Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Individual All Around: Catch and Release

I suppose I should title this "release and catch," but I was going for a play on the uneven bars skills and fishing action.  I know, it is a bit of a stretch, but I enjoy it.  I also enjoy watching Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) as a gymnast.  She has both athleticism and an infectious movement and joy in all that she does.  Her second rotation on this discipline was flawless and gave her the lead at the end of the second rotation.  She did drop at the end of the night, but that meant that she will be taking the Silver Medal back to her home in Rio.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Catch and Release PO24-47" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Team Fencing - Foil: A Golden Touch

I do enjoy how NBC opens their primetime coverage of the Olympics with a perfect moment of Team USA winning a gold medal.  Tonight it was L. Scruggs (USA) scoring the winning touche against A. Errigo (Italy) to give her team the Gold Medal.  Naturally, it is Italy winning the Silver.  I love this sport having had the chance to learn it in Junior College so very many years ago.  Side note, Scruggs is currently a student at Harvard.  I will never measure up to either her academic prowess or her physical prowess.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"A Golden Touch PO24-46" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's BMX Qualifying: An American in Paris

You all should be proud of me, I resisted the temptation to call this one "An American Perris in Paris."  Mainly because I wasn't sure how to spell her name when I painted it.  Perris Benegas (USA) did enough to qualify to compete for a medal in Women's BMX Freestyle.  I am having trouble finding when the actual medal event is or has taken place.  According to the internet it already has, and she took Silver.  So this may be the only painting of this event.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"An American in Paris PO24-38" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Gymnastics Team All Around: Balance

The Italian Team was in the same rotation as the Americans and were being very supportive of their main rivals for an Olympic Medal. They would hug and congratulate each other as the other left the stage after their competition. Alice D'Amato (Italy) was on great form as she helped carrier her team to a Silver Medal in the Women's Gymnastics Team All Around competition on the Balance Beam. They just edged out Brazil for the honor, with the latter coming home with the Bronze.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Balance PO24-34" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's 100M Backstroke: Off the Wall

Looking at this painting now, it is a bit difficult to see that we are looking at the fronts of these swimmers as they leap away from the wall at the start of the 100 Meter Backstroke.  Off the wall first in green is Kaylee McKeown (Australia) on her way to winning the Gold Medal and setting a new Olympic Record.  To her rights is Regan Smith (USA) who took the Silver Medal, and to her right is her teammate Katharine Berkoff who finished the night with the Bronze Medal.  Australia has been dominating in the pool in Paris, with few other countries getting a win in any of the other races.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Off the Wall PO24-33" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Street Skateboarding: Backside

I'm sorry, but the title was just too tempting.  While I don't know the exact name of the trick that won the Silver Medal for Jagger Eaton (USA), I do know that 'backside' is part of its name.  And of course, we are looking at this skater's backside.  It is a bit of a relief that I can still paint a sport that I know so little about.  Way, way back in the 70s I did some skateboarding and wasn't very good.  Admittedly, as in most sports, the equipment is so much better now.  On the other hand, that is about the time I discovered the joy of cycling and all other sports fell away.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Backside PO24-28" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's Mountain Biking: Who Will It Be?

It was truly amazing to see Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) fight his way back to the front of the race after having a flat tire.  I am quite sure that neither Victor Koretzky (France) nor Alan Hatherly (South Africa) were overjoyed to see the Brit.  Pidcock has just come off of the Tour de France, so he has a deeper fitness and stamina then most anyone else in the race.  These three just have about another kilometer to race and it is unclear who will take which medals, but it will be these three for the top three places.  Koretzky had one more attack in him and dropped Pidcock for a bit.  Pidcock did come back and passed the Frenchman on a narrow stretch making contact in the effort.  Koretzky had to pull a foot out of his cleats and there went his Gold Medal.  Pidcock repeated his Tokyo Olympics Gold, with Koretzky finishing with the Silver, and Hatherly the Bronze.  The Bronze is the first Olympic Mountain Biking medal for his country, his continent and his hemisphere.  Well done all three!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"Who Will It Be? PO24-23" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Mountain Biking: The Sprint for Silver

Despite having to chase down the leaders of the race after having a flat tire, Haley Batten (USA) had enough left to sprint away from her erstwhile Swedish companion.  She was able to open a gap and claim the first Olympic Medal for the USA in Women's Mountain Biking.  She is now a Silver Medalist in these Olympic Games!  Chapeau, Haley!  At the finish the first thing she did was hug and congratulate the woman she had sprinted away from, Jenny Rissveds.  The two were then joined by the Gold Medalist, Pauline Ferrand Prevot.  Such a great show of sportsmanship, or should I say sportswomanship?

