Desmond Mason, basketball player

The 6-foot, 5-inch Bucks forward and guard returns to Milwaukee this season after a two-year stint with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, and he couldn’t be happier. The multifaceted player, who has been drawing and painting since he was 9 and majored in studio art at Oklahoma State, has already begun planning for a Milwaukee showing of his artwork this March. With influences like Jackson Pollack and Mark Rothko, it’s no surprise his current works tend toward the abstract. Upon his return to Milwaukee, the self-proclaimed "home body" is making his home in Bayside with his wife, Andrea, and their daughter, Jada.

>>My gallery

Milwaukee Art Museum and Bressler-Eitel, which hosted two of my previous art shows.

>>My nights out

I love The Farmstead restaurant in Cedarburg. Good food and great people. After some of the games we go to Mo’s with our families. I really like to eat.

>>My charity

Proceeds from my Milwaukee art shows benefitted St. Michael Hospital. Other shows have benefitted burn centers.

>>My shopping

Bayshore Towne Center. It has everything. We’ve been exploring that. I also love the little shops in Cedarburg. Before the season started, we went to the wine festival there and walked around. My daughter loved it.

>>My inspirations

My family — my mom and dad. We grew up in some tough times, but they really pushed through it for us kids and motivated us. And my wife and daughter. Every day they make me want to get up, come to the gym and give it everything I’ve got. I do this for myself and my teammates, but I do it all for them.

>>My Milwaukee

I love the people. I really fit in here as a player. I am just a hard-nosed, blue-collar type player that goes out and works, and I think that’s what Milwaukee’s all about. I’m excited to be back.