Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Tour de France 2020: Coming tomorrow…
Posted on August 28, 2020
Hello and bonjour! The last day before the start of this year’s Tour de France and another post of some of my favourite images over the years inspired by this great race.
This first set shows the organism that is the peloton, weaving its way through the landscape. Chasing down, pulling back, from every view, the peloton is great to watch…
These images show the landscape itself, so diverse and beautiful…
Next the landscape itself, beautiful and diverse…
Next, the rain! It’s lovely to draw, not so great to ride…
The cities and towns….
The flags and animals…
The descents…
The stars…
The last image is of the current champion, Egan Bernal, the great young rider from Colombia. Wishing him and all the riders the very best for a safe and spectacular 2020 race!
Tour de France 2020: Coming soon….
Posted on August 25, 2020
Hello and bonjour! Only a few days to go before the start of this year’s Tour de France and another post of some of my favourite images over the years from this great race.
This set shows some team time trials, which is a feature of the race I love to draw. It’s the chance to see the team race as one unit and the best have a lovely rhythm to their riding which is great to watch.
This image of Omega Pharma Quickstep was made during the Team Time Trial in Nice in 2013.
This year’s race returns to Nice and it will be great to see the lovely city and glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea that I personally have missed greatly!
Here are some more of my favourite images and my favourite teams. I hope yours are there too! Have a great Wednesday!
Tour de France 2020: Coming soon…
Posted on August 24, 2020
Hello and bonjour! After all that has happened in 2020, it’s hard to believe that this year’s Tour will start at the end of the week.
To whet your appetite, I will share some images that I have made over the years and that I hope you will enjoy…
This first set shows some of the crowds and bystanders who are so much a part of this race. I wonder quite how this will be in 2020?
This is a special favourite, as the photographer in the Hull FC shirt is a pal. I really loved making this one, thank you Mike and Judy, 🙂
I also love to see the fans from all round the world…the Dutch have their own place, a vision of orange, love them!
La Vuelta a España -2017: Climbing to the blue
Posted on August 3, 2020
Hola! Today’s image is taken from Stage 5 and shows something that strikes me every time I see the Mediterranean coastline – the sky and sea are such amazing blues – so intense. The race took a route through these gorgeous colours finishing on a very sharp climb which pushed even the best to their limits. Another fab day!
Tour de France Revisited, 2013 – Givors – Mont Ventoux
Posted on July 14, 2020
Bonjour! Happy Bastille Day – This look back through the Racing Lines archive brings me to ‘Green Sprint’, which I made during the 2013 Tour de France.
2013 was a special year for the Tour, as it was the 100th running of the race and Stage 15 was particularly special – it was the longest route that year from at 242.5 kilometers, or 151 miles and, as if that wasn’t enough, the stage climaxed with a climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux. The route was lined with so many people, often with their own bikes, trying to ride the gruelling climb themselves.
Even more special, it was 14th July, Bastille Day and I wanted to reflect this with a lovely big French flag! (If you know my work, you’ll know how I love to paint flags!) The image shows the Intermediate Sprint, through Malaucène, won by Peter Sagan. He was in Green and the route through the leafy trees in the afternoon sunshine was lined with people and flags – Perfect!
Since it is Bastille Day today, it seemed a great way to celebrate and remember the joy shared by fans of the great race on this most significant day in its long history. This year will be so different but there are wonderful memories, which live through everything that Life brings.
Have a lovely Bastille Day whatever you are doing and wherever you are! 🙂
I am offering this picture for sale through my Racing Lines Boutique set up so I can support the #ArtistSupportPledge. It is mounted ready for framing and postage is included to UK destinations. Thank you for your wonderful support 🙂
Artists supporting artists during the pandemic crisis, for every £1,000 sales, the artist pledges to buy a work of art from another artist. Anyone can buy artworks offered in the pledge and to encourage sales, the works of art featured are no more than £200.00 (plus postage and packing)
You can find out more about the Artists Support Pledge here and follow the hashtag #artistsupportpledge on Instagram and other social media platforms.
Tour de France Revisited: 2016 – Stage4 Saumur to Limoges
Posted on July 8, 2020
Another look back to the Tour de France, this time to 2016 and Stage 4, a long route, ‘through luscious countryside and warm sunshine’ as I wrote at the time.
The route was suited to sprinters but held a twist at the end, with an unclassified climb
This suited the bigger riders and there was remarkable sprint finish – even closer than Stage 3, ‘A cat’s whisker’ said the delighted winner, Marcel Kittel. Fantastic!
