, pick the same statement plant to go on either side. Or if you have a thin yard running alongside your house, put the same type of eye-catching tree at either end. “They draw the eye,” Works-Leary says. “They frame the area, while also making it appear wider.”

Build layers. Works-Leary suggests creating a layering effect by choosing plants with differing textures, complementary colors and varying heights. This adds variety, preventing you from having a space where a bunch of similar plants drown each other out. Try planting a yucca cane with a tall, thin trunk and green sword-shaped leaves in the back. In front of it, put in Gregg’s Mistflower, which has a fuzzy appearance and light purple flowers, and won’t grow as tall as the cane. “This will create nice contrasts,” she says, “while breaking things up.”

Get reflective. Hanging a mirror on a wall or fence, or on the side of the house or shed, can trick the eye into thinking there’s more space. Just be sure to place the mirror where it’s not going to get too much direct sun and reflect light onto your plants, which could cause problems, especially in hotter environments. Niki Jabbour of savvygardening.com said she visited a small garden overlooking the ocean that had a mirror partially reflecting the open sea. “It was like this gateway into another world,” says Jabbour, the author of several gardening books, including “ Growing Under Cover: Techniques for a More Productive, Weather-Resistant, Pest-Free Vegetable Garden .” “You just felt like the garden was much bigger.”

Try a little water. There might not be room to put in a swimming pool or an in-ground pond, but even the tiniest yard can have a water feature. Consider adding a small aboveground pond ringed with rocks to hide the sides or a standing birdbath. The water reflects the sky and greenery above it, adding another dimension to the space and making it feel larger. Additionally, Jabbour says, it can attract birds and amphibians, as well as butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators.

Think in terms of “rooms.” Divide your yard into sections. Perhaps put a sitting area with a couch and a small table in one corner and a collection of potted plants in another. Jabbour suggests maximizing your space with useful components, such as a pollinator garden, a raised bed for growing produce or an herb garden. “When you create little rooms or zones in a space, it gives the illusion of being expansive,” Pennington adds. “It’s like putting a bookshelf in the corner of a small studio apartment to make it feel like there’s another room.”

Forge a path. If you have a yard that is at least 10 by 10 feet, lay a stone pathway between a couple of the zones you created, perhaps between the lawn chair where you lounge in the sun and a birdbath or between the patio and your herb garden. The path doesn’t have to be anything fancy; simply place stone or concrete pavers in shallowly dug depressions in the ground. Avoid straightaways, because they will shrink the space from a visual perspective. “Instead, build curving pathways,” Jabbour says. “They make short distances seem like a little bit of a longer walk, which gives the illusion of size.”

Create a living fence. To demarcate these zones, Pennington suggests using living fences that double as edible landscape. She plants small fruit trees (such as apples or pears) supported on an espalier system — small trellises that force trees to grow flat in two dimensions — interspersed with blueberry bushes and strawberry plants. This creates a three-layer barrier, with the trees growing to five or six feet tall, the bushes maxing out at two to three feet high, and the strawberries spreading at ground level.

Martell is a writer based in Silver Spring, Md. His website is nevinmartell.com . Find him on Twitter and Instagram : @nevinmartell.

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An MIT Professor Explains How To Master The Splash This Summer

Rule the pool with some help from fluid dynamics.

If a kid jumps into a pool and there’s no one around to see it, does it make a splash? Of course it does. The splash is the reward of the jump. Kids wouldn’t be running around the pool, stepping back further and further to get and practicing that perfect jump if every entrance was met with a flaccid gulp . Pool jumpers everywhere live for the eruption of the water. That’s the thrill, man . And the cannonball is king for conjuring the best poolside splash.

Ever wonder why? Well, sometimes it takes an MIT professor to explain things that we all learn by the age of five, so John Bush, a professor of applied mathematics at MIT and a self-described fluid dynamicist, took time away from doing what were probably some important and intellectually productive things to explain why cannonballs are —and this feels like a technical term — so splashy as well as how to make the best one.

flickr / Jlhopgood

First, a lesson. There are four primary mechanical concepts interacting with one another whenever you watch someone jump in the pool: gravity, form drag, fluid inertia and, as far as cannonballs are concerned, the Worthington jet.

Form Drag: “When a large object moves through a fluid, you get a resistance, which is called a form drag,” Bush says. The change in densities through which an object is passing is highly relevant in this case, too, as the change of passing through the air into water creates impact.

Fluid Inertia: The body hitting the water is combating the resistance of the water, or its fluid inertia.“You basically get a pressure which resists your motion, which is proportional to your speed, squared, and the density of the water,” Bush says. This concept also plays a part in skipping stones and the ability of certain lizards to run across water .

Worthington Jet: When you drop a sphere into a liquid it creates a hole in the water, and the water that was pushed aside then rushes back to fill in that hole. “Basically, in hitting the surface, you’re displacing water,” Bush says. “You leave a cavity behind, and it’s the collapse of the cavity which causes the splash,” Bush says.

Think about Olympic high divers whose goal it is to create the smallest splash they can. The reason, in the terminology of fluid mechanics, that they so infamously try to enter the water as straight up and down as possible is to displace as little water as possible.

“Which is really an indicator of how much force you’re sustaining during impact,” Bush says.

Gravity: The farther you fall, the faster you are traveling when you hit the water (disregard here the concept of terminal velocity , which ideally isn’t going to be at play your local swimming pool).

“As you go higher you’re going faster so the impact is higher,” Bush says.

So, in summary: A cannonballing jumper accelerates through the air as they descend until they hit the placid water. They then lose force while plummeting below the surface; for fractions of a second a hollow space exists above them in the water, which the water naturally rushes in to fill, leading to a vertical splash – and for these purposes, ideally a large one.

flickr / Loren Kerns

So, Why Cannonballs?

Jump after jump, Bush says, your best bet to consistently displace the most water is the cannonball. Why? Physics, of course. The jumper will typically present the most exposed surface of area to the water while simultaneously maximizing the depth of descent into the water.

Of course, not all cannonballs are created equal. Little kids know this already — the bigger the jumper, the bigger the splash. Why? “The volume displaced is going to be proportional to your size,” says Bush. Which is why a cannonball executed by a scrawny 8-year-old will pale in comparison to a technically flawless dive by, say, a sumo wrestler — or just a husky 8-year-old.

What About a Belly Flop or Jackknife?

Advocates of the belly flop no doubt cry foul at all of the above. Their tortured bellies humbly protest that a flat impact is the splashiest of all options. They may be partially right, Bush says, because belly flops will create a larger horizontal spray than the cannonball. “Simply because you maximize the exposed [surface] area that way,” Bush says. But the belly flop’s vertical trajectory of splash will be much lower than the cannonball, Bush says, making it not ideal for winning splash competitions. “And, of course, it’s going to hurt like hell.”

