Racing Lines
Art by Maxine Dodd
Tour de France 2018: Stage 12 – Light in the mountains
Posted on August 24, 2018
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 exceptional light of the atmosphere. Have a good Friday and happy holiday weekend!
Light in the mountains – Tour de France, Stage 12
Light in the mountains – Tour de France, Stage 12
Original watercolour, pen and ink
20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) image size.
£250 – click here to purchase
For background information about pictures – please see Picture Info
Many thanks! 🙂
Tour de France 2018: Stage 16 – Heading for the High Pyrenees…
Posted on July 25, 2018
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 sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 15 – Carcassonne
Posted on July 25, 2018
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 greens. Perhaps Picasso and Braque passed through once – I don’t know – but anyway, here is my impression of Carcassonne. with a little nod of respect to them both.
Stage 15 – Carcassonne, pink rooftops and green treesAll the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 11 – Getting close….
Posted on July 25, 2018
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!
Stage 11 – Getting close… Thomas and Froome
All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 10 – Coming down the mountain
Posted on July 24, 2018
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.
Stage 10 – Coming down the mountain
All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 9 – Cobbles
Posted on July 24, 2018
Bonjour! The Tour is reaching its climax and the race is fascinatingly poised. The next few days in the Pyrenees will decide! Meanwhile, here is a reflection from Stage 9 over the cobbles… again highlighting the colour and abstract qualities of the race. This painting made mostly with ochre and purple which set off the colours of the flags, reflecting the fierce heat on the day.
Stage 9 – Cobbles!
All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Julian Alaphilippe – Study in blue, black and yellow
Posted on July 18, 2018
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….
Julian Alaphilippe, Study in blue, black and yellow
Tour de France 2018: Stage 3 – Cholet to Cholet
Posted on July 17, 2018
Bonjour! Stage three was one of my favourites so far. A team time trial, which I always enjoy. What I love is the grace of the team moving as a unit and I love the repetition of the colour. I see great abstract qualities in this event – so these first two sketches reflect that interest. One is more literal, I think it’s the Mitchelton-SCOTT team, but I was playing with the colour a bit, so not quite sure! The other is definitely BMC, as I wrote it on the page! When I work like this, I enter a bit of a trance, so some of the detail of who, what, why and where often escapes me as I’m concentrating on other things!
Anyway, see what you think….
BMC – Red and grey – £100
Mitchelton-SCOTT – possibly! – £100
All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 2 – Mouilleron-Saint-Germain to La Roche-sur-Yon
Posted on July 16, 2018
Bonjour! Stage two was another long one, with more tumbles and an exciting win for sprinter, Peter Sagan…. but my picture for this stage, shows one of the Tour’s favourites – Sylvain Chavanel – He rode at the front for much of this stage. It’s his 18th Tour – What an athlete and what a hero!
Sylvain Chavanel – Stage 2, 17.9km – £250
All the paintings are for sale (unless marked SOLD). Click to buy Thank you! 🙂 For full details, please visit Picture Info
Tour de France 2018: Stage 1 – Noirmoutier-en-l’Île to Fontenay-le-Comte
Posted on July 16, 2018
Hello! The 105th Tour de France underway and what a contrast to last year’s rain? This year, it’s sunshine all the way – most of Europe in the midst of a heatwave that began in June. This year’s course is very much a French affair – little time spent outside the country and Stage 1 began in the Vendée region, by the coast, with its gorgeous light. Sprinters stages, these first few, so hopes all set for the main men. A surprise all round then, when the stage was taken convincingly by Colombian star Fernando Gaviria of Quickstep Floors – A great start and something unexpected – all points to another incredible race.
My first image goes to the beginning, nearly! The Départ réel – So many people out to watch and cheer everyone – very exciting and a perfect start to the big race!
Tour de France 2018 – Départ réel – 5.1 Km – £250The people were out in force, every town and village was simply packed!
Short Shadows – 149.3km – £150A great bend in the road, meant riders tore past the people, just about missing their toes! Deep breath everyone!
So close! 91.6km – £250Finally, to close Stage 1 – Sunflowers – a little picnic by the roadside, jumping up to see the Tour come by!
Picnic – Sunflowers, 92.3km – £150