Rio Olympics:Silver & Bronze

I knew that Feyisa Lilesa's (Ethiopia) gesture meant more than just a signature gesture, think Usain Bolt's lightening bolt pose, but I admit I had to research its meaning.  After the race, I read an article from the LA Times, that indicated it was a gesture of protest of the Ethiopian Goverment's killing of the Oromo people  When asked about it, he felt that he will face prison or death on his return home.  A brave way to bring the attention of the blight of Ethiopia to the world stage.  His Silver Medal has almost been lost in the story.  I noticed that the coverage of the Marathon medal ceremony did not show his crossed arms on the podium.  Behind the political gesture, the neophyte American marathon runner, Galen Rupp (USA) managed to finish third for the Bronze.  Ironically, the blue suited guards were there to stop the protest of Brazilians that marred the finish of the Women's Marathon.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840760-207-226051/PaintingSilver%20&%20Bronze-Greig-Leach.html#.V7psOpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Running with Africa

The American, Galen Rupp was the only non African runner at the business end of the Men's Marathon.  As the group dropped runner after runner, the neophyte found himself in the company of a very elite group that was down to the two Ethiopians, Berhanu and Lilesa and the Kenyan, Eluid Kipchoge.  The quartet was roughly twenty miles in, now the real racing can begin.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840746-205-226051/PaintingRunning%20with%20Africa%20Rio205-Greig-Leach.html#.V7phhpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Calm Down

I seem to remember that in my youth the Men's Marathon's finish signified the start of the closing ceremonies.  That could just be a hazy memory of youth, but it is one of the very last events of the Summer Olympics.  With the pace a little slower than was expected for the early kilometers, the pack was still rather large ten kilometers in.  On the front of the crowd, Eluid Kipchoge (Kenya) seemed to be gesturing for L.Berhanu (Ethiopia) and Galen Rupp (USA) to slow it down. Given the Kenyans prowess in this event, one would think he would want the pace to be as high as possible.

This is a small watercolors and ink painting measuring just 4"x6" and was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  This painting and all of my Olympics artwork will be available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  Remember this is an original work of art, so once it has been sold, it is gone.  Don't delay buy it now!

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2840742-204-226051/PaintingCalm%20Down%20Rio204-Greig-Leach.html#.V7pcJpgrLIU