One, Two: A Commissioned Piece of Cycling Art

This is another time when I get to geek out about how my cycling art is reaching out to the pro peloton and the world wide cycling community.  This painting was done as a commission for the Belgium rider, Kris Boeckmans (Lotto Soudal), winning a stage of the Tour de Picardie.  Kris has reached out to me on twitter (www.twitter.com/artofcycling).  This is the second image that he has a commissioned of him winning a race.  I am truly honored that these hard men in spandex actually enjoy and treasure my paintings.  I so enjoy what they are capable of doing.  I love to ride and long ago tried my hand at amateur racing.  I wasn't bad, but I know that I am a much better at making art  than I ever was a competitive cycling.  I think I will stick to club rides and painting that fast men doing what I could only dream of doing.

If you would like to commission a work for yourself.  Email me at greigsart@gmail.com and we can discuss the image, the size and the cost.  International shipping is available.

Giro Stage 18:Tending to the Aftermath

Roberto Ferrari (Lampre Merida) was one of the two victims of the run in with what was apparently a neutral service vehicle.  The details of what happen were rather sketchy, but the end result had Ferrari and Damiano Cunego (Nippo Vini Fantini) bloody and on the tarmac.  Ferrari was able to get back up and resume the stage, Cunego however saw his Giro come to an end.  The pair had been well place in a large breakaway that had gain the largest gap in the race thus far, leaving Cunego to wonder what might have been.  After he was back on the bike, Ferrari dropped back to the race doctor to get his wounds cleaned and a healthy dose of anti-bacterial spray.  Once he had been seen to, there was nothing to do but rejoin the peloton and hope for a better day tomorrow.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com,  They are a lovely family run art supply business with some really fine products.  This painting is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2560824-237-234-184157/Painting/Sports.html#.VWfVkc_BzGc

Giro Stage 15: Visiting the Doctor

Amongst the members of the following caravan is the all important Medical Assistance car.  Those that are suffering from both new wrecks and old ones alike can drop back to visit the doctor while tooling along at 40 kilometers an hour.  The descent off of the Passo Daone was fast, twisting and narrow.  One of the especially tight turns was further constricted by a rather foolish reporter and motorcycle driver who stopped on the road surface in order to broadcast a mid race report.  Several riders went down trying to avoid the fools, most notably Damiano Caruso (BMC) who dived head first into the soft dirt.  While I didn't see Igor Anton (Movistar) go down, I assume he was one of those who had difficulty negotiating the narrow descent.  One of the common methods of treatment is the 'magical spray' that is both disinfectant and numbing agent that will tend to the immediate symptoms of the crash and help prevent infection.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company.  They are a small family run art supply company that have incredible quality art supplies.  You can find them on the web at www.richesonart.com.  This painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To buy this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  All of my small cycling watercolors are $50 USD plus shipping (including international shipping), including this one.  While you are at the website, why not take the time to look at all of the artwork on offer?

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2559468---184157/Painting.html#.VWKCSflViko

Giro Stage 10: A Desperate Chase

The final kilometers into Forli claimed the dreams of two men.  Both Oscar Gatto (Androni Giocattoli) and Richie Porte (Team Sky) feel victim to poorly timed flat tires.  Gatto's flat caused him to lose contact with the break away and with it, his chance for his first ever stage victory.  Porte's flat caused him to lose time on the main peloton.  More importantly, he lost almost two minutes to Alberto Porte (Tinkoff Saxo) and Fabio Aru (Astana).  The leader of Team Sky has now dropped down to 12th in the overall standings, trailing the Maglia Rosa by three minutes and nine seconds.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolor and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson & Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a small family run art supply business that has an incredible area of fine art and craft products.  The painting is available for purchase 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, not a print, so don't delay, when it is gone, it is gone.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2556784---184157/Painting.html#.VVvSD_lViko

