Hola! Here’s my last sketch study from the time trial on Stage 1, this time showing Team Sky’s Michal Kwiatowski approaching the line at great speed to take the lead. His team mate Dylan van Baarle had held set a great time early on, but Kwiatowski put in a tremendous time, looking as though he would take his first stage win. It was not to be, but this moment looked great – at least for a while!
Hola! Here’s another study from the time trial on Stage 1, this one an experiment with water soluble pastels on black paper, which gives a great contrast for the colour. The rider is Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Soudal) who charged to the line with what looked like a combination of determination and brute force to achieve his place on the podium – wonderful to see!
Hola! Here’s my next piece based on this year’s Vuelta – another from Stage 1, this time a study of Rohan Dennis waiting to start his time trial. He rode a phenomenal stage – he is a gifted time triallist, along with his team, BMC. The picture shows him calmly waiting to go, but I wanted to convey the anticipation by using strong lines – I like the contrast and feel this would work up into a bigger piece perhaps – that’s for another time but here he is… waiting.
Bonjour! Breaking with the routine a bit – This piece is inspired by the French rider Julian Alaphilippe who put in a storming performance on Stage 10. Left everyone behind! This image is mixed media – combining watercolour, ink with pen, brush and twig – as well as a little gouache. It’s drying at the moment, so see what you think….
Looking forward to 2018 Tour of Yorkshire… let’s hope it stops raining by 3rd May! 🙂
Original watercolour, pen and ink
20 x 20 cm
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
I’m absolutely thrilled to bits about this! Thank you VeloVoices, I can’t stop smiling! 🙂 🙂 🙂
At VeloVoices we have a keen appreciation for anything or anyone who captures the beauty of cycling. The striking work of Maxine Dodd recently caught my eye. I love the energy, movement and atmosphere she creates with a few strokes of the pen and water-colour – an unforgiving medium. Maxine lives in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside where she finds daily inspiration. Here’s her story and a selection of her work which portrays her passion for cycling.
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Hello! Thinking about the start of the Tour of Spain which gets underway later today, I’ve been making a few doodles and drawings in anticipation. Just quick thoughts really but here they are anyway!
Hola! Stage 7 of La Vuelta turned south and crossed into the heat of Andalucia. Riders coped with temperatures touching 38 degrees as they left the countryside for the tree-lined town of Mairena de Aljarfare on the outskirts of Seville. The race was a much closer affair than Stage 6, with a nip and tuck race between the two leaders Gilbert and Stybar to the cross the finish. Here are my drawings:
Hola! Stage 6 of La Vuelta explored further inland, into the plains of bull-fighting country. Certainly the theme carried over into the race with an incredible performance by Tony Martin. As the world time-trial champion, he set a blistering pace and led the stage by a great distance for 170km. In spite of huge effort, the peloton could not keep up. The sting came at the finish where the riders finally caught and passed him as they crossed the line itself. Martin finished in seventh place. Cruel sport indeed… Here are my drawings:
Hola! Stage 5 of La Vuelta turned away from the sea and travelled inland through rolling countryside, fields and pine trees. Orange roofs gave way to dark grey and for the first time in this race there was rain. Sunshine prevailed by the end as riders came into Lago de Sanabria to a sprinters’ finish! Here are my drawings:
Hola! Stage 4 of La Vuelta was a rolling course again taking in coastal scenery and pretty red-roofed houses. There was barely a flat road on the route but the test came with the climb to the Mirador de Ézaro. This was a test for everyone’s legs! Here are my drawings:
Hola! Stage 2 of La Vuelta continued exploring the Atlantic coastline of Galicia with a dramatic climb from the coast road to the finish at Alto de Monte da Groba in Baiona. The day’s racing was led most of the stage by a breakaway of three riders but the stage was eventually won in style by Nicolas Roche. I confess that my eyes were distracted by the sea, with breakers and high hills – even a landlocked boat! Wonderful! Here are my drawings:
Hola! So good to be back in the saddle for the last Grand Tour of the season, which takes us round Spain. Stage 1 took place as a team time trial on the gorgeous north-west coast of Galicia. 22 teams began the race by crossing a glass pontoon at Vilanova de Arousa and riding their way by pine forests and vineyards until reaching the pretty beach town of Sanxenso. The stage was won by team Astana. A great start to three weeks of racing – Fantastic! Here are my drawings:
My second post that ties in with the Festival of Flowers blog. A great idea and very inspiring. Find out more – and take part, on http://festivalofflowers.wordpress.com/, (or click the logo below). It was one of those perfect late summer days yesterday, so I took my pens and watercolours into the garden and made some drawings. The two I liked best were of the Japanese anemone, which is so delicate. Unlike the hotter-toned flowers that blaze at this time, the anemone gently leads the garden towards Autumn. Gorgeous! Here are my drawings:
