Cycling art, tour de france, maxine dodd

Tour de France 2019 – Excited!

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Bonjour! It’s July, it’s Tour time! Three weeks of absorbing racing through some of the finest scenery you’ll ever see. There will be crowds and flags and great spectacle along the way. The race begins in Brussels to mark the 50th Anniversary of the first win of Eddie Merckx, one of cycling’s greatest racers. It also marks one hundred years since the first award of arguably the most famous sporting trophies, the Yellow Jersey. It was first won by Eugene Christophe in 1919, who will wear it and eventually win it this year? It will be a great adventure finding…

Mallorca Classic

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Fantastic end to our holiday in Mallorca, the fourth stage of the Mallorca Classic bike race, which started and finished in the Port. The route climbed into the Serra de Tramuntana, challenging climbs with very strong winds. These are a few of my sketches, some I added colour to afterwards but the others I left as ink drawings which I may develop further when we settle back home.

cycling, tour de france, light in the mountains, original watercolour, pen and ink

Tour de France 2018: Stage 12 – Light in the mountains

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Hello! I’m still making work from this year’s Tour – as always such a rich source of inspiration. This image follows the theme of the landscape again. The mountain stages are great favourites and this year, the Alpine stages included a memorable visit to the Alpe d’Huez. I was struck here, by the very decorative streetlamps on the road, but also the intense blue/purple/lilac colour of the mountains behind. The colour was so strong I mistakenly thought it was the sky! I called this picture ‘Light in the mountains’ to capture both these elements, the elegant street light and the…

Cycling art, Tour de France, Stage 16 - Heading for the high Pyrenees..

Tour de France 2018: Stage 16 – Heading for the High Pyrenees…

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Hello! This is another piece reflecting the scenery on this French odyssey. This time the foothills of the Pyrenees – where France meets Spain in spectacular style. I suppose this could be described as the calm before the storm – Stage 16 went well for the riders of the General Classification but today’s stage will be different, explosive and short, but all ups and downs… It will be, arguably, the ultimate test this year – so do enjoy this tranquil scene before it all kicks off later!  🙂 Stage 16 – Heading for the High Pyrenees..All the paintings are for…

cycling art, tour de france, Stage 15 - Carcassonne, pink rooftops and green trees

Tour de France 2018: Stage 15 – Carcassonne

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Bonjour! I realised that I haven’t posted much in the way of scenery recently. The Tour de France race shows us some wonderful places as it passes through the country. Stage 15 finished in the ancient city of Carcassonne. Described by Google as ‘a hilltop town in southern France’s Languedoc area’ –  It’s an incredible place, with walls, towers and turrets. The TV helicopter gave a bird’s eye view from above, and it struck me that this is a place that would inspire a Cubist painter – perhaps it did? All facets and shadows, dotted with trees. in pinks, greys and…

cycling art, tour de france, Stage 11 - Getting close... Thomas and Froome

Tour de France 2018: Stage 11 – Getting close….

Categories: cycling · TDF 2018 · Tour de FranceTags: · · · · · · · · ·

Much of the focus of this year’s race has been on these two riders – Chris Froome and, from this stage onwards, Geraint Thomas. Fantastic riding from them both and Thomas took the Yellow Jersey just a few seconds after this… I dare not say anymore as the finish is so close now! All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD).  Click to buy Thank you! 🙂  For full details, please visit Picture Info  

cycling art, tour de france

Tour de France 2018: Stage 10 – Coming down the mountain

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Another reflection from an earlier stage – this time Stage 10 following the riders down the mountain. I made this using my new favourite tool – a twig!  I’m using this with Indian ink, which gives a permanent line. The paint bounces off it – but the twig gives a great bold line, along with the Japanese bamboo pen that I’ve had for many years but haven’t used for a while. The colours in this scene were lovely too – soft greens and mauves. All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD).  Click to buy Thank you! 🙂  For…