Peter Spens, a British painter, is currently working on capturing beach volleyball during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. While surrounded by photographers with expensive equipment, Spens prefers to work with brushes, oil paints, and a large canvas. For him, painting is about capturing a collage of moments rather than a single specific instance. His art aims to bring back the spirits of the event, unlike photographs that focus on specific moments.
The International Volleyball Federation has commissioned Spens to create art at his third Summer Olympic Games. While photographers can produce thousands of images over the course of the games, he will only have one painting that captures the essence of beach volleyball. In a society that constantly takes thousands of images with their phones, Spens prefers to focus on reality and express his perceptions through his brush. The painting he creates aims to convey the emotions and atmosphere of the event.
Spens works from a vantage point that offers breathtaking views of the beach volleyball court against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, one of Paris’ most iconic symbols. Despite the challenge of painting such a monumental landmark, Spens finds inspiration in the location. He spends entire days working on his painting, surrounded by essential items like a thermos of tea, a bottle of water, and a Panama hat. Despite the heat and long hours, he remains dedicated to capturing the essence of the Olympic Games on his canvas.
As the Olympic Games progress, the painting takes shape with silhouettes of spectators, players, and the Eiffel Tower emerging on the canvas. Spens focuses on individual faces and small details, capturing the emotional intensity and excitement of the event. He is not anxious about completing the painting, but rather excited about the work still ahead. Spens’ work is more than just a replication of reality; it is an emotional interpretation of the energy and passion that fill the air during the Olympic Games.
While Spens considers himself old-fashioned in his approach to art, he remains confident in the value of his work. Despite the prevalence of technology and artificial intelligence, he believes in the restorative and mindful nature of painting and drawing. Spens encourages people to put away their phones and engage with the world through sketching and coloring. His impactful and emotional paintings of beach volleyball at the Olympic Games in Paris showcase his dedication to capturing the spirit of the event through art. Despite the changing times, his work continues to resonate with those who appreciate the beauty and emotion in art.
