Tour, Stage 11: In the Open

Today's stage was going to be about to things, a flat run to Montpellier and the strong cross winds of Provence.  Perhaps wanting to show the tricolore jersey of the French National Champion or maybe just to see if the peloton wasn't paying attention, Arthur Vichot (FDJ) went out on the attack, catching onto the wheel of the Australian on the Swiss team, Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling).  The duo went out into the exposed roads and flat fields of the south of France on what should be a sprinter's stage.  The only chance they might have to carry their lead all of the way to Montpellier is that the peloton were disrupted by crashes (God forbid) or that the winds play such havoc that those behind forgot about those out front.  Neither scenario was very likely.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Be sure to check out my second cycling art book, Art of Cycling: Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships, available online or through your local book seller.

To buy this painting, follow this link:

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2823040-72-224974/PaintingIn%20the%20Open%20TdF72-Greig-Leach.html#.V4aT2LgrLIU

Tour, Stage 4: Shoulder to Shoulder

I didn't think the finish could get harder to call then yesterday, but here it is today.  Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) closed fast on the fading sprinters.  He was able to utilize his smaller stature to fly up the hill, whereas those like Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quickstep) had to rely on their bigger engines to overcome their bigger scale.  Right at the line, Kittel and Coquard locked shoulders, but the stronger Kittel was able to power through the contact taking the victory by the very narrowest of margins.  Coquard was amongst it yesterday claiming third on the stage, today he moved up one better.  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) went to early for the uphill climb and faded away to 5th on the stage.  On the right of the painting you can see the tricolore kit of the French National Champion, Arthur Vichot (FDJ).  On the left, Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) tried to defend his Maillot Vert, but in the end surrenders it back to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) who finished fourth on the day.  Since Sagan is still in Yellow, Cavendish will head to the start line tomorrow still in green.  Tomorrow, though, does not look like a day for the sprinters, it will be time for the climbers and puncheurs to show their stuff.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  This painting, along with all of my cycling art, is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are on the site, be sure to check out my other works of art and my two cycling books.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Bear in mind that this is a one of a kind original and once it is gone, it is gone.

Buy this painting here:  http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour%20de%20France%202016/2818720-26-224974/PaintingShoulder%20to%20Shoulder%20TdF26-Greig-Leach.html#.V3wA5rgrLIU

Talking About Art, Cycling Art and the Business of Being an Artist

I spent Valentine's Day talking with a group of about twenty five artists and art lovers.  The group was the Metro Richmond Artist Association.  I was there to talk about my art and how to work with Shiva Paintstiks.  You can see the Paintstiks in my left hand in the first picture.  I brought along my most recently completed painting (see the previous blog post) with two other completed paintings. 

In order to be able to show the participants in the workshop, I also had an incomplete work to illustrate my process.  Naturally, the question and answer period was wide ranging covering everything from being a professional artist, using social media to promote one's work and cycling.  Most particular my book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  In the second photo, I am holding the book and telling the story of Alberto Contrador's abandonment and how my artwork was used by International Media to relate the story.

Both of these photographs were taken by one of the artists (and in her case authors) in attendance, Mary Montague Sikes.

To see these paintings go to my artist website at www.greigleach.com, you can find the book there, too.

Direct link to the purchase a copy of the book; http://www.greigleach.com/gallery/201710/Book+de+Tour/#.VOPk8k05DIU and for the painting of Arthur Vichot in the first photograph; http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Figurative%20Works/2340551-1-0-7216/Painting/Sports.html#.VOPlNk05DIU

Dauphine Stage 3: Full on After the Break

Jens Voigt (Trek Factory Racing) got a jump on the sprinters and their teams and got away with seven other compatriots, all in search of the surprise stage win.  FDJ, OPQS, Giant Shimano and Katusha all missed putting a man in the break, so they all went off in pursuit.  Even the French National Champion, Arther Vichot (FDJ) got into the act on the business end of the peloton.  It wasn't until nearly the entire team of Katusha got on the front that the break was finally caught with less than seven kilometers left to race.  This is an original small, 4"x6", watercolor and ink painting that is available for purchase through my website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post. 

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Dauphine%202014/2387234---199476/.html#.U6I5Pc_D_IU

Using the watercolors to create a full scale Shiva Paintstik painting

Up until I started working on the watercolor and ink postcards my almost exclusive medium had been Shiva Paintstiks, an drawing form of oil painting.  All of the colors you are seeing are mixed right on the surface of the painting, working right into the surface, in this case working over an unfinished painting.  Working over an existing failed attempt, I had more surface and color to react against.  The watercolors are all about speed and transparency, the challenge in this piece is to bring that freedom to the much thicker and opaque media.  The source for this was one of my watercolors from the final stage of Paris Nice, as Arthur Vichot claimed the final stage while wearing the Tricolore of French National Road Racing Champion.  Visited my artist website to get more information about purchasing this work of art and to see all of my cycling work as well as a wide variety of subject matters.  To learn more about Shiva Paintstiks, visit the manufacturer's website at www.richesonart.com  

The easiest way to find this painting,,, http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Figurative%20Works/2340551-1-0-7216/Painting/Sports.html#.Uz4DzM_D_IU

This painting has sold. But on-demand prints are available through the website at the link above.

