By Lauren Lynch

(July 11, 2011) Could you paint Roger Federer by memory? Jean-Pierre Blanchard can.

Speed-painter Blanchard of France took to the canvas to capture Roger Federer with oil paints for the SVC Entrepreneur Award presentation in Zurich in four minutes without any reference but his mental images.

He commented on the 16-time major champion, “Federer has a distinctive face that fits with his competitive nature and strong character. He is relatively easy to paint.”

Watch it here:


According to Credit Suisse’s Jürg Schiess, Thomas Sauber, a leader at Ernst & Young in Zurich, bought the painting in an auction after watching the show for $19,281.36 or 16,100 Swiss francs. All of the money went to the Roger Federer Foundation which supports children in Africa under the World No. 3’s request for using his image.

“I'd like to organize an employee event at which Roger Federer signs the painting personally and money would be collected for his foundation, “said Sauber, without any plans of selling it for more money. “I'm a big fan of Roger Federer. The painting is a collector's item and will remain in our offices.”

Sauber was not the only tennis fan. Blanchard said, “I admire him greatly. He's incredibly talented but has kept his feet on the ground.”

Will we be seeing more of these paintings? Blanchard answered, “I'd like to include Federer in my standard repertoire.”

The only thing that he would consider changing for the show was the song that he performed the marvel with. He concluded, “The organizers wanted a classic pop track for background music. I would have chosen something by the rock band AC/DC. Their music is more rhythmic, punchier and has greater tempo. That would have suited Roger Federer better.”