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: 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