Larry Klukaszewski grew up in an athletic environment. His family loved sports and so did he.

It was a passion that served him well through his days as a baseball player at Division II Edinboro University, and which still smoulders.

He also dabbled with sketching and drawing, sometimes depicting Steelers heroes such as "Mean Joe" Greene and Jack Lambert.

Now 38, Mr. Klukaszewski is a full-time teacher in the Kiski Area School District. But he also has a part-time job that enables him to continue to pursue his love of sports and art.

The man known as Larry Klu is a professional sports artist, painting everything from helmets to footballs and baseballs. With little formal training, Mr. Klukaszewski has gained acclaim through art shows, his Web site and word of mouth.

A sixth-grade teacher at Bell Avon Elementary School, Mr. Klukaszewski renovated a small room in the basement of his New Kensington home to be his studio. He began painting on the side.

As if he weren't busy enough with his job and family: wife Renea; sons Jake, 13, and Nicholas, 5; and daughter Sarah, 11.

He spends 20 to 70 hours on each piece and is now working on his most ambitious project: a painted helmet for Hines Ward, depicting the All-Pro receiver in action, along with his accomplishments.

Mr. Klukaszewski's "other" career accelerated in April, when he sold a Willie Parker-painted football to Jason Heffran at an art show at Pittsburgh Mills.

Mr. Heffran was so impressed with the work that he began to promote Mr. Klukaszewski. Mr. Parker, a Steelers running back, saw the ball and wrote a thank-you note to the artist/teacher. He asked for a ball of his own for his house.

Mr. Klukaszewski later appeared on the "McDonald's Steelers Trivia Challenge" on KDKA-TV and impressed host Bob Pompeani with his work.

That led to a meeting with Dan Rooney, chairman of the Steelers. Mr. Klukaszewski, accompanied by Mr. Heffran, presented Mr. Rooney with a painted football depicting the Steelers' first Super Bowl victory in January 1975.

The duo left Mr. Rooney knowing only that he planned to put the ball "someplace special." That place turned out to be the Coca-Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field. The ball is in a case with Mr. Klukaszewski's name and Web site visible.

He said he gets a few inquiries after every Steelers home game.

"I had no idea it was going to go there. I was totally blown away," Mr. Klukaszewski said.

"Jason Heffran has been promoting me very unselfishly. He bought one of my pieces and recognized I had a little talent. Any success I have, I owe a lot of it to him."

Mr. Klukaszewski is scheduled to appear on a future "Hines Ward Show" on KDKA TV. It is taped in the Great Hall.

He also has donated a hand-painted Heath Miller football to a charity event hosted by backup quarterback Charlie Batch. The ball was auctioned off Monday, with the proceeds going to the Best of the Batch Foundation, which benefits youths in disadvantaged communities.

Mr. Miller, a tight end, called Larry Klu to thank him for his work and for donating it.

Two other footballs were auctioned at the Batch event for $1,200 and $500.

"This has been a childhood dream of mine that kind of got put on the back burner because of life," Mr. Klukaszewski said.

He did take a few art electives at Edinboro, but rarely picked up a brush until this year.

"I figured it would be a way to take something I enjoy and maybe turn it into a way to help my family financially," Mr. Klukaszewski said.

"My wife has been a waitress for 20 years, and if I can get her out of doing that, I would view myself as a success."

Although he has been recognized for his Steelers artwork, Mr. Klukaszewski said he spends just as much time on pieces for amateur athletes. And it's usually a formidable amount.

He expects the Ward helmet to take close to 70 hours. The ball for Mr. Rooney took 60.

Prices depend on particular pieces. A baseball that takes Mr. Klukaszewski about 20 hours to paint sells for approximately $100. A football costs about $500.

"There are so many people out there drawing and painting," he said. "I wanted to come up with something unique.

"I am not going to say I pioneered this or anything, but not as many people are gutsy enough to paint something on an object.

"Selling that first ball kind of set the whole thing in motion. I am very grateful and humbled. We will see where it leads, but so far, so good."

To order prints or to ask to have something painted, go to www.LarryKlu.com.