Let's Go!

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has a wonderful horse race painting by Degas that I have enjoyed for decades. As part of the ongoing series of artworks inspired by paintings from art history, I thought I would take a new look at his painting, "At the Races: Before the Start". I have been a cyclist for years and have gone on innumerable group rides. I've always felt that we stood around for way too long before setting off on the ride. I seemed a perfect correlation for the spirit of the Degas painting.

"Let's Go!"

44"x66" Oilsticks on paper, 2025

You can learn more (and purchase this painting if you are so inclined) here: 

 "Let's Go!" (Original art by Greig Leach)

Tour Down Under 24, Stage 1: Worth a Shot

The Pro Tour starts with the Tour Down Under, as riders flee the freezing temperatures of Europe for the heat of the Australian Summer.  With most of the the 140 plus kilometer stage yet to race, it was a bit early for Jardi Christian Van Der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost) to attempt a solo break away, but then it could have worked out should others have joined him in the effort.  Still, I and the rest of us, know he is in this year’s Tour Down Under.

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 $95 USD including shipping, but yes international shipping is both available and extra.

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3995480-178-194179/Painting/worth-a-shot.-tdu24-1.html

Paris Nice, Stage 6: Finishing the Plan

I'm not sure I will get use to the image of a stage winner saluting an empty roadside.  None the less, Tiesj Benoot (Sunweb) still took a bow for the race photographers.  Benoot had capitalized on the hard work of his teammates all stage long.  He had started the day in third by 1'10" but now is in second, trailing Schachmann by less than a half minute.  With just one stage left to race, the mountain top finish will be a wild scramble to get up the mountain first.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3491286-30-272742/Painting/finishing-the-plan-pn20-30.html

Paris Nice, Stage 3: Covering the Peloton

The best way to get the images of the race that we all enjoy is to be in the middle of the race on the back of a motorcycle.  Here as the peloton spreads across the narrow road, a photographer turns around to shoot the group as they chase down the lone escapee.  I have seen this particular helmet over the years shooting races.  Does anyone know who wears a red helmet with a white stripe and a white star?  The drivers must be very skilled to stay out of the way of the race and counter balance the squirming photographers and videographers that are their charges.

I once tried to see if I could paint the races this way.  Silly I know, but it would have been cool.  But the weather of this race thus far would have made it impossible let alone the infeasiblitly of painting on a moving motorcycle on back country roads.

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

https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Paris-Nice/3488946-12-272742/Painting/covering-the-peloton-pn20-12.html

"The Look"

I have been working on this piece for a number of weeks now, and today I managed to finish it.  With the goal of getting the artwork done this week, I have not been able to paint the Criterium du Dauphine.  Although you may be able to tell in these photos that I am listening to/watching the race while I work.  Along with these photographs, I am including a video to give you more of an idea on how this piece looks in person.

Note that you can here stage three of the race playing while I am filming this.  

This piece is sold, but you can see other stained glass and painted sculptural pieces on my website at www.greigleach.com.  I do create works on commission as well.  Shipping is available worldwide.  You can email me through the website to get the wheels turning 

Tour, Stage 17: Picking Them Off

The attacking pace of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was just barely held by the Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe).  The two caught (and passed) the erstwhile leader on the road, Tanel Kangert (Astana).  Kangert had gotten away on the first climb of the day.  He had been leading the race until being caught with just over ten kilometers left to climb.  It hadn't been as far as a normal stage, but it certainly had been as hard, if not harder.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193951-92-251072/PaintingPicking-Them-Off--T18-91.html

Tour, Stage 16: Leaving Them Behind

On the final climb of the day, the Col du Portillon, Robert Gesnik (Lotto NL Jumbo) jumped free of the dwindling break away.  With a sharp drop down to the finish town of Bagneres de Luchon it was a strong probablility that whomever went over the top first would take the stage win.  Gesnik's attack was covered by Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida) as the pair charged up the final five kilometers to the summit.  Behind, you can just catch sight of Adam Yates (Mitchelton Scott) trying to bridge across to the leaders.  Spoiler alert, he did.  And was in the lead on the descent until he slid out in a wet corner.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3193211-86-251072/PaintingLeaving-Them-Behind--T18-85.html

Tour, Stage 11: Feeling Good?