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra.

"The Sprint for Silver PO24-19" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's Mountain Biking: Racing for Silver

The American Haley Batten (USA) had to chase back after a flat tire in the early laps of the race.  In fact it was Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) who alerted Batten's mechanics as she came through the Tech Zone.  This is one of the things I love about women's cycling, Rissveds' was under no obligations to help out Batten, but she made it so the American's mechanics were ready when Batten arrived for service.  While I am sure she wanted to get the Silver Medal, her action was rewarded with a Bronze.  Medaling at the Olympics is a life goal for most every athlete and only three are given in every event of the Games.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Racing for Silver PO24-18" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's 100 Butterfly: Going One Two

It was a bit of an unexpected result in the Women's 100 Butterfly today.  Gretchen Walsh (USA) started the day holding both the Olympic and World Records and went into the finale as the odds-on favorite.  She seemed to have the race, barely, in hand until the final twenty meters.  In her last couple of strokes Torri Huske (USA) managed to get to the wall first.  Huske lost out of a medal in Tokyo by one hundredth of a second, today she won Gold by the same measure.  Walsch seemed equally thrilled for her teammate as she was to take Silver herself.  During the medal ceremony Huske brought Walsch up on the top step of the podium as their national anthem played.  

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Going One Two PO24-15" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay: Final Leg

Not only fast swimming, but perfectly timed transitions took Team USA to Gold.  The last swimmer for USA had a clear advantage diving into the pool as Team Italy jumped, and Team Australia prepared to chase down the Americans.  Unable to catch the final American swimmer, Australia pulled into second to claim the Silver Medal and Italy faded a bit to take home the Bronze.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Final Leg PO24-11" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women''s 4x100 Freestyle Relay

Team Australia continued its dominance of this event today.  They have now won the Women's 4x100 Freestyle Relay four consecutive times.  It was Team USA just barely touching the wall ahead of Team China to claim the Silver Medal, with China taking Bronze.  I find painting the swimming events rather difficult to paint but I am rather satisfied with this one.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"Fourth Time Gold PO24-10" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Paris Olympics 2024, Women's ITT: There Should Be a Medal in It

Simultaneously making herself as small to the wind as possible, and sprinting, Anna Hendersen (Great Britain) pushed all of the way to the line over the Pont Alexandre.  I am sure that her coach was yelling through the radio in her ear that she was on a great ride.  As she crossed the line, she set another new best time for the course.  She had two women out on the road behind her, so she was in for a Bronze Medal at least.  She couldn't quite hold onto that best time, when Grace Brown finished, but the final rider on the road came in ten seconds slower.  That means she has won Silver for Great Britain!

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The work sells for $95 USD including shipping, but, yes, international shipping is both available and extra. 

"There Should Be a Medal in It PO24-6" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Wollongong 2022, Mixed Team Relay: One More Minute

Using what is now becoming obviously the winning stradegy, the Italians Vittoria Guazzini (the new U23 Women's Time Trial Champion) and Elisa Longo Borghini (the current World Road Champion - at least until Saturday) are inside the final kilometer with just about a minute left to get to the finish line in the Mixed Team Relay.  As strong as they were, they didn't quite have enough speed to better the time of their Swiss adversaries.  They came home just under three seconds behind the Swiss team for the Silver Medal.  Their time did knock the Australians into the Bronze medal position with just two other teams to finish behind them.  Coincidentally, they were the Netherlands and Germany, the only two teams to have ever won this event thus far.  The Netherlands had poor luck losing Bauke Mollema to a mechanical problem and then Annemiek Van Vleutin to a rather frightening crash just as she rolled down the start ramp.  Despite their misfortune, they did manage a fifth place today.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906802-18-295031/Painting/one-more-minute-uci22-18.html