While he maintains the cannonball is the most consistent jump to create the most splash, Bush allows that the jackknife offers an intriguing combination of depth and water displacement that combine the best parts of the cannonball and the belly flop, leading to both vertical and horizontal splash when done correctly.

flickr / Tim Pierce

“There you get sort of a wonky splash, it’s asymmetric,” Bush says. The one extended leg could create a deeper cavity than a cannonball. Add to that the often off-kilter, angle of the diver in a jackknife (leading to a heels-butt sequence of impact), and you’ve got some other equations in play. “Of course, if you go in sideways, there’s a sort of a lateral splash just from… your horizontal inertia deflecting fluid in a horizontal form.”

Could a properly executed jack knife create a larger splash than a cannonball? It’s a scientifically interesting question, Bush says, begging further investigation with high-speed photography, a swimming pool, and a willing test subject.

“That would be a fun thing to do,” he says.

This article was originally published on June 28, 2017

Allen Tate Blog

Home » Western NC » Make a big splash with these 8 backsplash Ideas

Make a big splash with these 8 backsplash Ideas

Last Updated on September 8, 2022

Is your dream kitchen modern and sleek? Cozy and rustic? Colorful and artistic?

No matter what it is, there’s a backsplash that can help bring your space to life.

Designed to protect your walls from grease and other liquids while cooking, the backsplash has transformed into a home decor staple and has the power to define a kitchen’s personality.

In need of some inspiration? We’ve gathered 8 of our favorite backsplash ideas to help you add some color, texture, and character to your kitchen.

Patterned tile

While we seem to be moving away from that traditional white subway tile this year, that doesn’t mean we have to do away with tile completely.

Add a splash of color and personality to your kitchen when you use a fun pattern like this beautiful Moroccan-style tile.  

In 2020, we are seeing designers opting for bigger slabs of material like marble and quartz to create kitchen backsplashes. This “slab style” is sure to tie your kitchen together and create an overall smoother finish.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Angela Rose | DIY and Design (@angelarosehome)

Matching countertop and backsplash

For those who are thinking about experimenting with slab style backsplash, consider picking the same material as your countertops.

Extending the countertop material up the backsplash creates a sleek, contemporary look. It is also a perfect backdrop for open shelving, displaying your dishes and kitchen accessories.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LL Design Co (@ll.design.co)

Unconventional materials

A new decade is the perfect time to experiment with new, out-of-the-box design. If you’re willing to make some bold changes to your kitchen, go for materials such as copper or tin sheets.

The perfect way to spice up an otherwise standard kitchen, these materials are a durable and unique backdrop that add character and visual interest.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Accents by Amy Interior Design (@accentsbyamyinteriordesign)

A farmhouse staple, shiplap is a rustic and versatile backsplash option. Stain it, paint it or leave the wood in it’s natural state.

However you decide to incorporate it, shiplap offers an organic vibe to the space without being too distracting.

This would be a nice, neutral backdrop if you’re wanting to go bold somewhere else in the kitchen like cabinets or countertops.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dawn Moon (@dawnmoonhome)

A trend throughout the home in 2021, wallpaper is making a comeback and wants to make an appearance in your kitchen.

With a plethora of amazing peel-and-stick wallpapers, this can actually be one of the best choices for homeowners looking for a less permanent option.

Allow your backsplash to serve as the statement wall in your kitchen and go for something more bold and colorful, or stick to the basics with a more neutral pattern.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Scripture (@natalienextdoorhouseflips)

Terrazzo can be a great backdrop anywhere in the home; especially when used in the kitchen.

Made from a combination of stones such as marble, glass, granite, and quartz and held together with resin or concrete, it’s a durable material that adds a bit of spunk to your space.

Go for large statement stones or smaller speckled pieces to create a look that fits in your kitchen.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rowley Reno – Ciara & John (@rowley_renovation)

Brick veneer

If your kitchen is need of something a little more traditional, brick has timeless charm that is unmatched.

Unlike conventional brick walls, brick veneer can be installed in a thin single layer over metal, wood, concrete, or directly over drywall with constructive adhesive.

This makes it a great choice for a DIY project, especially if you’re going for that rustic farmhouse look.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by McKinley Dees (@mckinleydees)

Keep reading: Move over white kitchens, color is here to stay

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12 Small Pool Design Ideas That Make a Big Style Splash

Proof that size isn't everything.

Trace the Perimeter

In this beautiful Sonoma property by architect George Bevin and designer Ken Fulk, a narrow water feature surrounds the outdoor areas and eliminates the need for view-obstructing railings. It hooks around the patio and continues around the bend, feeding into a larger pool behind the house, but we'd definitely be willing to compromise and just have the narrow pool pictured here!

Set Up a Tablescape

Author Frances Schultz's Hamptons cottage is proof that even a small pool area can have a charming tablescape, complete with lush landscaping and plenty of room to entertain. A stone path leads from the dining patio to the pool and tall hedges enhance privacy despite nearby neighbors.

Throw in a Pool Float

Nothing completes a pool like an Instagram-worthy pool float—and the best part is, a float can fit in any size pool! We're also digging the diamond pattern pavers between the swimming pool and clubhouse designed by Lindsey Lane.

Shrink It Down

Designer Fitz Pullins's Jacksonville, Florida, home balances a modest backyard and even smaller pool with a dramatic tree and climbing vines. "Our neighbors are like, 'Oh, you guys are the ones with the small pool, right?' That's us," the designer laughs. While they couldn't fit a full0sized lap pool in their backyard, they were able to install a saltwater dipping pool!

Scenic Landscaping

Even a small pool area can be made into a luxury oasis through impeccable landscaping—and might we suggest incorporating boxwood shrubs and hedges to really add some panache?

Plenty of Bluestone

If you're not sure what to surround your pool with, take some inspiration from landscape architecture design studio Terremoto and add bluestone wherever possible.

Create a Cabana

Mark D. Sikes knows a thing or two about creating a picture-perfect blue and white space, and this cabana—sourced from Redwood Empire Awning—is giving us the itch to redecorate our own pool areas.

A Variety of Seating Options

What's a pool area without plenty of seating? Add a mix of lounge chairs and actual chairs, as Janice Parker Landscape Architects did here.

Architectural Additions

Who's to say that landscaping only includes plants? Making your pool area into an architectural oasis is a sure-fire way to make this space all the more luxurious.

Spruce Up a Pool House

We love a good pool house design—and this trellis-swathed one makes for a dreamy addition to this small pool area. And those bright yellow pillows add just the right amount of color!

Add Sheer Curtains for Some Pizzazz

Sheer curtains will make any space look more high-end—and they'll make your pool area look like a resort. It's a win-win!

Use Hedges as a Fence

Hedges are far prettier than fences, and they serve the same purpose: making your space as private as possible.

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Look Closer

Understanding David Hockney's A Bigger Splash

Explore Hockney's inspiration, techniques and have a go at some splash-inspired activities

Introduction

A closer look at 'a bigger splash', materials and techniques, style and inspiration, re-picturing water, explore more hockney, find out more.

