Lookback #2: Six Nations 2019 – SOLD

10/03/202225/03/2022 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Hello! I have looking back lately, as next year sees the tenth anniversary of launching my blog and website, ‘Racing Lines’. I want to celebrate this milestone and invite you to join me to look back over my archive of paintings and drawings made with watercolour, pen and ink, with the occasional dab of pastel – all of them inspired by sport, movement and fleeting moments. They will be selected at random – just finding pictures I like and sharing again for fun! I am going to categorise them as ‘Racing Lines Lookback’ so they are easy to find.

The second lookback is to Six Nations rugby, Ireland v England from 2019 which seemed appropriate as the teams meet again this weekend – Should be a great game!

Have a great Thursday!

Media: Original watercolour with pen and ink and pastel
Dimensions of the framed painting are as follows 56cm w x 47cm h (22in x 18.5in) and the image within is36cm x 26cm (14in x 10in)

This painting has sold and no longer available

Six Nations 2021 – Jonny May’s flying try

27/02/202101/07/2021 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Jonny May's Flying try I — Jonny May’s Flying try I

Jonny May's Flying try II — Jonny May’s Flying try I

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.

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 2020 – Welcome back!

24/10/202030/01/2021 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Hello! – It all feels a very long time ago since the 2020 Six Nations tournament got underway – how the World has changed since then!

I can’t imagine that there is one person on this planet whose life hasn’t changed dramatically one way or another since the tournament was postponed in March… but here we are, one way or another, near the end of October, thrashing around adapting to this new life, whilst desperately trying to continue with the old one!

To this end, there have been some fantastic sporting events taking place, all crammed into the last remaining months of the year, with topsy-turvey giddiness as they hurtle past! Today sees a welcome return to the Six Nations with the match between Ireland and Italy this afternoon and a ‘super Saturday’ to look forward to next weekend. I have my kit at the ready, as I love drawing rugby, it’s flow and twists and turns and the Herculean strength are a joy to watch.

Here are some images featuring Italy and Ireland to whet your appetite – Enjoy!

Breakaway!

25/03/201901/07/2021 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Hello! The image is taken from the recent match between Wales and Ireland. I love the monumental quality of the figures. It was good to capture the group as they wrestled the ball to the ground and passed it along to breakaway to the next phase.

I made the picture in acrylic paint on paper, larger than usual at 35cm x 50cm, unframed. It’s the first time I’ve used acrylic for a while. It was different and it was fun – a change is a good as a rest, as they say. Another breakaway perhaps, but I think I must do some more… Let me know if you agree 🙂

Available to buy – hot off the press, so to speak – The sizes mentioned are the unframed image. Mounts and frames add approx 10cm all round.

Click this link for the picture enquiry form. Or please email me at maxine@maxinedodd.com, it’s always lovely to hear from you.

Six Nations 2019 – Wales triumph

Rugby art, Six Nations, Wales: Standing strong

21/03/201930/06/2020 | Maxine Dodd - Art

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!

Six Nations, Rugby art, Wales v Ireland, Red sky — 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.

Rugby art, Six Nations, Wales v Ireland abstract — Wales v Ireland – abstract

Rugby art, Six Nations, Wales v Ireland, pushing on — 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.

Six Nations, Rugby art, England v Scotland - Pause — England v Scotland – Pause

Six Nations, Rugby art, England v Scotland - Storming — 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.

Six Nations, Rugby art, Italy v France - Felix — 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.

Six Nations 2019 – Drawing live

25/02/201901/02/2021 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Hello! This weekend saw another dramatic round of matches in the Six Nations tournament. Surprises, upsets and resurgence, all with some great rugby.

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.

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.

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…

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!

Meqnwhile, I hope you like these and that they remind you of a great weekend 🙂

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.

Opening salvos

22/02/201922/02/2019 | Maxine Dodd - Art

I loved the first match of 2019 Six Nations – France v Wales in Paris – What could be better? And it was a remarkable game – and the old cliché ‘a game of two halves’ couldn’t be more apt.

This picture was made in the first few moments after kick-off, about five minutes in. I used a new brush pen as well as the usual one, which gives a stronger emphasis.

Picture details

‘Opening Salvos’

£195.00
Original watercolour, pen and ink drawing

H:20 W:18 CM / H:8 W:7 INCHES

Made with Schminke artists watercolours, Rotring Art Pen and Faber Castell artist pen on 300gsm watercolour paper – Pink Pig Yorkshire –

Unframed – supplied in mount ready for framing

Price includes mount and postage to UK and EU
Full framing available – see Picture info page.
Postage and packing of framed pictures charged separately
Complete the Enquiry Form to buy

Six Nations 2019 – Round 1

09/02/201925/03/2022 | Maxine Dodd - Art

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!

Rugby, art, Six nations, France v Wales, Sketch — France v Wales Sketch 1

rugby, Six Nations, France v Wales, sketch — France v Wales, Sketch 3

rugby, six nations, Scotland v Italy, sketch 1 — Scotland v Italy, sketch 1

Rugby, Six Nations, sketch 3 — Ireland v England, sketch 3

Rugby, Six Nations, sketch 4 — Ireland v England, sketch 4

Knock on advantage – Ireland v England – SOLD

Crunch time!

01/02/201922/03/2019 | Maxine Dodd - Art

Hello!

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.

Rugby Art, six nations, 6 nations — 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, by Maxine Dodd — 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!