The Opening Shot - The First Painting of the Padel Series
The Opening Shot marks the beginning of the Studio Thurm Padel Series - a series inspired by movement, speed, strategy and the atmosphere of the game.
Padel has been part of my life for many years. I am fascinated by its complexity: the fast reactions, the changing angles, the communication between partners and the way every point can shift within seconds. It is a sport full of energy, but also full of structure. There are lines, glass walls, rebounds, court geometry and split-second decisions. For me, that combination is visually powerful.
This first painting does not show padel in a literal way. There is no player, no racket, no clearly defined ball. Instead, The Opening Shot translates the feeling of the first point into abstract form. The bright green curve moves across the canvas like a trajectory, a visual echo of a ball crossing the court, changing direction and opening the rally.
The deep blue areas create the foundation of the work. They suggest the court, the depth of the space and the intensity of the game. Lighter blue and grey layers add transparency and atmosphere, while white linear details bring in the feeling of glass, reflection and movement. Some shapes are almost architectural, others remain loose and intuitive. This tension between control and freedom is exactly what makes padel so interesting to me.
The painting was created as a landscape piece, 120 x 80 cm, which gives the movement room to unfold. The format supports the idea of a court space - wide, open and directional. The composition leads the eye from left to right, then back into the center, where the energy gathers.
For Studio Thurm, this painting is also a personal starting point. It connects my passion for abstract art with a sport that has shaped my everyday life for years. I wanted the piece to feel dynamic, modern and alive, but still calm enough to work in a contemporary home or office environment.
The Opening Shot is not about illustrating a match. It is about capturing the moment before everything fully begins - the first movement, the first decision, the first spark of energy.