Movistar had a plan today.  Once Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) had over a minute on the Team Sky led peloton, his teammate, Marc Soler, dropped back from the early break.  The duo did all they could to ride across the gap.  Soler kept looking back over his shoulder to make sure his team co-captain was going well.  Soler was willing to ride until if he dropped if he could help get Valverde in yellow.  Movistar still had Nairo Quintana glued to the wheel of Chris Froome (Sky) should Valverde's attack come to naught.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3189407-59-251072/PaintingFeeling-Good?--T18-58.html

Tour, Stage 9: Shades of 2014

For those who don't get the title of this painting, it is two fold.  First like Richie Porte (BMC) crashed out of this Tour de France with out every putting a wheel on a single pave, just as Chris Froome (Sky) did back in 2014 (the last time the Tour raced on some of the Paris Roubaix paves).  Secondly, it was stage 9 when Porte crashed out in spectacular fashion last year.  Fortunately for BMC and Porte, his injuries were not anywhere near as severe as 2017.  Porte wasn't the only one who hit the deck here, nor all over the roads and pave of today's stage.  There is a reason the classic, Paris Roubaix, is called "The Hell of the North"  Today it was a hellish ride for many in the peloton.  Others may have suffered physically, but at least their GC hopes are still entacted.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3187624-41-251072/PaintingShades-of-2014--T18-41.html

Tour, Stage 6: Ready to Go

This Tour seems to keep dishing up ill timed mishaps for the GC contenders.  Some have lost over a minute in their bad luck's bad timing.  Jakob Fulgsang (Astana) was a little more fortunate than others to have his late mechanical happen with another twenty kilometers to race.  While he will have to expend more energy than his main rivals, he will be able to rejoin the race without the risk of losing any time on the day. 

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3186854-28-251072/PaintingReady-to-Go--T18-28.html

Tour, Stage 3 TTT: Checking on the Others

Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) looks over his shoulder to make sure there are enough riders to post the best possible time for the team.  There were.  And the team posted the best time thus far.  Should the time stand, not only did Van Avermaet check on everyone, their efforts (and his) put himself into the Maillot Jaune of race leader.  They also moved the American, Tejay van Garderen, into second.  They also moved their race leader up ahead of almost every other GC contender.

This is the painting that I filmed being created today.  You can see it on my You Tube Channel where I hope you will become a subscriber.  And you can watch it here as well.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3185246-12-251072/PaintingChecking-on-the-Others--T18-12.html

Tour, Stage 1: Getting to Work

The Tour is not only about the racers, but about all of the support work of the complete team.  One rider will pull on the final Maillot Jaune in Paris, but every member of the team will be responsible for that accomplishment in 23 days time.  It is stunning to watch the mechanics attempt to fix the bikes for riders as they drive along at nearly thirty miles per hour.  All I can think of is how much it would hurt to get a finger in the spokes.  Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) is getting a quick adjustment in the early stages of the first day of the Tour, it didn't work out.  He later opted to switch bikes and then catch back up to the peloton and the job at hand.  Hopefully, the mechanic will get to spend the rest of the stage inside of the team car.

This is the painting that you can watch being created on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLGX-TnjXDSkkOidUE6pN1g.  Unfortunately, I am still working out some kinks, so it is presented in three seperate videos.  I hope to have that resolved for tomorrow's painting.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-de-France-2018/3184429-2-251072/PaintingGetting-to-Work--T18-2.html

Giro, Stage 16: Looking for Stage Honors

Rohan Dennis (BMC), the time trial champion of Australia, went out looking for a time trial stage win today.  He was just two seconds off of the pace in the opening TT in Jerusalem to kick off the 101st Giro d'Italia.  It was two seconds he made up the next day to pull on the Maglia Rosa for two stages while racing in Israel.  I doubt he expected to regain the over all lead, but he certainly found the stage victory he wanted.  He finished twnety two seconds ahead of the current time trial world champion as well as fourteen seconds ahead of the four time champion, Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin).  His time today did move him into sixth overall, leaving his in striking distance of the podium in Rome.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3166968-65-249297/PaintingLooking-for-Stage-Honors--G18-70.html

Giro, Stage 8: Sprinting Up the Mountain

It was truly a marvel to see the speed with which Richard Carapz (Movistar) sprinted out of the pack and up the Montevergine di Mercogliano!  He had taken over the Maglia Blanco of best young rider on the climb up Mount Etna in stage 6.  Today, he added a stage victory (the first victory in a grand tour in his young career).  While others had trouble with both the climb and the rain, neither seemed to phase the Ecuadorian on the Spanish team.  He is now the first Ecuadorian to ride in a grand tour, to wear a leader's jersey and to win a stage in a grand tour.  I am sure we haven't seen the last of this young man.

