GOAT Alpine Skiing - Gretchen Fraser
Alpine Skiing
Gretchen Kunigk Fraser (February 11, 1919 – February 17, 1994)
Tacoma, Washington.
First American ski racer to win gold Winter Olympics in 1948. in the slalom and a silver medal in the combined event in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Gretchen first skied at age 13, at Paradise Valley on the south slopes of Mount Rainier in 1932. Under the tutelage of Otto Lang (1908-2006) she later competed on the ski team at the University of Puget Sound. Retiring from competition she became an ambassador for Sun Valley, CO and mentor to aspiring female ski racers, including Susie Corrock, Christin Cooper, Picabo Street, Andrea Mead Lawrence, and disabled racer Muffy Davis.
1960 inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame and the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame in Park City
1961 inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Puget Sound Hall of Fame.
Gretchen’s Gold, a ski run at Sun Valley’s Seattle Ridge
Gretchen’s Restaurant in the Sun Valley Lodge
Gretchen Fraser Neighborhood park in Vancouver, Washington
Ski’s up! w2
Copyright: Willis Whiteside 2023 All Rights Reserved.
REFERENCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Fraser
Artistic Perspective
The Greatest of All Time art is a passion of bringing historical sports or public figures to full color. The art starts with research into the personality and reviewing available images or photographs to reference. The research includes the historical location and fan fills bleacher seats for those who witness the moments. The 18” x 24 inch canvas is laid out with the contrasting color pencil of the primary figures or elements outlines. These lines become boundaries of colors, with distinguishing edges or sfumato blended or smoky edges or color – light shading or blending. The foreground is usually in focus with the subject figure in dynamic action. Careful attention is given to these autonomist positions as sometimes these are the most recognized images or captured photo moments of the subject. Crossing the finish line or hurling a fastball, the intent is the subject is flowing with eye movement so you don’t want to stop looking in on the details.
Applying color
Applying the mixed acrylic squeezed out of a tube with a 10- 20 minute dry time. Applying or blending the colors is a matter of color and water saturation. Appling the base colors from dark to light is usually the process. The base color layers then absorb the new wet layer to blend the 2-3 color mixtures to achieve the desired color or blends. The multi layers affect of adding more color achieves more intense color saturation or white or pure color to dark blending. The blank canvas to final brush stoke is normally 2-3 weeks. Working in 2-4 hours sessions usually in the early mornings. We hope you enjoy the art as intended to bring back the best of the sport! If you have a suggestion for a new GOAT please contact us.