Do you want a professional painting of your RAGBRAI bike? 

Artist Michael Holmes sells acrylic paintings of bikes during RAGBRAI. Morgan Gstalter/Special to the Register

You’ll have your memories of RAGBRAI XLIV, but perhaps you want something more tangible to commemorate your trek across Iowa.

Artists Michael and Mary Ann Holmes may be able to help.

The pair have been selling acrylic paintings of bicycles at the previous four RAGBRAIs and the Des Moines Register talked to Michael Holmes at his booth in Sigourney.

Holmes said they set up two booths during the week to sell their acrylic paintings of bicycles, Iowa and architecture.

“They’re all original artwork so we make two stops because they get gobbled up,” Holmes said.

Acrylic paintings of bicycles done by the Holmes are sold in Sigourney during RAGBRAI. Morgan Gstalter/Special to the Register

He studied architecture at Kansas State University and has been a professional artist, with studios in Des Moines and Kansas City, since 1992.

It’s out of those studios, he said, that he can paint you a customized picture of your RAGBRAI bike.

“All I need is a picture,” Holmes said.

It’s become a popular tradition for RAGBRAI veterans to have a canvas to commentate their ride.

It takes only about a week and you can have your bike masterpiece hanging in your home.

“I meet people every year who want to add a new piece to their collection,” Holmes said. “I have a customer from Mississippi who buys one every year so he can remember RAGBRAI.”

For more information on how to commission a portrait of your bicycle, visit www.michaelholmesart.com

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