David Hockney A Bigger Splash (1967) Tate

© David Hockney

• A Closer Look at A Bigger Splash
• Re-picturing Water

David Hockney is one of the most popular and widely recognised artists of our time. For over sixty years he has enchanted audiences with his bold, colourful, and innovative art.

In the 1950s and 1960s when Hockney was just starting out, lots of artists were experimenting with abstraction. For example abstract expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock were making paintings using only colour and gestural marks. Although Hockney explored abstraction at art college – simplifying and abstracting people and using expressive marks – he has always been interested in representing the places and people around him.

To me painting is picture making. I am not that interested in painting that doesn’t depict the visible world. I mean, it might be perfectly good art it just doesn’t interest me that much. David Hockney, Audio Arts 1978

Focusing on David Hockney's iconic painting A Bigger Splash we look at the ideas, themes, and inspirations that make Hockney such a great picture-maker.

Painted in 1967, A Bigger Splash is perhaps David Hockney's best-known artwork. What is it that makes this painting so iconic and seductive – and still very modern-looking fifty years after it was made?

The painting depicts a sun-drenched swimming pool in Los Angeles. Behind the pool is a pink modernist building and an empty chair. The silhouettes of neighbouring buildings are reflected in the building’s large window. Two spindly palm trees and a neat border of grass suggest carefully manicured gardens. Unusually for Hockney's paintings from this time, there is no-one in sight and the scene is almost entirely still … apart from the splash.

We are left wondering who dived in. The fact that the diver is not shown, adds to the sense that it could be anyone – even us sitting in that empty chair by the pool and jumping into to the cool still water!

What do you think of when you look at A Bigger Splash ? Is there a word that sums up how the painting makes you feel? It's OK if that word is 'jealous' as A Bigger Splash is an immediately seductive image. It makes us think of holidays and escapism – or perhaps the sort of life most of us can only dream about.

A ‘promised land’

Hockney first visited California in 1963 and was immediately won over by its sunshine and laid-back lifestyle (quite different from London where he had been living). He described it as his ‘promised land’ and spent much of the next forty years living there.

Peter Blake ‘The Meeting’ or ‘Have a Nice Day, Mr Hockney’ (1981–3) Tate

© Peter Blake 2024. All rights reserved, DACS

Did you know… David Hockney was also a reality TV star (well, sort of… )?

This film file is broken and is being removed. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

It wasn't only the Californian sunshine and lifestyle that had an impact on Hockney. Hollywood and celebrity beckoned. In 1971, when he was back living in London (he moved back for four years between 1968 and 1972), he agreed to be in a film. The filmmaker Jack Hazan followed David Hockney for three years documenting his work, life and social circle. This culminated in a 1974 feature-length film also titled A Bigger Splash. Like more recent British reality TV series Made in Chelsea or The Only Way is Essex, it looks like a documentary but in fact is a combination of the real and the imagined.

The splash in focus

Although a seductive depiction of a dream place, A Bigger Splash is not just about that. According to Hockney, the real subject is the split-second moment of the splash itself, frozen on canvas.

Hockney painted the picture from a photograph of a splash taken by someone else. He later commented how he had spent much longer painting the splash than the house behind it – even though a splash lasts two seconds and a building is permanently there. This contradiction fascinated him.

How was the splash painted?

We may think the obvious way to paint a splash is to use a liquid paint and throw it at the canvas – or use big brushes and expressive, gestural marks to mimic the messiness of a splash. After all, abstract expressionist painters such as Willem de Kooning had been making splashy paintings for years, and Hockney himself had used expressive mark-making in earlier works.

David Hockney 1. The Arrival (1961–3) Tate

But Hockney instead used small brushes to painstakingly reproduce the splash from the photograph: the shapes made by the upsurging cascade of water, the different areas of transparency and the details and traces of the tiny drips. It took him two weeks to get the splash looking just right.

When you photograph a splash, you’re freezing a moment and it becomes something else. I realise that a splash could never be seen this way in real life, it happens too quickly. And I was amused by this, so I painted it in a very, very slow way. David Hockney

More Splashes in Art!

David Hockney isn’t the only artist who has experimented with representing a splash. From videos to postcards of extreme nature, explore more artworks in Tate's collection that make a splash:

Between the Two my Heart is Balanced

Ink splash ii, die explosion in dem kanal, five angels for the millennium, melanie and me swimming, have a go paint a split-second moment s-l-o-w-l-y.

Francesca Woodman Space², Providence, Rhode Island (1976) ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland

© Woodman Family Foundation / Artist’s Rights Society (ARS), New York and DACS, London

David Hockney Study for ‘Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy’ (1970) Tate

You will need:

• a sheet of watercolour or thick-ish paper
• a small roundhead brush
• black watercolour or acrylic paint or ink
• a camera or computer to create your source image

Hockney took two weeks to paint the splash in A Bigger Splash . He worked from a photograph of a splash and used small brushes to copy its shapes, shades and details. (He probably experimented with brush strokes and marks to work out the best way of representing the different bits of the splash).

Step 1: Take a photograph (or find a photograph) of a split-second moment of movement. It doesn’t have to be a splash. It could be a darting fly, someone dancing or car headlights whizzing by at night.

Step2: Use filter settings on your camera or computer to render the picture in black and white. (This will make it easier to focus on the details and not be distracted by colour.)

Step 3: Look closely at the details of the photograph. Using a small brush see if you can work out ways of using marks, lines and washes to mimic the blurs and other details of movement.

Add water to your paint or ink and use the whole brush head to create washes. Use the paint or ink neat and the tip of your brush for sharper lines, dots and other details). Don’t worry if it takes a bit of time to get this right – remember Hockney took two weeks!

Top tip: David Hockney often uses the technique of squaring up an image to copy it or enlarge it. This might help to focus on different areas of detail. Draw a grid over your source photograph and a similar grid on your paper. Look at one square at a time and copy the details you see in each square into the corresponding square on your paper.

At approximately 2.5 metres (8 feet) squared, A Bigger Splash is almost life size. By standing in front of it we almost become part of the picture.

What materials did hockney use?

David Hockney used acrylic paint on white cotton duck canvas to paint A Bigger Splash .

Acrylic was a relatively new type of paint first available commercially for artists in America in in the early 1950s. (It didn’t arrive in Europe until a decade later). It is water-soluble and can be used thickly for an opaque surface, or by adding water or other mediums can be used to create thin washes. The beauty of acrylic paint over oil paint is that it dries much more quickly so artists don’t have to wait for ages for sections of painting to dry before working back into them.

Hockney was one of the first artists to make extensive use of acrylic. Being fast drying it suited his technique of painting large areas of flat colour and then adding details. He also felt that the fast-drying acrylic paint was more suited to portraying the sun-lit, clean-contoured suburban landscapes of California than slow drying oil paint.

David Hockney painting Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) 1972 A still from Jack Hazan's film A Bigger Splash 1974 Courtesy Jack Hazan and David Mingay, distributed by the British Film Institute © Buzzy Enterprises Ltd.