Artists Support Pledge
Posted on July 2, 2020
Artists supporting artists during the pandemic crisis, for every £1,000 sales, the artist pledges to buy a work of art from another artist.
Anyone can buy artworks offered in the pledge and to encourage sales, the works of art featured are no more than £200.00 (plus postage and packing)
Here are five pieces of mine offered on my new Racing Lines Boutique set up so I can support the pledge.
They are all memories from the Tour de France, especially sweet while we wait for this year’s race! If you see one that you like, click on it to view or go to the Racing Lines boutique option from the main menu. Postage to the UK is included on single items. I hope you find something you like and will buy to support artists and makers at this time.
Racing Lines Souvenir Prints 
La Patrouille de France 
Kittel takes the stage! 
Bardet goes for it! 
Green sprint
Postage is free to UK on single items I can quote separately for carriage outside the UK
I will share with you the progress I make, and tell you about the works of art that I buy if I am lucky enough to reach the £1,000 target.
I will add new artworks as pieces sell, so there will always be five items to choose from. Thank you! Have a great weekend 🙂
You can find out more about the Artists Support Pledge here and follow the hashtag #artistsupportpledge on Instagram and other social media platforms.
Tour de France – Stage 7 – Revisited
Posted on June 30, 2020
Bonjour! It’s nearly July and for me, that means only one thing – Le Tour! This year is so different but July is nearly with us and I don’t see why we shouldn’t relive some memories and make some new ones.
The drawing here, I made on Saturday – by chance I found that Eurosport were replaying Stage 7 of the 2012 Tour – a phenomenal stage in every way. The landscape was outstanding and the climax to the stage was the killer climb to La Planche des Belles Filles, it was the stage that really showed us what was to come from Chris Froome and the Stage when Sir Bradley took his Yellow Jersey. Whatever controversies have followed since – I still remember and look back with huge excitement on this stage – it was a lovely day and especially for UK cycling fans like me.
So this picture made from the scenes at around 45km, shows that excitement that we enjoyed then and I for one, am going to miss for the next few weeks – the crowds doing daft things at the side of the road, the flags, the energy and the fabulous animal that is the peloton.
This is my drawing, made with my favourite media, pen and ink and watercolour on my favourite watercolour paper, 8in x 8in, 20cm x 20cm – have a great Tuesday!
Au revoir
Are you ready?
Posted on August 24, 2019
Still on the easel, but ready to go!
This is another foray into acrylic, which I have enjoyed using for a change. I have found them difficult in the past but have discovered that I have been using them incorrectly! I have always used a tiny amount of medium with a lot of water.
This is bad for the paint which can ‘split’. It is a polymer, so needs the medium to stretch the paint and allow it to flow. I now use plenty of medium with very little water and it works so well.*
This painting is the result of this learning, so it was great to make it!
Postscript 1/11/19 – I’m delighted to report that ‘Getting ready’ has now sold.
* Footnote: Advice on the subject of acrylic medium from Winsor & Newton:
Super Sunday
Posted on July 15, 2019
Well, what a day yesterday was? I wonder if you have recovered yet? I’ve never known a Sunday quite like it – so much phenomenal sport to enjoy.
Like many people, I was juggling viewing between the Tour de France, the Men’s Singles Final at Wimbledon, the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Men’s Cricket World Cup Final between England and New Zealand. So much drama at each event, giving great excitement for some, bruising disappointment for others. All of them entertained!
Here are some of the sketches and drawings I made while watching – with ideas for further pictures to come. I think I have my work cut out for some time … I love July, but Sunday 14th July 2019 will live long in my memory. Have a great week, Best wishes, Maxine 🙂
Tour de France 2019 – Excited!
Posted on July 6, 2019
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 out!
Crowds by the Cherry Tree – Women’s Tour of Yorkshire
Posted on May 16, 2019
Hello! It’s been a bit hectic the past week or so with Open Studios and other bits and pieces, so I’m still working through some highlights from the remaining stages of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.
This piece was from the Women’s race, on the final stage – showing the crowds waving the peloton by. This scene stood out because of the view from the back which I like to draw but also because they were riding past the most beautiful cherry tree in full bloom.
There were many such trees along the route proving that the timing of the race couldn’t be better visually; such lovely time of year and great colour!
Crowds by the cherry tree
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
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