Paris-Nice Final Stage: One for the Home Team

This has been a wonderful Paris Nice for the French.  The French team AG2R claimed the Yellow Jersey for their man, Carlos Betancur, both Team Bretagne and Europcar lit up the breakaways nearly every stage and Sylvan Chavanel wore the Polka Dot Jersey for two days.  But the ultimate feather in the cap was Arthur Vichot (FDJ - another French team) winning on the Boulevard des Anglais wearing the Tri-Colour Jersey of the French National Champion.  This was truly a race for the home team.  It does make you wonder how the French will fair in the Tour de France.  The final standing for Paris Nice were; Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - Yellow Jersey, John Degenkolb (Giant Shimano) - Green Jersey, Pim Ligthat (Lotto Belisol) Polka Dot Jersey, Carlos Betancur (AG2R) - White Jersey (the best placed rider under 24) and Movistar for the best team.

This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website at www.greigleach.com or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2329441---195767/Painting.html#.UyY8uc_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 7: Who Is That?

AG2R, the team that has the Yellow Jersey, had to ride hard on the front to defend Betancur's Jersey and chase down any threads to his lead.  You can see Villermoz look over at the attacking Dries Devenyns (Giant Shimano) to see if he was one of the riders close to his man on GC.  Since he wasn't they knew they could let him go and dare one of the other teams to chase him down.  While they didn't want to lose time, they also didn't need to win the stage either.  It was up to the others to attack and go for stage wins in hopes of taking back the Yellow Jersey.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that could be yours by visiting my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328817---195767/Painting.html#.UyUyLM_D_IU

Paris-Nice Stage 6: Making It a Double

Naturally, if you and your team have been aggressive throughout the stage you really want to finish it off with a victory.  Even more so if the victory is the second one in a row and it wins you the Malliot Jaune.  So while AG2R rider, Alexis Villermoz crash within site of the finishing line, it was his teammate, Carlos Betancur, that got the better of the Rainbow Jersey of Rui Costa (Lampre), Geraint Thomas (Sky) Arthur Vichot (FDJ) and Zdenek Stybar (OPQS).  Between the bonus seconds for winning the stage and Stybar nipping Thomas at the line to gain the final bonus seconds available for the stage, Betancur gain enough time to take over the Yellow Jersey of race leader.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase through my artist website, www.greigleach.com.  Or you could just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%202014/2328181---195767/Painting.html#.UyPHqcvD_IU

Tour Final Stage: A Wheel and a Stretch

While his mechanic change the rear wheel with the upmost of speed and the French Champion took the opportunity to stretch out his back before jumping back on for the chase back.  He made quick work of it on the descent down the other side of the boulevard only to flat again.  Some days are just that way, although he did make it back on again to finish the Tour in the peloton.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that can be yours by visiting my artist website where you can purchase this painting.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the final day of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2184489---186227/Painting.html#.UfKAU8_D_IU

Tour Stage Nineteen: Removing His Cape

Arthur Vichot, the Road Champion of France, had a rough descent down the Col du Madeleine, going head over heals into a ditch.  Fortunately he went off the road on the uphill side rather than going over the edge of the mountain.  He was more stunned and upset than he was hurt, all though he left some of his French skin on the roads of France.  Once he was down in the valley he passed his dirty, wet, torn tricolored vest to his team car and got on with the business at hand.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that is available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2183657---186227/Painting.html#.UfCDRs_D_IU

Tour Stage Fourteen: Lots of Little Rollers

The French Champion, Arthur Vichot, leads the break up over one of the many rollers of the day, some were categorized but most were just they to be gotten over.  Jens Voigt, the second in line, was the one that got the break started, a break that grew to 18 riders from 14 teams.  This is the kind of break that usually works since no team wants to chase down their own guys.  It was amazing to see just how many thousands of people lined the roads of the entire stage today, the Tour seems to be weathering its storms of bad publicity rather well.  This is an original watercolor and ink postcard that has been created using cake watercolors, brushes and papers from www.richesonart.com a family owned and operated art supply business that really does have great supplies.  This, and all of the work in this series, are available for purchase at my artist website.  Just follow the direct link at the end of this post to get your piece of the 100th edition of the Tour de France.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Tour%20de%20France%202013/2182531---186227/Painting.html#.Ue3Bxs_D_IU