How did he paint it?

Usually, when painting on canvas, artists stretch the canvas over a wooden frame (called a stretcher) attaching it with tacks or staples. But to paint A Bigger Splash Hockney stapled the canvas to a wall.

He didn’t draw out the image on the canvas first but painted the blocks of colour directly onto it. To achieve the flat even surface of the sky, the building and the pool Hockney used a paint roller, applying two or three layers of paint so that it was opaque. He then painted the few details, the trees, grass, chair, reflections on the window – and the all important splash – on top of the colour blocks using a small brush.

Hockney left a wide border around the image unpainted. (The yellow colour you see around the edge of A Bigger Splash is the raw canvas.) This raw canvas border developed from his earlier style of keeping large areas of the canvas raw. It also suggests the border of a polaroid photograph, perhaps hinting at his use as photographs as a source for the painting. He also left a narrow line of raw canvas on the top edge of the pool which we can see in the detail below.

Detail of A Bigger Splash showing the thin raw canvas border around the pool and details of Hockney's splash technique

In the early to mid 1960s, Hockney’s painting style underwent a transformation. If we compare A Bigger Splash to a painting Hockney made in 1960, the paintings look as if they could be by different artists. What are the main differences in style?

David Hockney The Third Love Painting (1960) Tate

The earlier painting is more expressive and messier, it does not use such bright colours and it is more abstract in its style.

It was not just the bright sunshine of California that brought about his new colourful, bold, representational style. Hockney is constantly exploring the different possible ways to depict the world around us, and looks at how other artists from different times and places have done this. He sees himself as a researcher as much as an artist.

I believe that the problem of how to depict something is … an interesting one and it’s a permanent one; there’s no solution to it. There are a thousand and one ways you can go about it. There’s no set rule. David Hockney

The developments in Hockney’s 1960s paintings show a range of stylistic influences and inspirations from photography to Old Master paintings.

Photography

In many of David Hockney’s paintings from the mid to late 1960s, the subject matter is a combination of photographic images and observed details. A Bigger Splash is inspired by a photograph Hockney found in a book about building a swimming pool, while the building in the background is taken from one of Hockney’s drawings of Californian buildings. It wasn’t just ‘found’ photographs that Hockney used as inspiration. In 1967 he purchased his first 35mm camera and began taking photographs as source images for his paintings. For his portrait of art collectors Fred and Marcia Weisman, Hockney photographed the couple in their garden.

David Hockney, American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman) 1968 © David Hockney, photo: Richard Schmidt, Collection Art Institute of Chicago

Hockney commented: ‘the portrait wasn’t just in the faces, it was in the whole setting.’ As the Weisman’s garden and sculpture collection were as important to the portrait as they were, he felt that it was not necessary to paint the couple from life. Photographing the couple in their garden as a record to work from made more sense. He also drew sketches to plan the composition.

Although inspired by photographs, Hockney does not aim to reproduce an exact replica of the photograph in his paintings. He sees photography as a useful aid to remembering information, but does not think that photographs in themselves are enough. It is the artist’s personal vision that adds extra depth and resonance to the picture and makes it come to life.

I’m quite convinced painting can’t disappear because there’s nothing to replace it. The photograph isn’t good enough. It’s not real enough. David Hockney

In the 1970s and 1980s Hockney began to use photographs in a very different way. In compositions such as Nathan Swimming 1982 he assembled groups of photographs to form larger compositions that explored multiple viewpoints. In these works we again see Hockney exploring the possibilities of picture making and experimenting with ways of capturing space, time and movement in still, two-dimensional images.

David Hockney Nathan Swimming Los Angeles March 11th 1982 1982 composite polaroid 18 x 30 in 45.7 x 76.2 cm Private collection (002)

Egyptian art

David Hockney first saw Egyptian art at the British Museum in London when he was a student. In 1963 when he was 26, he was commissioned by The Sunday Times to travel to Egypt. This trip marked an important turning point in his painting: 'it was a marvellous three weeks, I didn't take a camera only drawing paper, so I drew everywhere and everything'.

In Egyptian tomb painting, stylised figures – generally shown with heads and legs in profile and the torso facing frontally – are arranged across a flat surface.

Sarenput II on the painted niche in his tomb Photo: By Daniel Csörföly

If we look at the paintings Hockney made after his Egyptian trip, we can clearly see him taking on board this Egyptian approach to representation. The carefully spaced arrangement of people and objects across a flat surface is very different from the all-over busy-ness of his earlier work.

Renaissance painting

Hockney is also greatly inspired by the old masters of Western art. The first great painting Hockney saw, in reproduction, was an Annunciation by the 15th-century Florentine painter Fra Angelico.

Fra Angelico The Virgin of the Annunciation 1437–46 CC BY 2.0

Piero della Francesca The Baptism of Christ 1450s © The National Gallery, London

The elegant forms, balanced compositions and clean bright colours of many of Hockney’s 1960s paintings seem to be a tribute to Fra Angelico and other Renaissance masters. The sense of serenity and stilled movement in paintings such as American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman) 1968 and A Bigger Splash also suggest the influence of these earlier works.

Did you Know? … Hockney often slips clues into his paintings to suggest his inspirations

In David Hockney’s portrait of his parents, he adds a number of clues as to his painting, and literary, heroes. Can you spot them?

In the mirror behind where his parents are sitting, we can just about make out a reproduction print of a painting. The painting is Piero della Francesca’s, Baptism of Christ c.1450s. The drapery also reflected in the mirror comes from a work of Fra Angelico.

Hockney’s father (who got bored easily sitting still) is portrayed reading a copy of Art and Photography by Aaron Scharf, reflecting Hockey’s interest in photography both as source material and artistic medium.

If you look on the trolley behind his parents you will see further clues. A book about French painter Chardin, who often painted domestic scenes, suggests parallels between the domestic subject of this painting and the French artist’s work. The other books on the shelf point to a literary love - six volumes of the English translation of Marcel Proust's monumental novel A la Recherche du Temps Perdu .

I am very conscious in all that has happened in art during the last seventy-five years. I don’t ignore it; I feel I’ve tried to assimilate it into my kind of art. David Hockney

When David Hockney was a student in London in the early 1960s, British pop art was in full swing. Artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi had begun using pictures from popular culture (such as magazines and advertisements), since the 1950s.

Sir Eduardo Paolozzi Meet the People (1948) Tate

© The estate of Eduardo Paolozzi

David Hockney Tea Painting in an Illusionistic Style (1961) Tate

Hockney and other young artists at the Royal College including Pauline Boty , Peter Blake and Derek Boshier felt that what they were taught at art school and what they saw in museums did not have anything to do with their lives or what was important to them. They enthusiastically turned to painting film stars, pop stars and the everyday things they saw around them.

Did you know? … Cliff Richard was an early pin up for Hockney

David Hockney Study for Dollboy (1960) Tate

When Hockney arrived in London as a student in 1959 he felt a tremendous freedom. He came out as homosexual and although not legalised in the UK until 1967, in London he felt a more liberal attitude to sexuality than in his home town of Bridlington.

