Rio Olympics: Generating Power

Simone Biles (USA) is brilliant on the floor excerise, okay, she is brilliant in gymnastics all together.  Part of her dominance on the floor is her powerful tumbling runs.  That power comes from the runs she takes into the flips and jumps.  Here she is winding up for her final tumbling run that wins her the fourth Gold Medal and fifth medal of these Games.  Her teammate, Aly Raison, won the Silver Medal, with the Brit taking the Bronze.  It is so unusual to see no Russians, Japanese or Chinese women on the podium.  It is feeling like the power of gymnastics is swinging to the eastern hemisphere.

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/2838612-145-226051/PaintingGenerating%20Power%20Rio145-Greig-Leach.html#.V7SkE5grLIU

Rio Olympics: For the Judges

Erika Fasana (Italy) took her final pose as the Italian opera music faded in the hall.  Fasana had just completed her floor exercise routine and held this pose as the judges looked on as though they were disgruntled.  I am not sure why they seemed like they had sour milk under their noses, but their scores reflected their apparent mood.  I thought that Fasana moved with grace, certainly one of the best dancers of the competition.  But then the tumbling is where the points are.

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/2838549-144-226051/PaintingFor%20the%20Judges%20Rio144-Greig-Leach.html#.V7SgnJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Is V for Victory?

Why yes it is!  Since I paint these works as close to live as possible, I don't know the results when I create (and title) the work.  So although I was sure that Oleg Vernyayev"s (Ukraine) routine was worthy of a Gold Medal, I didn't know the score when this was done.  To be sure one can never count on what the judges will see.  But in the end, it was as good to them as it was to me.

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/2838539-143-226051/PaintingIs%20V%20for%20Victory?%20Rio143-Greig-Leach.html#.V7SePZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Parallel

The American gymnast, Danell Leyva came out from under his special towel to do an amazing Parallel Bar routine.  Leyva was competing in the Men's Individual apparatus on the bars with brilliant form.  When he finished his routine he held first place.  Unfortunately one gymnast went slightly better at the end of the rotation, so it would be Silver for Leyva.  Certainly something to be very proud of, and he was.  It is always easier when you know you did your very best.

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/2838493-142-226051/PaintingParallel%20Rio142-Greig-Leach.html#.V7R555grLIU

Rio Olympics: And Now, the Dismount

Laurie Hernandez (USA) had a near flawless routine.  As she  collected herself, toe pointed for her dismount, I am sure she was hoping for a perfect landing.  It nearly was, just the smallest of steps backward.  Her routine was good enough to land her in second for the Silver Medal.  Her teammate and new Olympic star, Simone Biles, had a rather major mistake thus putting her into third for the Bronze.  She still has medal in every event she has competed in, the other three medals being Gold.

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/2838115-134-226051/PaintingAnd%20Now,%20the%20Dismount%20Rio134-Greig-Leach.html#.V7NG5JgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Balanced Grace

From her unique entry to the beam all of the way through to the "unorthodox" dismount, Sanne Wevers (Netherlands) showed incredible grace and power.  Her multi-directional spins were a thing of beauty.  I have capture her mid way through a triple spin atop the four inch wide balance beam.  She won the first medal for Netherlands in this event since 1928 and this one was Gold!

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/2838107-133-226051/PaintingBalanced%20Grace%20Rio133-Greig-Leach.html#.V7NEoJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Fly High, Stick the Landing

Theoretically, this is Gymnastics 101, Fly High, Stick the Landing.  Somehow, I think there is a lot more to it then that.  But if you have these two things in your favor, you are well on your way to an award winning performance.  Madison Kocian (USA) had all of it in spades, but came up just shy of the Gold Medal on the Uneven Bars.  Kocian will take home a Silver Medal to go with her Gold from the Team All Around competition.

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/2837669-123-226051/PaintingFly%20High,%20Stick%20the%20Landing%20Rio123-Greig-Leach.html#.V7Ie35grLIU

Rio Olympics: For the Love of It

This is one of the Olympic stories that truly warms my heart.  Oksana Chusovitina (Uzbekistan) is old enough to be the mother of every woman she is competing against.  Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but she is 41 years old and still competing at an elite level.  When asked, she says she just loves gymnastics.  She hasn't ruled out going to Toyko in 2020.  She hasn't medal since 2004, but that hasn't deterred her from coming back over and over.

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/2837648-121-226051/PaintingFor%20the%20Love%20of%20It%20Rio121-Greig-Leach.html#.V7IZg5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Unexpected Joy

The Brazilian Gymnastics team was not expected to do very well, and had not tickled the leader board in either individual or team all around competitions, but tonight their stars shown brightly!  Diego Hypolito put in a early high score, holding the lead for a time.  Perhaps his teammate's success and the roar of the crowds inspired Arthur Mariano to an almost equally fantastic performance.  It was a little unsettling to hear the crowd cheer with each mistake of the ensuing gymnasts.  To be fair they knew that each bobble increased the chance of Mariano to medal and Hypolito to win Silver.

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/2837609-120-226051/PaintingUnexpected%20Joy%20Rio120-Greig-Leach.html#.V7IWLZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: He Is a Happy Man

Diego Hypolito (Brazil) must have been carried by the home crowd.  His tumbling runs flew higher and his landings were stronger as the crowds roared their delight.  Hypolito jumped for joy, shaking his fists in the air after finishing his routine.  He may have started a new way to influence the judging by running around in a stay of wild glee in celebration of his performance.  Now he had the long wait to see if it was worthy of a medal, at least the judges gave him great scores.

