He calls himself a “caveman” with brushes, oil paints and large canvases, among photographers with expensive cameras and long lenses, all with the aim of photographing beach volleyball at the 2024 Olympics, but with very different approaches.
“They’re collages of moments,” says 63-year-old British painter Peter Spence about his work.
A photograph captures a particular moment, but “a painting revives the spirit of the event.”
This is Spence’s third Summer Olympics, and the one the International Volleyball Federation commissioned him to paint.
A photographer takes hundreds, maybe even thousands, of photos over the course of a multi-day contest, but he only gets to capture one thing: a painting.
“We are now a society that is accustomed to taking photos with our mobile phones, and everyone takes thousands of photos every day,” he says. Instead, he focuses on reality, and tries to express his perception through his brushstrokes.
Spence works in one of the most famous and popular locations for these Olympics, with the beach volleyball courts visible against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
His easel was placed at the top of the last row of the auditorium, offering a spectacular view of the play and of Paris’ famous landmark monuments. This was a real challenge.
“This is a more powerful piece of art for the city of Paris than anything I’ve done before,” he said.
One day, a large red umbrella cast a deep shadow over the easel, protecting the painting more than the artist himself.
The heat forced him to take off his shoes and continue painting in just his socks.
Nearby, a thermos of tea, a bottle of water, and a Panama hat were placed within reach.
For nearly a week, Spence painted from morning till night, taking only a short break for lunch.
2024 Paris Olympics
Despite his tireless efforts, all that emerged on the canvas were the silhouettes of spectators, athletes and the Eiffel Tower.
Once the Olympic winning team is decided, the final details of the painting will take shape.
“I’m not nervous, I’m actually excited,” he says with a smile about the challenges ahead.
Drawing audiences of hundreds daily, Spence focuses on each individual face and the tiny details surrounding them.
He probably knows the venue better than anyone.
However, his paintings are not an exact replica of reality, but rather an emotional capture of the enthusiasm and excitement that hangs in the air as the Olympics progresses, with each team striving to reach the finals.
Spence was commissioned in London and then Rio to create the first Olympic beach volleyball paintings.
The only reason he missed out on the Tokyo Olympics was because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the years, his love for beach volleyball has grown and he has come to understand the importance of teamwork, one of the sport’s greatest values.
“I’m watching the best players in the world,” he said.
Spence considers himself old-school, but remains confident in the value of his work, despite the proliferation of technology and advances in artificial intelligence.
“My message is to put your phone on silent, put it in your pocket, and get out your sketchbook and crayons,” he said. “Drawing is a calming, restorative activity because it allows you to connect with the world outside of yourself.”