Other male students had pin-up pictures of female models and celebrities on their studio walls. Hockney pinned up pictures of pop star Cliff Richard, and even made a painting about him: ‘Doll Boy was a reference to the pop singer Cliff Richard, who was very attractive, very sexy … he had a song in which the words were “She’s a real live walking talking living doll” … The title of this painting is based on that line.’

American pop

On arriving in America in 1963, Hockney encountered American pop art. Packed full of all-American pizzazz it reflected the confidence and consumerism of wealthy post-war America. Like its British counterpart, American pop was inspired by the look and language of everyday images such as advertising posters and comic books. In depicting the visual world in a recognisable way, using hard edges and distinct forms, American pop art was a complete departure from the painterly looseness of abstract expressionism which had dominated American art since the early 1950s.

Edward Ruscha Standard Study # 3 (1963) ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland

© Ed Ruscha

Roy Lichtenstein Whaam! (1963) Tate

© Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

Hockney's World of Pictures

Read more about how Hockney has been inspired by other artists and art from different cultures and times

David Hockney is interested in exploring ways of translating the real world into paint, pencil or print. In painting swimming pools, he became fascinated generally with the challenge of depicting the appearance and movement of water. He saw water as 'an interesting formal problem' because 'it can be anything – it can be any colour, it's movable, it has no set visual description.'

In Hockney's depictions of swimming pools, garden sprinklers and people showering we see him trying lots of different approaches, techniques and materials to capture and visually describe what water looks (and feels) like.

Compare three depictions of water by David Hockney

Look closely at how he has used colour, marks and shapes to suggest the movement and transparency of the water. Which depiction looks the most realistic? Do you think Hockney was trying to make the water look realistic or to put across something else?

In Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) 1972, Hockney has focused on capturing the transparency of the water.

David Hockney Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) 1972 Private Collection © David Hockney Photo Credit: Art Gallery of New South Wales / Jenni Carter

He has used light and shadow to do this. Very thin layers – or washes – of turquoise blue paint have been added to the flesh tones of the swimming figure to suggest the water's shadowy movement over the figure. Different shades of the turquoise wash also suggest the depth of the water. Notice how the swimmer's feet look pale and pink, making them appear closer to the surface. Thin lines of white painted in a loose wavy pattern on the surface of the pool and over the figure, represent the reflection of light on the pool's rippled surface. These also help to create the appearance of the transparency of the water, by suggesting that anything underneath these ripples (such as the figure) are underneath the water's surface.

David Hockney Peter Getting out of Nick's Pool 1966 Collection Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool © David Hockney Photo: Richard Schmidt

In Peter Getting out of Nick's Pool 1966, the white wavy lines of ripples are more stylised. But although this is a less realistic image, Hockney still suggests the movement of the water. As with the splash in A Bigger Splash , the ripples are the only element within the painting that seems to be moving. They contrast with the stillness of the figure and the static squares and rectangles of the building and pool edge.

Gushing sprays of water also fascinated Hockney. The image below is one of a number of works showing men in showers painted around the time of Hockney's first visit to Los Angeles in 1963. Showers, like swimming pools, were another exotic luxury that he associated with life in California.

Americans take showers all the time ... For an artist the interest of showers is obvious: the whole body is always in view and in movement, usually gracefully, as the bather is caressing his own body. There is also a three-hundred-year tradition of the bather as a subject in painting. Beverly Hills houses seemed full of showers of all shapes and sizes ... They all seemed to me to have elements of luxury ... very un-English that! David Hockney

Like A Bigger Splash these shower paintings are often based on photographs in magazines.

David Hockney Man in Shower in Beverly Hills (1964) Tate

The spray of water from the shower head is painted using a combination of white scuffed brush marks and broken straight white lines. To suggest the gentler movement of water as it hits the man's bent back and bounces off, Hockney has used longer elegantly curved lines in white and pale blue. Notice also the detail of the small semi-circular lines on the shower floor, representing the bounce of the sprays of water as they hit the tiles. As with his swimming pool paintings, the fluid movement of the lines representing the water contrast with the straight lines and rectangles of the background. (In this case the tiled wall and edge of the carpet.) This emphasises the water's movement.

Did you know ... Hockney has trouble painting bare feet!

David Hockney Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970–1) Tate

Hockney is a master draughtsman. Whether drawing or painting people, landscapes – or his pet sausage dogs – his representations are confident and convincing. However there is one thing he has trouble with ... bare feet.

In Man in Shower in Beverley Hills , Hockney had always intended to add the plant to the foreground, but he bent the leaves down further to conveniently hide the showering man's feet. In another of Hockney's iconic paintings Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy , a portrait of textile designer Celia Birtwell and her husband fashion designer Ossie Clark, the deep shagpile rug becomes another helpful bare feet hiding device! So remember, when you feel you are struggling with trying to get something right in a drawing or painting, it happens to the best of us!

Be Inspired by the Shapes and Patterns of Water

Explore more ways artists in Tate's collection have represented water. Use these as a starting point for your own creative project.

Roy Lichtenstein Water Lily Pond with Reflections (1992) ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Lent by The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation Collection 2015

© Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2024

Hilary Lloyd One Minute of Water (1999) Tate

© Hilary Lloyd

Edward Ruscha Pool #9 (1968, printed 1997) ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Lent by Artist Rooms Foundation 2011

© Edward Ruscha

Alex Katz Grey Marine (2000) ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland

© Alex Katz

Have a go! Use the patterns of water to create an abstract textile design

Stanley William Hayter Ripple (1970) Tate

© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2024

David Hockney has always been interested in fashion. In the 1960s he formed a close friendship with British textile designer Celia Birtwell. He drew and painted lots of portraits of her and even collaborating with her on a textile design. Hockney is also something of fashion icon. In 2005 fashion house Burberry centred an entire spring/summer menswear collection around Hockney and in 2012 his close friend fashion designer Vivienne Westwood named a checked jacket after him.

David Hockney's paintings have also proved inspirational for fashion and fabric designers. Watch fashion house Preen as they talk us though a beachwear collection inspired by A Bigger Splash .

Have a go at designing your own Hockney-inspired textile based on the shapes, patterns and colours of moving water

• a pencil and coloured crayons or paints
• a few sheets of plain paper or a sketchpad
• a sheet of tracing paper

Step 1: Gather your source images to get ideas from

Take photographs and/or make sketches of water. (These don’t need to be finished masterpieces but just rough drawings of the shapes, colours and patterns you see in water).

• If you have a local park near you with a pond or lake, photograph or sketch the ripples and reflections
• If you live by the sea (lucky you!) photograph the waves and surf
• Or simply drop a pebble in a bowl of water and photograph the splash and ripples it makes!

Have a look at more depictions of water in Tate’s collection .

Use image sharing platforms on the internet to find inspiring water images.