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

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/101st-Giro-dItalia/3162094-35-249297/PaintingSprinting-Up-the-Mountain--G18-35.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: What Can We Do?

Finally, it was this duo of Logan Owen (EF Education First-Drapac) and Ben O'Connor (Dimension Data) who got a solid lead on the peloton.  Their two minute lead also meant that they sucked up all of the bonus seconds out on course all put ensuring that Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) would go out the over all winner of the 20th Tour Down Under. 

Owen appears to be asking O'Connor whether they should continue with the effort or admit defeat to the closing peloton.  Or perhaps he was asking if the Dimension Data man had any power left in his legs, since Owen left on his own on the next lap.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. To purchase this artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099886-116-194179/PaintingWhat-Can-We-Do?-TDU18-29.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: King of Willunga

This is the view that every one in the peloton sees of Richie Porte (BMC) as he rides up the final ascent of Willunga Hill.  Today he was racing for the Ochre Jersey, a slim chance at the Polka Dot Jersey, and to let everyone know that he has come back strong from the crash in the 2017 Tour de France.  He took the stage by eight seconds over Daryl Impey (Michelton-Scott) and got a ten second bonus in the bargain, so it looked this the race lead might be his.  However, with "count back" Impey had done just enough to secure the race lead for himself, and furthermore, he lost on count back for the Polka Dot Jersey as well.  But he does claim this fifth win on top of Willunga Hill, much to the delight of the fans lining the final kilometer of the stage.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. To purchase this artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099769-113-194179/PaintingKing-of-Willunga-TDU18-26.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: After the Fall

A brief lapse of concentration sent Nuno Mates (Movistar) crashing to the ground as he road on the front of the small break away group.  He was riding along the beach, so perhaps the scenery (or bathing suit clad woman) distracted him as he went around a corner.  Unlike most any other sport, there is no time out, or injury delay in cycling.  If he wanted to continue his Tour, he was going to have to get back up and manage the best he could despite the obvious cuts to his elbows and rear end.  But get up he did.  He was tended to by first his team car (here) and then the race medical team (while riding along at 40 kilometers an hour), all while joining back up with his erstwhile break away companions.  We shall see if he is able to continue with the last stage in Adelaide tomorrow.

This is a small 4x6 inch original watercolor painting that is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com created using Yarka St Petersburg watercolors from Richesonart.com. To purchase this artwork, just follow the direct link at the end of this post.  And yes, international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Tour-Down-Under/3099762-110-194179/PaintingAfter-the-Fall-TDU18-23.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Men's Road Race: Time to Pull Them Back

With just four laps left to race, the Spanish team decided it was time to chase down the remnants of the early break.  They wanted to set it up for a bunch sprint for the finale in hopes that their sprinter, Ivan Garcia, would be able to take out the win for Espana.  Garcia had just missed on the stage of this year's Vuelta in to his hope town of Gijon, I am sure he would love to redeem that effort with a win today.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3037105-34-239826/PaintingTime-to-Pull-Them-Back--Bergen-34.html

Bergen 2017, U23 Men's Road Race: Getting Across

The silver medalist American from the U23 ITT used his talents to ride across to the swelling early break away.  The USA Cycling team was using some strong tactics by putting Brandon McNulty into the break.  Either the break would succeed and he would be there for a chance to take the gold. Or the more likely scenario would be that the break would be chased down but his teammates would have the right not to ride on the front to bring the break back.  That way they would have fresher legs to go for the race victory.  Unfortunately, all of the Americans faded towards the end of the race, none coming in with the peloton at the end of the day.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3037099-33-239826/PaintingGetting-Across--Bergen=33.html

Bergen 2017, Elite Men's ITT: Cheering Their Man

It looked like the entire country of Norway had spilled onto the slopes of Mount Floyen to give their full throttle support to the elite men of the pro peloton.  To be fair, they were very enthusiatic to every single person struggling up the hill, but they really let lose when Andreas Vangstad (Norway) one of their own rode past.  Vangstad was not one of those to figure in the medals (although he did post some great times on the flatter sections of the course), but that did nothing to dampen the patriotic ferver on the roadside.

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.  It is only $75 USD and international shipping is available.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Bergen-2017-UCI-Road-World-Championships/3036163-24-239826/PaintingCheering-Their-Man-Bergen-24.html