An Artist Is Always Working

Just because the Tour Down Under is over, and the Classics haven't yet started, doesn't mean I don't have anything going on in the studio.  I make art because I love to, and because I can't imagine doing anything else (with the possible exception of riding my bike). 

This is an 8"x10" piece of stained glass that I created for our grand daughter who should be born in the next couple of days.  Her name is Alister Violet, so I thought creating an image of stars and violets was appropriate.  The skull goes with the tattoos that adorn both of her parents.  And I see the skull as a symbol of power and longevity.

You can learn more about this piece, see others and purchase work at my Etsy site, https://www.etsy.com/shop/ColorLineGlassPaint 

I'll be back in the studio tomorrow.  And I'll be back painting cycling in March.

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: By a Tire

It seems appropriate that the final stage of the Tour Down Under should come to a photo finish.  With the over all race winner being determined by count back having finished on equal time, the final sprint should follow suit.  It was a perfectly timed bike throw that gave the victory to Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal).  Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) would have to take joy in one stage for himself and his teammates Tour win although a second place ain't bad.  For Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) his third place finish made the points jersey his own.  It was a little odd seeing him out of the Rainbow Jersey, but then we have all gotten used to seeing him green during the Tour de France.

All the way around this had been a very exciting Tour Down Under.  This is a good omen for the coming Pro Tour season.  I will now go back into my studio to work on other projects.  I will be back painting a selection of the Spring Classics as the season progresses.

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/3099888-118-194179/PaintingBy-a-Tire-TDU18-31.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: No Organization

As the peloton got into the final two kilometers it seemed that all of the sprint teams lost control of the group at once.  All of this Tour and surely all season long at this point it will be two or three teams all lined out with their sprinters tacked onto the end of the train.  Today they was barely a pair of teammates together at the crest of the hill one and a half kilometers from the line.  Cameron Meyer (Mitchelton-Scott) kept pushing on figuring his teammates who regain his wheel.  He needed to deliver Caleb Ewan and his lead out man (and race leader) Daryl Impey onto the finishing straight.  Every other leadout man was jumping around trying to get their men back together.  At this point it was anyone's race, both for the stage and for the entire Tour.

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/3099887-117-194179/PaintingNo-Organization-TDU18-30.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 6: The Ones that Got Away

With the first couple of groups pulled back by the peloton, it was these three that seemed to be getting free on the streets of Adelaide.  Truls Korsaeth (Astana), Laurent Didier (Trek-Segafredo) and Logan Owen (EF Education First-Drapac) were able to open up about a minute in the early laps of the downtown circuit.  Question is... Will they be let off of the leash?

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/3099885-115-194179/PaintingThe-Ones-that-Got-Away-TDU18-28.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 6: Hoping to Get Away

With a very tight race in every competition except the King of the Mountains, today's circuit race through downtown Adelaide should be a "real ripper," to use the venacular.  The first group to open up a gap on the peloton was this quartet comprised of Antoine Duchesne (FDJ), Nans Peters and Pierre Roger Latour (Ag2r La Mondiale) and  Ben O'Connor (Dimension Data).  With bonus seconds on offer at the intermediate sprints, Mitchelton-Scott would love for a group to get established and help make sure that no one could grab time on the Ochre Jersey of their man Daryl Impey. 

Apparently after this group swelled in numbers, the peloton decided this was not the break they wanted.

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/3099884-114-194179/PaintingHoping-to-Get-Away-TDU18-27.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: All In

For five years running now, Richie Porte (BMC) has attacked at the exact same spot on Willunga Hill.  And for five years, no one has been able to do much about it.  Today, it was only Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) who could answer the savage acceleration by Porte.  Just 20 meter behind, peeking around the corner, Egan Bernard (Sky) was trying to get back on terms with the two leaders.  The rest of the peloton was scattered in twos and threes all over the 3 kilometers of Willunga Hill.

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/3099767-112-194179/PaintingAll-In-TDU18-25.html

Tour Down Under, Stage 5: Looking for the Top

As the break started up the penultimate climb of Willunga Hill (and of the day and the Tour Down Under), it was the leader of the King of the Mountains, Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data) that was battling it out for points with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Scott Bowden (UniSA-Australia).  The effort was being watched intently by the race commisare sticking his out through the roof of the following car. 

When I titled this piece I didn't know just how prophetic I was being.  As they approached the banner that had marked the KOM points line in every previous stage, De Gendt motioned for Dlamini to go ahead and claim the points.  After apparently giving Dlamini enough points to secure the jersey, De Gendt pressed on crossing the line at the top of the mountain (that would be the finishing line next time up) first.  It turned out that was where the KOM points were awarded placing Dlamini second over the summit.  It may not effect the final destination of the jersey, but it shouldn't have happened.

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/3099763-111-194179/PaintingLooking-for-the-Top-TDU18-24.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