Step 2: Choose your motif

Look through your source images. Can you see any shapes and patterns you find interesting and would like to use?

It might help to cut out a square 10cm x 10cm from a plain piece of paper (so you have a piece of paper with a square hole in it like a picture frame). Place this over your sketches or photographs and move it around until you see a small section of pattern that you like.

Use tracing paper to sketch the outline of your pattern, this will become your motif.

Step 3: Repeat your motif to create a design

Turn your tracing paper over and place it on a sheet of paper. Trace over the lines of your motif with a pencil to transfer the image to the paper.

Move the tracing paper and trace over the lines again and repeat this process until you have filled your plain paper with pattern*. (You don’t have to repeat the motif in a regular way – try rotating your tracing paper or overlapping your motif to create an unexpected result. How complex can you make it?)

*If you have picture editing tools on your computer you could us these. Scan your motif and use the tools to rotate, flip and your motif to create your all over textile design.

Step 4: Decide on your colours

Look again at your source images. Choose three or four colours. Make swatches of these colours using paint or crayons to see which colours go together.

Now add the colours to your design. You could either fill in the outline shapes of your design or wash (or shade) the colours in abstract patches over the repeated motifs.

We'd Love to Know What you Think ...

Meet the artist.

In this video David Hockney tells us what has inspired him to keep making art and innovating with ideas and techniques for over 60 years.

Find out more about Hockney's life and art

Discover more about David Hockney's life; find out more about the places and people that have inspired him; and explore more of the artworks he has created during his extraordinary career.

David Hockney

David hockney: 'how do you paint memorable pictures'.

Artist David Hockney reflects on making art for over 60 years

80 years in 8 works

We explore the themes of Hockney’s work and his various ways of working

360 tour of David Hockney exhibition

Explore David Hockney’s colourful world at Tate Britain in 360

Sitting for Hockney

Wayne Sleep and George Lawson

Wayne Sleep and George Lawson recall the experience of sitting for David Hockney between 1972-5

Hockney in Tate's Collection

See all artworks by David Hockney in Tate's Collection

How To : Make a big water-splash at the pool

Impress the masses by making the biggest splash! Basically, learn how to do a cannonball, a can opener, a banana, and a few other giant splash creating moves. We like the watermelon the best.

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How To : Practice the freestyle swim stroke

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Cannonballing 101: How to get the biggest splash

Camp Benefits , Life at Camp

Especially as we spring towards summer, thoughts of young people (or those young at heart) turn to how to maximize one’s summer excitement. At our Midwest summer camp, we appreciate that much of that excitement comes from good times in the pool!

Everybody knows the feeling that comes from seeing an incredible cannonball, the shock, excitement and awe that follow when you witness the biggest splash of the summer. Now imagine you’re the person who was responsible for the greatest splash of the summer…

So, how do you create the perfect cannonball? 

First let’s talk safety. Make sure you are a confident swimmer before attempting any of the instructions described below. At Kupugani, only attempt to cannonball if: 

(1)  You have a blue band (signifying that you successfully completed a swim evaluation); 

(2) You’re jumping straight off the diving board (i.e. in the deep end of the pool…at any other pool, make sure the pool is deep enough.) 

(3) You’re not running. One should walk only on pool decks. While you might think a running start could help with creating the greatest cannonball ever, you’re much more likely to slip and ruin your jump before it even happens. 

Now that we’ve covered how to be safe when cannonballing, here’s how to create a super epic cannonball. 

Step #1: Start from a standing position, either at the end of the diving board, with your toes just over the edge.

Step #2: Get some height on your jump. Jump as high as you can while pushing yourself away from the board.

Step #3: Pull yourself into a ball, but stay loose. Keep your knees slightly apart and your elbows out as your arms wrap around your legs. The more space you take up, the more water you’ll displace and the bigger the splash you will make. However, this doesn’t mean spread out and either belly flop or land on your back; that will cause a big splash, but it will also cause a lot of pain.

Step #4: Prepare for landing! 

Step #5: Check the bystanders (perhaps Kevin?) to see if your epic cannonball created a splash to get them wet even outside the pool fence!

Step #6: Celebrate an epic cannonball.

Step #7: Repeat as necessary!

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“This camp is amazing and exceeded my expectations. I went for a Mother / Daughter Weekend to reconnect with my daughter and we did that for sure. Thank you Camp Kupugani! My daughter loved it so much we immediately signed up for the 2-week girls-only session for the following summer.”

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How to Make A Splash Pad in Your Backyard (4 Steps)

The summers can get hot and not having a fun water feature will only keep the kids inside where they have air conditioning. You can go to the beach, find a swimming pool, or anywhere they could stay cool in the heat. But why not have something in your own backyard?

In the article, I want to show you how to make a splash pad in your backyard! It might sound like a difficult project, but with the right materials, you can have a DIY splash pad with tarp made in less than an hour.

Materials Guide

4 steps to build a diy splash pad, 1. build the splash pad frame.

First, connect your string or clothesline through the pool noodles empty inner holes to hold them together. The number of pool noodles will be determined on the size of your tarp.

If your tarp is 10 feet by 12 feet, you will need double those lengths. There are 2 sides of 10 feet and 2 sides of 12 feet.

The idea is to have enough pool noodle length to match the perimeter of your tarp. 

Layout the pool noodles in a square or rectangular shape based on your chosen tarp size. Tie the starting pool noodle to the last pool noodle to finish the frame. Make sure you pull the string tight to ensure your frame is going to hold strong.

To finish off building your frame you can stake down each corner with tent stakes. This will help keep everything in place, rather than it moving around when trying to set it up. Take your stake and hammer it into the ground, make sure the string is wrapped around it so it stays put.

2. Place Down the Tarp

Since your tarp is the size of your frame, you can stake it down around the pool noodle frame. The tarp is going to be staked over and on the outside of the pool noodles. This creates a lifted barrier wall so water can fill up inside the tarp. Its almost as if this space is a very mini pool.

Use enough tent stakes to keep the tarp in place. Once laid out you can add a hose inside to start adding water inside, this is a good way to prevent the tarp from blowing away.

3. Install Your Sprinklers!

For the best experience use a hose splitter so you can attach 2 sprinklers. It is best to have 2 hoses as well, this means you can have a sprinkler on 2 sides of your homemade splash pad.

Of course, you can use typical lawn sprinklers, but if you want to have fun check out our list of the best sprinklers for a DIY splash pad below:

Chuchik Outdoor Water Spray Sprinkler

The Chuchik water spray sprinkler , available on Amazon, is the ideal sprinkler for kids to have some fun. The 6 rubber wiggling tubes dance around and shoot water in all directions, which is ideal for a DIY splash pad. It can reach up to 8 feet in diameter making your splash area a spray load of fun. It simply hooks up to your hose, really its that simple!

