“I’ve Got a Secret” Time Lapse Video of the Creation of a Shiva Paintst...

I thought I would take advantage of some time off to create a large scale Shiva Paintstik painting before the UCI Road World Championships start tomorrow.  I will be painting as much of the racing as possible so I won't have much time to do other work in the studio.

You can see the final version at https://www.greigleach.com/large-multi-view/Figurative-Works/3392112-2-7216/PaintingI've-Got-a-Secret.html, and purchase it there if you feel so inclined.

Long Before Watercolors of Cycling...

Since 1979, I have been painting with Shiva Paintstiks (they are made by Richeson Art) to create large scale paintings on paper.  For my newest painting, I am sharing the process from start to finish in a series of You Tube videos like this one.  At this point I have created 5 videos and am roughly half way through the painting (doing the math, I guess there will be 10 in all).  We will see.

Here is the most recent video:

I hope you will take the time to watch these videos.  And that you will subscribe to my channel so that you can see this bar scene come to life.  As always, you can see more of my artwork on my website.

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

Riding in the Fast Lane

In addition to the small cycling watercolors, I also do large scale Shiva Paintstik paintings on paper.  Actually, the Paintstik works came long before I started the project of painting cycling events live.  The large scale works like this one can be quite big, this one is 44"x52" and take considerably longer to create then the postcard sized watercolors.  The subject matter varies widely, but all of it reflects what I am interested in, figurative pieces are all slices of my life.  Many of them are created from remember moments in time.  The work can be very specific, but it frequently coveys an everyman perspective on life.  Regardless of where we are, we are all dealing with many of the very same issues.

This painting is entitled, "Riding in the Fast Lane".  For the large oil pieces, my wife, Bridget, is the one to create the titles.  She was once referred to as the "titler" in one of my exhibition reviews.  This piece is loosely based on one of my watercolors of the final stage of the Tour Down Under.

The painting is available through my artist website at www.greigleach.com.  While you are there, why not take the time to look at more of my figurative work.  To reach this painting just follow the direct link at the end of this post.

http://www.greigleach.com/large-view/Figurative%20Works/2508782-2-0-7216/Painting.html#.VNusLU05DIU