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/2837606-119-226051/PaintingHe%20Is%20a%20Happy%20Man%20Rio119-Greig-Leach.html#.V7ITAZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Leaping for Art

I look back at this painting that I did rather late last night and I can tell that I was running out of steam.  I have now created 89 watercolors of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and I am beginning to tire just a bit.  Apparently I didn't have enough left in the tank to cover the right side of the page.  That being said, it is still a wonderful composition of a wonderful moment in the Women's Gymnastics All Around.  Aly Raisman (USA) who had lost out on a medal in London to Aliva Mustafina (Russia) due to a tie breaker rule, made sure their would be not repeat of that heart break.  Her floor exercise was flawless after her equally brilliant balance beam.  She couldn't quite catch her teammate Simone Biles for the Gold, but she scored a very convincing Silver Medal, solidly distancing Mustafina, who took home another Bronze.  As soon as she had finished her routine, Raisman broke into tears of relief and joy at her medal worthy performance.

To be fair, I did take a post midnight drive out to the country to watch the meteor showers.  That to was a beautiful show.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836500-89-226051/PaintingLeaping%20for%20Art%20Rio89-Greig-Leach.html#.V64AnZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Home Team Girl

Brazil did well to get one of their gymnasts into the Women's All Around competition.  Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) was naturally a crowd favorite.  Her floor exercise was spot on, rivaling those of most of the medal winners, but not her scores.  The patriotic crowd loudly boo-ed the score as it played across the stadium.  It must have rattle the next gymnast waiting to start her routine.  Her dance elements reminded me of the great Josephine Baker (although she was never a gymnast).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836495-88-226051/PaintingHome%20Team%20Girl%20Rio88-Greig-Leach.html#.V639uJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: At One with the Beam

The Russian gymnast Aliva Mustafina brings the woman to Women's Gymnastics.  While she may not have excelled in the pure athleticism of her competitors, she certainly brings grace and dance to the balance beam.  As my wife watched me paint this she felt like she had seen the pose in a painting in the Louvre.  I rest my case.  Mustafina was only able to repeat her Bronze Medal from 2012, a medal she won by a tie breaker, something not used in any of the other Olympic sports.  The loser on the tie breaker, Aly Raisman (USA).

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836492-87-226051/PaintingAt%20One%20with%20the%20Beam%20Rio87-Greig-Leach.html#.V637u5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Spinning Her Way

When I painted this piece it was only half way through the Women's Gymnastics All Around Competition, so I hesitated calling it "Spinning Her Way to Gold."  In retrospect, it would have been just fine.  Simone Biles (USA) begins her balance bar routine with a helicopter move.  She squats on one foot and spins herself around with one arm and leg beautifully extended, atop a four inch beam.  Such balance and grace in this tiny package.  And yes, she did go on to win the Gold Medal as the world's greatest female gymnast.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836484-86-226051/PaintingSpinning%20Her%20Way%20Rio86-Greig-Leach.html#.V633KZgrLIU

Rio Olympics: So Beautiful

It is a little strange to not see the Chinese Gymnasts dominating the All Around Competitions.  It seems like it has always been their forte, but I guess all things come to an end.  Yan Wang (China) did put together a beautiful routine on the uneven bars, but it was only enough to move her into fourth half way through the competition.  A position she did not manage to improve on.  She was clearly the tiniest woman-child out on the floor.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836475-82-226051/PaintingSo%20Beautiful%20Rio82-Greig-Leach.html#.V63u1JgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Approaching the Dismount

Chris Brooks (USA) was brilliant on the Parallel Bars.  His dismount was nothing short of amazing, and yes he did "stick it."  However his performance was not enough to carry him to the podium, or even the top ten for that matter.  He still has the opportunity of competing in the individual apparatus competitions later in the Games.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836058-75-226051/PaintingApproaching%20the%20Dismount%20Rio75-Greig-Leach.html#.V6y1C5grLIU

Rio Olympics: Hanging Around

Oleg Vernyayev (Ukraine) could hardly be accused of hanging out.  The amount of work and discipline it takes to be an elite gymnast is almost unfathomable.  So it is unthinkable that he could just hang out.  So putting the pun aside, Vernyayev's performance on the rings is part of how he won the Silver Medal in the Men's All-Around.  Chapeau!

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836051-74-226051/PaintingHanging%20Around%20Rio74-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yzQJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Over the Horse

Max Whitlock (Great Britain) put in a near flawless Pommel Horse routine on his way to claiming the Bronze Medal in the Men's All-Around competition.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836042-73-226051/PaintingOver%20the%20Horse%20Rio73-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yxQpgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Sticking the Landing

Its the phrase the announcers just can't leave alone.  Every routine, every time "They have got to stick the landing."  Or some version there of.  And that is just what Kohei Uchimura (Japan) did in the floor exercise on his way to this second consecutive Gold Medal in the Gymnastics Individual All Around competition.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2836039-72-226051/PaintingSticking%20the%20Landing-Greig-Leach.html#.V6yvgJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: A Balanced Beamer

Back to using puns for titles.  According to the NBC announcers, Aly Raisman's (USA) coach refers to her as a "beamer" so the title almost wrote itself.  This is her, the captain of the USA Women's Gymnastics team up on the balance beam.  Raisman and her teammates finished the balance beam with a strong lead in the team competition.  It has been a pleasure to watch such talented gymnasts also having so much fun competing.

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.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Summer%20Olympics/2835388-56-226051/PaintingA%20Balanced%20Beamer%20Rio56-Greig-Leach.html#.V6rIkZgrLIU