Segomo Tools 360 Degree Automatic Rotating Water Sprinkler

Melnor Metal Oscillating Sprinkler

The Melnor metal oscillating sprinkler is your standard lawn sprinkler, but I know how to make this type of sprinkler one of the best choices for a DIY splash pad. Since you can adjust the spray zone on these sprinklers, simply have 2 set up at one time using the hose splitter. Place them on opposite sides, but have them both set to spray inwards to the splash pad. This will create a constant rain zone, which is awesome during those scorching hot summer days.

4. Enjoy your Splash Pad!

After you have everything set up and the sprinklers are going you can enjoy the splash pad. It might take some time for your splash pad tarp to fill up with some water, but don’t let that take away from your fun!

Grab some of your favorite water toys to make it even more fun. Having a water gun or water sprayer will keep the kids busy for some time. Or get a boogie board to skim around on! There is an endless choice for toys that can be used in the splash pad zone.

If you want you can also add an inflatable pool to your splash pad!

Watch the Video Instead!

Watch the cool dude who inspired me to give this DIY splash pad a shot. His video shows a good step by step guide on how to build this splash pad. Although he doesn’t go into much detail it provides some great visual demonstration. Also, that’s why I explain the process in a detailed step by step DIY splash pad guide above. Take a look at the video here:

Disclaimer: this is not my video

Extra Upgraded Feature!

If you really want to get creative try building a PVC pipe water sprayer. This popular DIY project is relatively easy to do. Heres what you need:

• 1″ or 1 1/4″ PVC pipe
• 90-degree angle and T’ shape pipe connectors
• Drill and drill bit
• Hose Connector

You can add additional features to make this project even better! There are no real plans to follow, just get creative, and begin connecting pipes and drilling holes. This will create a fun water spraying area you can place over your DIY splash pad!

Take a look at this video to get an idea of what a PVC plastic waterpark sprayer is:

Safety Tips for a DIY Splash Zone

Level surface.

Keep in mind if you are looking to build a DIY splash pad you need to build it on a level surface. Why? Well if the gound isn’t level the water will drain out from one end. More importantly, the tarp will be angled and slippery, potentially a hazard for kids to slip and fall. Staying on a flat surface reduces the chance of slipping.

What’s Under Your Tarp?

Make sure you check whats in your splash pad zone, this is very important. If there are any sharp sticks or garden tools someone could get really hurt. Walk through the area where you plan to lay the tarp for any hard objects that could hurt your feet, such as rocks, sticks, toys, tools, or anything! Be careful!

Check on Stakes

Tent stakes used to keep your tarp in place are a potential hazard if not properly staked. Make sure they are hammered into the ground and secured. After setting everything up continue to check on the stakes to ensure they are not falling out. They could cause a bad accident that you want to avoid.

Final Thoughts

Finally, its time to build your backyard splash pad! After gathering all the supplies you need you can begin assembly and enjoy the water. These steps are made to teach you how to make a splash pad in your backyard, if you have any questions please feel free to ask any questions below.

Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.

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These Stuffed Pork Chops Are A Fast And Easy Way To Make A Big Splash At Dinnertime!

Stuffed pork chops.

T hese stuffed pork chops are a fast and easy way to make a big splash at dinnertime! Add a rub of your choosing to the meat (or simple salt & pepper) for added flavor. Even with just salt and pepper, it tastes great. The pork chops are so tender and juicy. Using store-bought stuffing makes this a snap to prepare and adds extra flavor to the meat.

"This is really easier than it looks when you use packaged stuffing mix. This is special enough for company, but easy enough to do on a weeknight. What you are seeing in my picture is stuffed pork chop with scalloped potatoes and buttered maple syrup baked acorn squash." - Jane Whittaker

Ingredients

• 4 lg Pork Chops 1 3/4 Inch Thick
• 1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 2 c Herb Seasoned Dressing Mix
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1/4 c Diced Celery
• 1/4 c Diced Onion
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1 c Chicken Broth

How To Make Stuffed Pork Chops

About this recipe & the test kitchen.

Stuffed Pork Chops has been awarded a Blue Ribbon from The Just A Pinch Test Kitchen who prepare and review thousands of real recipes submitted by real home cooks. The best are featured on justapinch.com as Blue Ribbon recipes.

Video From The Test Kitchen

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New York Mets to sign J.D. Martinez, make big splash late to bolster lineup

Before spring training began, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said it "wasn't out of the question" that the opportunity would be too good to not pass up if the price came down on some of the top free agents.

With a week until free agency, Stearns made his biggest splash of free agency by bringing in the best bat available. According to a report by the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Mets are in agreement on a one-year, $12 million deal with J.D. Martinez .

The Mets will pay Martinez $4.5 million this season, with the rest deferred between 2034 and 2038, limiting the luxury tax penalty they will incur, SNY's Andy Martino reported.

The 36-year-old designated hitter is coming off his sixth All-Star season in 2023 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers . The right-handed hitter closed with a .271/.321/.572 slash line with 33 home runs, 103 RBI and 61 runs despite only playing in 113 games.

Martinez's 55.1 hard-hit percentage was in the top 2 percent of Major League Baseball, while he boasted an xOBA of .369. Martinez's .893 OPS was his best mark since 2019 when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox .

All things Mets: Latest New York Mets news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Martinez is equally adept at hitting left-handed and right-handed pitching and would slot in behind Pete Alonso as strong protection for the top home run hitter since 2019.

The presence of the six-time All-Star signals a cut into the playing time of either Mark Vientos or Brett Baty, or both.

Mets make big free agent splash on slugger who took $2 million less to play in Queens

• Updated: Mar. 21, 2024, 10:14 p.m. |
• Published: Mar. 21, 2024, 8:26 p.m.

J.D. Martinez. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) AP

• Manny Gómez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

TAMPA, Fla. — It looks like the Mets found protection for Pete Alonso after all.

On Thursday evening, New York added three-time Silver Slugger J.D. Martinez . The deal, which is pending a physical, is expected to be for one year, $12 million, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post .

If the deal goes through, the Mets will pay Martinez $4.5 million this season and $1.5 million from 2034-38, according to The Post’s Mike Puma .

This lessens the Mets’ luxury tax hit which would have been $13.2 million because they’re in the fourth tier (110%). In all, this deal couldve cost them north of $25 million. Instead, they’ll pay about $9.5 million in 2024.

BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB , VIVID SEATS , TICKETMASTER

Earlier this offseason, the 6-foot-3 right-hander declined a one-year, $14 million offer from the Giants, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale . Heyman confirmed the report stating that he simply “didn’t want to go there.”

Last season, Martinez batted .271 with a .572 slugging percentage (134 OPS+), 33 home runs and 103 RBI last season for the Dodgers in 113 games (479 plate appearances). While the six-time All-Star has played corner outfield in the past, he is primarily a designated hitter now; he had only 12 innings in the field last season.

This will impact the Mets in several ways. Luke Voit and Jiman Choi, who have late spring opt-outs in their contracts, no longer have a place in the lineup since Martinez will be the team’s everyday DH. They will either opt out of their deals in search of an opportunity elsewhere or be optioned to the minors.

