Downhill Rush

Today they are having the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics being held here in Canada out at Whistler, B.C. It seems fitting that I have found a series of rough sketches that I had started last summer of my father ski jumping, my daughter snowboarding and my husband cross country skiing and both my daughter and husband downhill skiing.

In the old family albums I have photographs from the 1930's and 1940's of my father when he used to ski jump in Trois-Rivières, Québec; where in 1941 he was the Québec Provincial Champion. I have used some of these photographs as reference material for some of the sketches.

I still have his old, heavy wooden skis in that he used in the attic and one day I will do a painting of them.

It is amazing how much the equipment has changed since that time, becoming wider and lighter more aerodynamic to sustain the flight time. The clothing from sweaters and pants to the streamlined one piece suits of today.

The style while the skiers are in flight after leaving the ramp has changed as well, from having the arms straight out front to being held behind for a more streamlined profile.

I think they will make a nice grouping with this 7-1/2" x 11” watercolour of a downhill skier as he plunges down and almost vertical slope, pushing it to the limit as his speed increases.

This original, framed painting is available for $250.00.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and enjoy the artwork. I hope you will return often.