 Friberg's paintings included costume design for the main characters, for which he won an Academy Award nomination.In 1968, Friberg was commissioned by Chevrolet to create a series of paintings showing the greatest moments in college football, including "The First Game", played in New Brunswick, New Jersey on November 6, 1869 between Rutgers College and the visiting College of New Jersey, for use in their 1969 advertising campaign.After extensive research on the location during winter and the equipment and gear used by Revolutionary War soldiers, Friberg created his 1975 painting "The Prayer at Valley Forge".