Neither player helped their cause this spring, both accounting for one home run each. Voit went 3-for-30 (.100 average) with a .222 on-base percentage and Choi went 6-for-33 (.182 average) with a .308 OBP. Both players can be utilized as backup first basemen, but the Mets will likely carry a more versatile defender on the bench, someone who can play multiple positions, not just first.

Mark Vientos comes to mind in that role. While New York would probably like Vientos to get more at-bats, optioning him to Triple-A Syracuse might make sense. Still, a situation exists where he serves as something of a utility player, backing up at third base and first base while taking some reps at DH too.

Vientos, who leads the team with four home runs in camp, is technically still in the running for the starting job at third base, but Brett Baty appears to be running away with it. In the month of March, Baty is slashing .294/.385/.588 with three home runs and six RBIs while playing elite defensively.

The Mets have had DJ Stewart take reps at first base too, making him a backup option there and in the outfield. The problem is, Stewart hasn’t helped his case in camp either, batting .152 with a .542 OPS.

With a week left before Opening Day, the Mets have a lot of decisions to make. Fortunately, adding Martinez makes for a good problem for the team.

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Manny Gómez may be reached at [email protected] .

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Bay FC | Why Bay FC is spending huge in inaugural season…

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Bay fc | bay fc provide nonstop entertainment in exciting home opener at paypal park, bay fc | why bay fc is spending huge in inaugural season and planning even bigger future investments, with two expensive transfers from spain, bay fc is making a big splash in the growing nwsl.

The Bay FC women will take the field Saturday at PayPal Park, a stadium built for men to play in, and kick off in front of their sold-out home crowd for the first time in franchise history.

It’s not just a game to Alan Waxman, the chief executive officer of Sixth Street who invested $125 million to help found the team last year.

“We’re trying to change women’s soccer,” Waxman said in an exclusive interview with Bay Area News Group.

To do that, Waxman has a long-term plan. And while the club is grateful to be starting its inaugural season in the National Women’s Soccer League at PayPal Park, the home of the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer, that’s not Bay FC’s long-term vision.

“Let me say it this way: We will have our own stadium and our own world-class practice facility,” Waxman said. “We’re thinking about building something for the long term. Something durable. And becoming one of the top global franchises in the world.”

They’re big words full of big ambitions. But from the start, Bay FC has put its money where its mouth is.

The $125 million initial investment in 2023 included a record $53 million expansion fee.

In comparison, in 2022, the San Diego Wave paid a $2 million expansion fee to join the NWSL. Earlier this year, billionaire Ron Burkle sold that club for an estimated $120 million, almost doubling the previous league record, also from this year, when the Portland Thorns were sold for $63 million.

Money is flying around the NWSL, and Bay FC is no exception.

The league’s salary cap this year is $2.75 million; Bay FC blew through that number and will pay a tax of 25% on anything over the cap. This year, the club expects to pay close to $70,000 in salary tax alone.

“The ownership group has been incredible and supportive,” said general manager Lucy Rushton. “They want me to spend our cap, they want us to be pushing boundaries.”

Rushton, the former GM of DC United and the second-ever female general manager in major American men’s professional sports, built an entire defensive unit with free agent signings and trades early in the offseason.

Her plan: find defensive players domestically and lure the world’s most prolific goal-scorers from their international clubs.

Waking up at 5 a.m. to get on Zoom calls with top clubs in Europe, Rushton managed to pull off a stunning deal to acquire two-time Ballon d’Or finalist Asisat Oshoala from Barcelona, where the 29-year-old had scored 107 goals in 149 appearances over five seasons, helping the club win 14 trophies in the process.

But the biggest surprise came soon after, when Rushton convinced Madrid CFF to part ways with 23-year-old superstar Racheal Kundananji , who had scored 25 goals in 29 games with Madrid.

The cost? Almost $800,000, toppling the world record for the most expensive transfer in the history of women’s soccer.

“You have to put your money where your mouth is,” Rushton said. “It’s really important we put that statement out. We’re here, we’re serious and we want to improve this league.”

Kundananji got hurt while playing for Zambia during international duty last month, but is expected to make her Bay FC debut on Saturday.

For Waxman, signing off on the deal wasn’t a difficult decision.

“I think when Lucy brought it to me, she was a bit nervous because we’re smashing the record,” Waxman said. “But I was like, ‘No, we should do it.’”

Waxman thought of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who Waxman considers a friend.

It was back in 2000 that Perez made his mark on soccer history. Nine days after Portuguese legend Luis Figo told the press he would never leave Barcelona , Real spent about £50 million on a release clause in Figo’s contract, shattering the previous record of £38 million and bringing Figo to Madrid, where his new club turned into a soccer superpower.

“That was a bold move,” Waxman said. “Look what happened to Real Madrid. They were floundering and since then, they’ve been one of the top football clubs in the world over the last 20-plus years. Sometimes you have to not worry about what everyone else has done. That’s the past. Figure out what you need to do. Sometimes you need to make bold moves.”

Forbes reported that transfer fees in the January window were up 165% this year. And Rushton said she expects the record fee she spent on Kundananji to be broken again this summer.

“For me, improving this league is also about bringing the best international players here too,” Rushton said. “That’s how we develop our league and build a global fanbase, for the league and Bay FC.”

Waxman, who said his wife originally convinced him to take a meeting with the Bay FC founding members, said he was initially shocked when he looked at the data on the growth of the NWSL, which averaged over 10,000 fans per game last year, an increase of 32% from the year before.

It didn’t add up, “in a good way,” he said. People were overlooking perhaps the most important part of the league: It’s accessible.

The league can broadcast its own games on its own network, NWSL+, which it offers to fans free of charge. It also has partnerships with streaming services and cable companies, giving fans multiple avenues to watch.

The buzz around Bay FC is exciting — the club sold out its first game at PayPal Park with 18,000 tickets — but Waxman said he hasn’t forgotten the key component: build a culture that takes care of the people first.

“It’s about investing in good humans, you can really see that,” said veteran defender Caprice Dydasco, who has played for five teams worldwide. “We’ve had owners previously where they were investing, but it was almost like a tax write-off. They didn’t have any ties with us. This year, Alan is a busy man with a busy work schedule and he took time to come spend a whole day with us, talk with us about how he really cares about the product we put on the field but more importantly, how we get treated off the field.”

There’s currently only one NWSL club, the Kansas City Current, that plays in its own stadium. The Current, partially owned by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, just spent $120 million on an 11,000-seat stadium that is believed to be the first in the world to be primarily used for women’s professional soccer.

For now, Bay FC will practice at San Jose State University, but Waxman promised a new training facility soon. The club expects to spend $30 to $50 million on its facility, and surely more when the time comes to build an actual stadium. Sites are being explored in the Bay Area, but Waxman wasn’t ready to say where.

“Traditional wisdom says, ‘Wait until you have a bunch of revenue (before spending big),’” Waxman said. “We’re playing a different game. We’re trying to lead.”

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