Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Six Nations 2021 – Jonny May’s flying try
Posted on February 27, 2021
Jonny May’s Flying try I 
Jonny May’s Flying try II 
Jonny May’s Flying try III
HERE’S JONNY! Apologies! I couldn’t resist, it’s a great line from a great film! Here I have pinched it to describe these three images of Jonny May, made after his astonishing try at England’s last match against Italy. He flew high into the air – before scoring an astonishing try. It was amazing.
I have made several images but these three are my favourites – all larger than my usual size, from A3 up to A2-ish! so the lines and materials have expanded from the usual watercolour, pen and ink to include brush and twig as well as pen for the ink lines and acrylic paint here and there in addition to the watercolour. I also used a palette knife to give texture to drag the paint across the page and give extra marks and texture.
Works in progress 
Works in progress
I worked on the three of them over the course of a day or so – switching from one to another as the paint or ink needed to dry.
Fingers crossed for another flying performance from him today!
Speaking of which… better publish now before kickoff!
Six Nations 2019 – Wales triumph
Posted on March 21, 2019
Hello! The weekend saw an outstanding win for Wales rugby, not only of the Six Nations tournament but with a Grand Slam to boot – It doesn’t get much better than that!
Wales v Ireland, Red sky
I think back to the their first half performance against France in the first match and what a transformation. They found their feet in the second half of that game and played relentlessly thereafter – simply outstanding.
Wales v Ireland – abstract
Wales v Ireland, pushing on
Meanwhile, the tournament finished as it began, with a game of two very different halves. This time it was England who were doing all they could to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory… Scotland turned the match around in the second half in style. The final score was a draw but it feels very much like a victory for Scotland… Hey ho!
I tried some new larger paper sizes for some of these which are a bit tricky to scan but nice to make. They equate roughly to A3 size on textured watercolour paper, which gives a texture if the paint is applied dry-ish and almost dragged over the surface with a flat brush.
England v Scotland – Pause
England v Scotland – Storming blues
The others are the usual 8 x 8in size on a lovely sturdy watercolour paper, smooth finish. I used a pen brush by Staedtler, with ink that reacts fantastically well when sprayed with water.
Italy v France – Felix
Available to buy – hot off the press, so to speak – The sizes are the unframed image. Click this link for the picture enquiry form. Or please email me at maxine@maxinedodd.com, it’s always lovely to hear from you.
Wales: Standing strong
Six Nations 2019 – Drawing live
Posted on February 25, 2019
Hello! This weekend saw another dramatic round of matches in the Six Nations tournament. Surprises, upsets and resurgence, all with some great rugby.
Tebaldi
I won’t say too much about the results, I know some people may not have caught up yet. However, I wanted to publish these while the games are so fresh in mind.
Wales v England – Quick breath
I made them while watching the games – I make them almost as ‘automatic drawings’ (ie looking at the subject only and not the paper) I watch and draw, barely looking at the page in front of me.
Wales v England
This gives gestural marks which suggest the flow of the action. The colour comes next where I do look at the drawing in front of me. They are all made in real time, live while the match takes place. I like the raw energy of these, see what you think…
Scotland try!
Tackle
All of them are approximately 8 x 8in / 18 x 18 cm in size. Made with my favourite pens and watercolours. I feel that there is scope for development into further work, which I’ll try, but often find that the image ‘dies’ a little for being more ‘finished’.
If I manage to get the balance right, I’ll publish, so let’s see what happens!
Big red boot
Meqnwhile, I hope you like these and that they remind you of a great weekend 🙂
French sleeves
Available to buy – hot off the press, so to speak – Click this link for the picture enquiry form. Or please email me at maxine@maxinedodd.com, it’s lovely to hear from you.
Six Nations 2019 – Round 1
Posted on February 9, 2019
Hello! What a start to 2019’s Six Nations Rugby tournament? Simply stunning! It was exciting and unpredictable with results not going as expected and play just fabulous to watch.
Here are some of my first impressions from last week – quick sketches and one finished piece, as they came, warts and all! Roll on Round 2!
