bicycle painting

It has become quite the tradition for me to give John a bike-related Christmas gift, such as books, DVDs of races and documentaries of riders, cycling jerseys, socks, and gadgets. This past year, I was somewhat at a loss for a unique cycling-themed present, especially as he's come to anticipate the usual. So it was with pleasure that I decided to indulge in another piece of bike art.

I've long admired Taliah Lempert's bicycle paintings, portraits in which the subject is the bike. Technically proficient, she has a remarkable ability to capture the spirit of the bike's owner, through their bike. Many of her subjects are part of the New York City bike culture.

Every time I think I'll bite the bullet and purchase one of her paintings, I resist, for a few reasons. One, I'm indecisive about exactly which painting to choose. Two, I get sticker shock. Three—and this is the most important—I'd rather have a portrait of John's Rambouillet, which was custom built for him and comes from a boutique frame designer, rather than a stranger's bike. I've even contacted Taliah about doing this and she's game. We only have to get his bike to Brooklyn so she can see John interact with it. Some day...

In the meantime, I did choose one of Taliah's bike paintings to have reproduced as a print, at a fraction of the price of an original painting. Again, not an easy task to choose just one, but since I planned to give it to John as a gift, I chose a print that would speak to him. It's a study of a bike with a Brooks saddle—his favorite (he rides a Brooks saddle on three different bikes). When he opened the poster tube and unrolled the print, he was thrilled to see the Hetchins brazing just below the seat post. Sigh.

The print recently came back from the framer and now has a spot of distinction in our dining room. (Yes, we have knotty pine walls in our dining room.)