Wollongong 2022, Men's ITT: On the Rivot

"On the Rivot" is an old cycling expression that goes back to the days of leather saddles (Brooks made the best - I raced on one back in the 70s).  The saddle had a brass rivot on the front of the seat.  When one is putting everything into the pedals, one has a tendency to slide forward, and thus finding oneself on the rivot at the front of the saddle.   It has come to mean that the rider is going as hard as they possibly can.  That is exactly what Stefan Kung (Switzerland) was doing on this ride.  He was second at the first check and first at the second one.  With only three men behind him, those time stood.  He was 14 seconds ahead of the Norwegian, Tobias Foss, at the second time check, but lost 17 seconds in the final ten kilometers of the time trial.  While he held off those behind him, he would have to settle for the silver medal today.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $90 USD including shipping, and yes, international shipping is available. 

If you can't afford to purchase a piece you could always help keep me going by buying me a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/greigsartc.  And check out my vlogs at my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Wollongong-2022-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3906194-11-295031/Painting/on-the-rivot-uci22-11.html

Beijing 2022: Fighting for Gold

My wife, the actor Bridget Gethins (look her up on IMDB.com) noticed that yet again I forgot to titled and sugned this painting while she was selecting her favorite of the day.  She came up eith "Fughting for Gold: which is far superoir to my idea of "Sprinting for Gold"  (This is why she titles all of my large scale works).  Ivanie Blondin (Canada) and Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy) got out of the final turn first, but it was Irene Schouten's (Netherlands) incredible sprint that decided the Gold Medal.  Blondin held on for a close run Silver. And the it was Lollobrigida (the great niece of the famous Italian actress from the 60s) and Mia Manganello Kilberg (USA) in her first international race vying for the Bronze.  It went to the Italian.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3868157-55-293321/Painting/fighting-for-gold-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: A First for Her Country

Jaclyn Narracott (Australia)slide down the track and into Australian history.  She was fast enough to win her country's first sliding medal, a Silver.  Not only was it a treat to watch her run, it was great to see some color streaking down the ice.

 This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3866413-26-293321/Painting/a-first-for-her-country-beijing-2022.html

Beijing 2022: Photo Finish

Eliot Grondin (Canada) went just a tad early with his snowboarder's equivilant of the sprinter's lunge.  Alas, his timing and balance weren't quite what thet should have been and he lost control.  However, I think that Alessandro Haemmerle (Austria) had him beat regardless.  Haemmerle took Gold by two one hundredths of a second, leaving Grondin to claim Silver.  You can just see the feet and board of Omar Visintin (Italy) who took thr Bronze.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3865894-17-293321/Painting/photo-finish-beijing-2022.html

Bejing 2022: Nose Butter Take Off

Every discipline has its own slang, but free style skiing seems the most foreign and fun to me.  The phrase, "nose butter" refers to a light touch on the tips of the skis as one leaves the jump ramp.  I think the phrase is equating the ski pressure on the snow is the same as spreading butter on toast.  If you press to hard it all crumbles or if you press to lightly you leave nothing behind.  So it was that Colby Stevenson (USA) struck the right balance as he left the ramp for his final jump of the Big Air competition.  The jump was enough to earn him the Silver Medal coming just shy of surpassing Ruud the Norwegian Gold Medalist.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3865166-10-293321/Painting/nose-butter-take-off-bejing-2022.html

Bejing 2022: Going One, Two

 With only a single pass in the entire 500 meter Women's Short Track, Arianna Fontana (Italy) held off a fast closing Suzanne Schulting (Netherlands) to claim Gold and had to her ever growing trophy cabinet.  Schulting isn't exactly lacking in Olympic medals either adding a silver medal to her collection.  Both American skaters had fallen in the quarterfinals, thus unable to compete for medals in the 500.  I sure hope we will get to seem them skate in the longer events later in the Games.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my website at greigleach.com or you can simply follow the direct link at the end of the post to purchase the painting above. Since it is an original work of art, it is a first come first served reality. The painting was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors from www.Richesonart.com. The work sells for $75 USD plus shipping, and yes international shipping is available.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Winter-Olympics-2022/3865055-3-293321/Painting/going-one-two-bejing-2022.html