France v Wales Sketch 1
France v Wales, Sketch 2
France v Wales, Sketch 3
Scotland v Italy, sketch 1
Scotland v Italy, sketch 2
Ireland v England, sketch 1
Ireland v England, sketch 2
Ireland v England, sketch 3
Ireland v England, sketch 4
Ireland v England, sketch 5
Ireland v England, sketch 6
Ireland v England, sketch 7
Ireland v England, sketch 8, Cian Healy try
Knock on advantage – Ireland v England
Crunch time!
Posted on February 1, 2019
Hello!
Tumult
Not long to go before the first match in this year’s Six Nations Rugby tournament – the sporting event that comes along in the depths of winter – we love it in our house.
Scotland v Ireland (2017) – A win for Scotland
It’s great subject to draw, so fast and energetic, with good colour – it has it all
Six Nations – England vs Wales, Pushing on
This weekend’s opening matches see France against Wales, Scotland face Italy and Ireland versus England, all classics. With the Rugby World Cup coming up later this year, these matches will give all the teams and fans a glimpse of what’s to come. I can’t wait!
Six Nations – England vs Wales, Itoje breaks
Six Nations: France v Ireland
Italy v Wales (2017) Crunch time! Getting stuck in!
World Cup 2018: Sweden v England- Harry Maguire – What a magnificent header!
Posted on July 8, 2018
Hello! I know that I should be posting pictures from the first day of this year’s Tour de France… But this was incredible and I just had to post this first – a very quick picture of Harry Maguire’s superb header in yesterday’s match against Sweden.
England now have a place in the semi-finals of a World Cup – A-ma-zing!!! Have a lovely Sunday 🙂
What a magnificent header!
Here’s to Harry!
World Cup 2018: England v Panama – Harry Kane sets about taking the net apart!
Posted on June 26, 2018
Hello! Following a football World Cup is a rollercoaster ride for all fans! I find that I have a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, excitement, gloom and despair as a tournament goes on. This could well be the fact that I support England and, as all England fans will tell you, it’s never an easy watch!
However, so far, there has been more than a glimmer of hope – plenty of things to lift an English heart – There have been goals and plenty of them, proper passing and a formation that works! Good leadership from the manager and a captain who is a real star, leading his team as a captain should, by great example.
Harry Kane set about taking the net apart!
This picture shows his penalty taken against Panama – in the first game these teams have ever played against each other.
The BBC commentator, Guy Mowbray, came out with a lovely description of the penalty, ‘That was emphatic! Harry Kane set about taking the net apart!’ Long may he continue to do that!!!
Here’s to Harry!
Six Nations – Impressions
Posted on April 8, 2017
Hello! A last look at this year’s Six Nations tournament and welcome to Spring… Time seems to be flying this year. There was a bittersweet end for England fans, their team won the tournament but failed to achieve the Grand Slam as they made a very convincing loss against Ireland – who played them off the park! The images here are a mixture of colour and grisaille (grey tones) which is something I’ve been exploring the past few weeks. There’ll be more of these but this was the start… Here are my drawings:
Six Nations –
Posted on February 7, 2017
Hello! The first week of the 2017 Rugby Six Nations contest began last weekend with three good matches and some unexpected results. Italy began well against Wales only to see their hopes fade away – Scotland took a great win over Ireland… and England were truly put to the test by France. A nice start and all poised interestingly for the next round at the weekend. Here are my drawings :
Rugby World Cup: England v Wales
Posted on September 27, 2015
Hello! The 2015 Rugby World Cup began last week and has already delivered some fabulous matches, with great highs and lows for teams and fans alike. Yesterday was the ‘big one’ for British fans, as England played Wales at home in Twickenham. The match was an absolute thriller – with wonderful kicking, spectacular drop goal and the final mesmerising try. It was fast, furious, relentless. Wales triumphed in the last moments – for England fans it was so close and yet so far! Here are my drawings:
All the paintings are original and for sale. Prices from £150. To find out more about them and how to buy, click here or Picture Information
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT MAXINE DODD
Six Nations – Super Saturday
Posted on March 21, 2015
Hello! The 2015 Six Nations Rugby Union came to an amazing climax in three very high-scoring matches. In the end, Ireland came out on top in of one of the tightest tournaments in recent memory, but Wales and England were so close! Here are my drawings:
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