Giro Stage 7: Proving He's Okay

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) was one of those who went down in the crash 500 meters from the line in Stage 6.  He apparently dislocated his shoulder.  He was unable to put on the Maglia Rosa nor open the Procesca on the podium yesterday evening.  So I was a little surprised to see him take the start, I'm sure there were many members of the peloton who felt the same.  Tinkoff Saxo made a point of showing that Contador was ready to ride, even pushing the pace on the penultimate climb of the day.  While the Spaniard winced as he did his signature dance up the climb, he seemed very capable of pushing the pace and putting the sprinters into difficulty.  He was certainly relying on the strength of Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers and Ivan Basso to show how strong he and his team were.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from www.richesonart.com.  In addition, this painting and all of my cycling art is 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.  And yes, international shipping is available.  Do act quickly to get your own piece of the 98th Giro d'Italia.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2554770---184157/Painting.html#.VVbt5CFViko

Giro Stage 4: Dishing Out the Pain

Astana had a plan, perhaps taking a page from Tinkoff Saxo's play book.  They put six of the team's nine riders on the front (two more were up the road in the early break).  The boys in turquoise raised the pace to a near lethal level, shedding hopefuls and pretenders alike.  By this point, many of the other contenders were down to one or two teammates (if any) for support.  The move was so strong that Richie Porte (Team Sky), called up his team car in hopes of any ideas on how to respond to the show of strength.  It was a little ironic, considering that setting a vicious pace is modus operundi for Team Sky.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553576---184157/Painting.html#.VVPL8iHBzGc

Giro Stage 4: Still Alone?

Attack after attack went from the drop of the start flag, but the peloton seemed in no mood to let anyone get off the front.  Finally, as they approached the first categorized climb of the day, another large breakaway formed and set about the business of leaving the peloton behind.  Eduardo Zardini (Bardiani CSF) decided to pick up where he left off in the previous stage.  As he reached the KOM point, he checked behind one more time, perhaps not believing that he could actually be reaching the summit of the Colla di Velva alone.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting that was created using Yarka St. Petersburg watercolors and Steve Quiller brushes from Jack Richeson and Company, www.richesonart.com.  They are a lovely family run business that has incredible art supplies for professionals and hobbyist alike.  In addition, this painting (and all of my cycling art) is available for purchase through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  To purchase this particular painting, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And, yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Giro%20d%20Italia/2553570---184157/Painting.html#.VVPJQSHBzGc

Paris Nice Final Stage: It's Up to Him

Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) had a tall order to out ride the talented Richie Porte (Team Sky) who was ahead of him on the road and behind him on the general classification.  Gallopin captured the Maillot Jaune on a brilliant aggressive ride over multiple mountains and a very well timed attack on the final climb of the final road stage.  The Frenchman put everything into putting as much time into the other contenders, perhaps a little too much.  The Lotto Soudal team leader is not the caliper of those behind him on the GC when it comes to time trialing as proven by his intermediate time check that was 58 seconds behind Porte's time.  Enough of a time difference to lose yellow, now he is racing just to finish on the podium.

This is a small original watercolor and ink painting, along with all of my art of the 72nd Paris Nice, is 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.  If you are enjoying reading about bike races with the accompanying artwork please be sure to check out my recently published, Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France.  The book is available through virtually every online bookseller around the world.  Just google the title to find out where you can get your copy while avoiding international shipping charges.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Spring%20Classics%20/2525978---195767/Painting.html#.VQXKqI7F-xU

Talking About Art, Cycling Art and the Business of Being an Artist

I spent Valentine's Day talking with a group of about twenty five artists and art lovers.  The group was the Metro Richmond Artist Association.  I was there to talk about my art and how to work with Shiva Paintstiks.  You can see the Paintstiks in my left hand in the first picture.  I brought along my most recently completed painting (see the previous blog post) with two other completed paintings. 

In order to be able to show the participants in the workshop, I also had an incomplete work to illustrate my process.  Naturally, the question and answer period was wide ranging covering everything from being a professional artist, using social media to promote one's work and cycling.  Most particular my book, "Book de Tour - Art of the 101st Tour de France".  In the second photo, I am holding the book and telling the story of Alberto Contrador's abandonment and how my artwork was used by International Media to relate the story.

Both of these photographs were taken by one of the artists (and in her case authors) in attendance, Mary Montague Sikes.

To see these paintings go to my artist website at www.greigleach.com, you can find the book there, too.

Direct link to the purchase a copy of the book; http://www.greigleach.com/gallery/201710/Book+de+Tour/#.VOPk8k05DIU and for the painting of Arthur Vichot in the first photograph; http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Figurative%20Works/2340551-1-0-7216/Painting/Sports.html#.VOPlNk05DIU