Hello! This year’s Ashes contest between England and Australia has been a mixed bag of matches where both sides played well and badly in turn. The Little Urn was retained by England in a match stopped by rain! It all felt a bit flat. However, the 4th Test at Durham was a return to form and really showed both teams and the game at their best. Four days of exciting cricket in sunshine, with long shadows, green grass and a nerve-tingling finish. Howzat!!! Here are my drawings:
This is a post that ties in with a blog project based around flowers. Well worth a look and taking part. Find out more on http://festivalofflowers.wordpress.com/ , or click the logo below. This is a little african violet that sits at home with us and quietly goes about its work in a charming way. Here is my drawing:
Bonjour! Stage 21 is the celebration stage. Rolling out from the Palace of Versailles and heading for Paris in the evening for a twighlight sprint around the Champs-Élysées. Setting off in beautiful late afternoon sunshine, all the riders looked relaxed and in good mood. This year, the sprint went round the Arc du Triomphe and there was an immense battle, the win was Kittel’s. Sky came together to cross the line in support of their leader in yellow jersey. What a race and what a finish? Can’t wait until next year! Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 20 was outstanding, from the weather and scenery to incredible racing. There were many highlights, including Jens Voigt showing the youngsters how to climb a hill and fantastic breaks between Froome, Quintana and Rodriguez, not to mention some handsome cattle suitably dressed. Most of the final places overall were resolved in this stage. Peter Sagan held on to the Green; Polkadot and White jerseys both went to the astounding Nairo Quintana and Yellow remained with the modest Englishman, Chris Froome. The stage is set for a fantastic celebration tomorrow in Paris. Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 19 was a long stage, with five climbs overall. Sky had a better day and Chris Froome held on to his lead. Pierre Rolland, showed his metal in the climbs and descents for much of the race, but eventually overtaken for the win by Rui Costa. The real winner today perhaps was the rain, which in spite of the bright start came by the bucketload at the end of the day. Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 18, the one with the notorious climb to Alpe d’Huez, lived up to expectations. An intense, gruelling stage, leaving riders not only battling the hill, but contending with arguably the largest crowds ever. The roads were chaotic all the way. Van Garderen led for most of the race and then with barely 2km to go, Christophe Riblon found a burst of energy and powered past, leaving the American in his wake. Making up for the disappointment of Jean-Christophe Peraud, Stage 18 was a fantastic win for Riblon. Magnifique! Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 17 was an action-packed individual time trial. The terrain was tough with climbs and descents – made all the trickier because of patchy rain. The big decision for teams was to complete the stage on one bike or to change mid-way for the fast descent. Chris Froome and Sky chose the second option and gained vital seconds to take the stage. Heartbreak and pain came for Jean-Christophe Peraud, whose fall during practice injured his collar-bone and elbow. He bravely chose to ride the stage, but fell a second time, compounding the original injuries. Pain and heartbreak for him and his fans. Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 16 saw the Alpine stages begin travelling through quietly dramatic scenery, through gorges and by rivers. The stage closed with a climb and hair-raising descent of the Col de Mense. A passing train briefly brought all the riders to a halt and likewise, Chris Froome was momentarily dislodged by a hurtling Contador. Rui Costa joyfully took the stage win, with the battle for yellow grinding on behind him. It’s still on Froome’s back… just! Here are my drawings:
Bonjour ! Stage 15 was a fantastic, gruelling course leading to the summit of Mont Ventoux. Emotional resonance for British fans and arguably one of the toughest climbs on any Tour. Sylvain Chavanel showed wonderful energy early on, followed by the outstanding Quintana. But showing tremendous strength Chris Froome broke away brilliantly and almost sprinted to the finish. Superb! Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 14 was another long stage with seven hill climbs, practice for Mont Ventoux perhaps? Still, it was a good steady stage, with excitement at the end, after a great surge by Julien Simon of France. Sadly, he couldn’t quite get the win, which went to Matteo Trentin. Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 13 was another long stage crossing the farmland of central France towards Lyon. A few surprises as Kittel fell away along with Valverde. While Sky dissolved, Contador attacked Froome’s lead, but he clung on to the yellow jersey. This time though the stage belonged to Cavendish. Number 25 – Brilliant! Here are my drawings:
Bonjour! Stage 12 was long and flat, carving inland across the country. Another stage for the sprinters. Generally a quiet stage until the end, when there was an awful crash, injuring several riders. Much was expected from Cavendish and he broke away brilliantly, duelling with Marcel Kittel, who took the stage by the length of half a wheel! Here are my drawings:
