"Curling?"
Oil, 6" x 6" on canvas panel.
$200 unframed.
Ok ... I have to admit that I just don't get it. I think it is great that a sport such as curling exists. But an Olympic sport? Are you kidding me? I have tried really hard to understand why this sport is part of the Olympic Games but I am sorry ... it doesn't make sense.
I am also angry. I do honestly believe that had I driven my children to the So. Cal. Curling Club instead of soccer, swimming and baseball for ten years then we would all be in Vancouver right now watching them complete.
Even David Letterman had fun with his Top Ten Surprising Facts About Curling. If anyone understands this sport and WHY it is in the Olympics (and don't tell me tradition!) then please, help me out here.
Leslie, it's been great to see all of your Olympic paintings...a wonderful diversion from your usual subject matter. But unfortunately I can't help out on the curling. :) Although I do find it fascinating...
ReplyDeleteWell I do know it's a tradional Scottish game but haven't a clue as to the rules. I would imagine it's in the Winter Olympics because it's a winter sport. It was originally played on frozen lakes during the Scottish winter but down through the years folk have got softer and it's now played indoors :)
ReplyDeleteIt is in the Olympics because it makes for a great little 6x6 painting.
ReplyDeleteWell, for starters, it is a team game played on an ice surface(how many sports can say that?). In the ice sport category, it balances out the key elements of other winter sports - figure skating for its beauty, hockey for the brute strength, and curling for the chess-like finesse. I've always found it to make far more sense than some of the more ridiculous winter sports like two man luge or biathlon (cross country ski involving shooting a gun... seriously?).
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just the Canadian pride coming out in me. I've been really bitter that NBC hasn't shown ANY curling on TV during prime time.
By the way - this year's Olympic organizers decided to mess with tradition and remove red from the ring colors to match with the Vancouver color scheme, so your painting must be portraying a previous Olympic games - http://www.olympic.org/Global/Images/News/01-2010/07/01-07-10-curling.jpg
Hmmmmm...can't help you here my dear.....nice painting though..loving the Olympic theme these days!! talk to you tomorrow on the Artist Helping Artist "party line" that you so graciously host.
ReplyDeleteI can't help you either. I have only curled once and all I can say is it was a lot harder than it looks. I am loving your Olympic theme paintings - this one really rocks - parden the pun - I think they call them rocks in curling.
ReplyDeleteThis bit I do know Tammy they're called stones and are made from granite although it's pronounced stanes here in Scotland but way back in the early centuries they used flat rocks and yes it definately is a lot harder than it looks. I understand it's as big in Canada Ben as in Scotland.....though that would be Scottish influence from the Highland Clearences days :))
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is I wish I had the two broom guys turned loose on my hardwood floor. Between Eddie Bill and Maggie (cat and dog) I am certain I could keep 'em scrubbin' 'til the cows come home.....:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome design--you have such a great eye Leslie!
Love these Olympic paintings Leslie... Your talent is really coming out with these.
ReplyDeleteOkay... I haven't a clue.... but I did enjoy reading all of the readers' comments about it.
hehe, I like Dreama's idea (bring on the broom guys, wishin' my hubby would pick up this sport!). Great view point on this game (from up above).
ReplyDeleteLeslie - there is a fun rom/com Canadian movie that will explain curling to you (the actual explanation takes place in a bedroom and the rules are drawn in lipstick..well, let's just say I'm sure it will hold your interest! LOL) called Men with Brooms. You can see the trailer for it on YouTube : )
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFt-5-630Zg
Men with Brooms was filmed in the small rural town where I went to high school - Uxbridge, Ontario! It is an... interesting? movie.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Your painting technique is great for capturing ice and evokes the quick movements that the 'men with brooms' make. A perfect marriage of style and subject. And I love that you've done a Winter Olympics series. Such a great games, my week is much more dull now the games are over!
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