Rio Olympics: Threading the Needle

The German and Swedish women played a scoreless first half in the Gold Medal Match of Olympic Football.  Germany scored the first of two goals just four minutes in to the second half.  Sweden played hard and put a finely placed pass into the net to come within one point of the Germans.  Germany's second goal had been kicked into the Swedish net by one of Sweden's defensive players.  With the score now 2-1, she must have felt awful.  When the game ended with the same score, I am sure she held her head low.  Germany claimed the Gold, but Sweden's Silver is the first time they have ever made it to the podium since women's football was added to the Olympic Games.  This might be why I was never a truly successful athlete, had I been one of the Swedish players, I would have gone into the game feeling like I had already won.

This leaves only one more full day of competition, since Sunday ends with the closing ceremonies.  This has been fun, hard and a lot of work, much like what the athletes have gone through themselves.

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/2840034-187-226051/PaintingThreading%20the%20Needle%20Rio187-Greig-Leach.html#.V7hzBJgrLIU

Rio Olympics: Advantage Sweden

Sweden and Brazil played 120 minutes without a goal.  And yet, it was an incredibly exciting game. So it came down to penalty kicks to decide who would play in the Gold Medal Match and who would play in the Bronze.  When Sweden blocked a goal, so did Brazil, until the final of the five kicks.  Sweden made theirs, Brazil did not.  So Sweden will face Germany to determine who will win the Gold.  I guess Sweden putting the USA women, and defending four time Gold medalist out is a little easier to take, now.

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/2838311-136-226051/PaintingAdvantage%20Sweden%20Rio136-Greig-Leach.html#.V7QC8JgrLIU

Rio Olympics: To the Goal

So many thing to paint and some that I wish I had already done.  One such event is soccer.  Like everyone else, I assume that Team USA women would be playing for Gold.  So I planned to paint them then.  Alas, they fell to Sweden today and are now out of the tournament.  This is Josee Belanger (Canada) passing to Sofie Schmitt for Team Canada's only goal.  France didn't manage to score any, so it is Canada moving on to the Quarter Finals.

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/2836755-92-226051/PaintingTo%20the%20Goal%20Rio92-Greig-Leach.html#.V69gmZgrLIU