Rafael Nadal
Spanish Tennis Champion Rafael Nadal - by Miki
Acrylics on canvas – 60 x 80 cm – 2011
A while ago, as a follow-up to some cycling paintings on commission, I decided to start a series of sport paintings in acrylics on canvas. Having often attended the Tour de France in the Pyrenees in my childhood, and enjoying a bike ride myself very much, cycling is to me a very inspiring sport. I love the feeling of natural freedom and peace which one has riding under the sun in the countryside. And of course in the professional races, I love the movement, the fight and the colours!
Anyway, after the commission work, I started my sports series with some more cyclists paintings which you can see in my sports gallery here.
Then, having such great tennis players in Spain, I thought I should pay homage to that sport, which I personally practiced too in the past with much pleasure. In fact I learned to play tennis in Africa, in Congo! My parents were living there at that time, and when I visited them there, they gave me tennis classes as a gift, which I took with a fantastic black teacher. It was just a basic course, but I learned and enjoyed much. Later on I went on practicing, first in Germany, then in Spain. Some years ago, I had some classes by a Spanish teacher, trying to learn how to make a proper service… Well, I still can’t!
I found in the net a wonderful photo of Rafael Nadal, from which I strongly inspired myself for that first tennis painting. I would have loved to ask for permission to use the photo, but I had no chance to contact the photographer. It is really a wonderful photo, great colors and great composition, I could really not resist to reproduce it!
The original painting is currently for sale. If you are interested, contact me.
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By the way, if the author of the photo reads this post, and does not want me to use this painting commercially, please contact me.
Jeff Beck 01
Jeff Beck 01 - by Miki
As I often mentioned, I did not know much about rock music before I met Kev Moore. I loved rock, but I hardly know any of the guitar heroes of this world.
“…Geoffrey Arnold “Jeff” Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. One of three noted guitarists, with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, to have played with The Yardbirds, Beck also formed The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. He was ranked 14th in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”[1] and the magazine has described him as “one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock”.[2] MSNBC has called him a “guitarist’s guitarist”.[3]
Much of Beck’s recorded output has been instrumental, with a focus on innovative sound and his releases have spanned genres ranging from blues-rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion and most recently, an additional blend of guitar-rock and electronica. Beck has earned wide critical praise; furthermore, he has received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times. Although he has had two hit albums (in 1975 and 1976) as a solo act, Beck has not established or maintained a broad following or the sustained commercial success of many of his collaborators and bandmates.[3] Beck appears on albums by Mick Jagger, Kate Bush, Roger Waters, Stevie Wonder, Les Paul, Zucchero, Cyndi Lauper, Brian May and ZZ Top. He also made a cameo appearance in the movie Twins (1988).
He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: as a member of The Yardbirds (1992) and as a solo artist (2009)...”
I saw Jeff beck for the first time in a concert with the bass player Tal Wilkenfeld, and I adored him, and her, and both together. And as always, when I love a musician I have to paint her/him. This time I started with Tal Wilkenfeld, just because she is so young and so amazing. And anyway: women first!
You can see her portrait here.
For Jeff, I wanted to try a new style.More impressionist, but keeping the face features quite clear. I painted him in gouache, with brushes and palette knives, a technique which gives surprising results, at least surprising to me. It was the first time I used this technique for a musician portrait, I normally use it only for more or less abstract townscapes. I personally quite like the result, so I will probably try some more of our music heroes in this style.
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Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley - by Miki
I saw him for the first time the other night on English TV, on “Later, with Jools Holland”, and I enjoyed it very much. Loved especially this position and, of course, his red rectangular guitar!
“…Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter (usually as Elias McDaniel), and inventor. He was also known as “The Originator” because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock & roll, influencing a host of acts including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Underground, The Clash, The Yardbirds, and Eric Clapton.[1] He introduced more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs. Accordingly, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation[2][3] and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was known in particular for his technical innovations, including his trademark rectangular guitar….”
“…
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Son House
- Son House – by Miki
“…Eddie James “Son” House, Jr. (March 21, 1902 (?)[1][2] – October 19, 1988) was an American blues singer and guitarist. House pioneered an innovative style featuring strong, repetitive rhythms, often played with the aid of slide guitar, and his singing often incorporated elements of southern gospel and spiritual music….”
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Robert Plant and Jimmy Page 02
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page 02 - by Miki
Painting of Led Zeppelin performing “Stairway to Heaven”
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Robert Plant 02
Robert Plant 02 - by Miki
Robert Plant, from Led Zeppelin, singing that divine song
“Stairway to Heaven”
… to die for!
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Robert Plant 01
Robert Plant 01 - by Miki
After having seen Robert Plant a6 different occasions on the English TV, and listened to him, singing anyway, but also been interviewed, I decided that he seems to be a kind, quite simple and humble guy, so here we are, he is worth my time and I will make some portraits of him. I already painted him in the past, in fact quite at the beginning when I started painting the rockers,. Kevin had said I should do him and Jimmy Page, and I obeyed the music boss in the house, and it was a good idea as that painting has become a big sales hit. But now, i know him much better, and feel more comfortable portraying him. In this first portrait I was especially attracted by the hip movement and, of course, the golden hair…
As for the facts, you better check the Wikipedia:
“… Robert Anthony Plant, CBE (born 20 August 1948), is an English rock singer and songwriter, best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career. In 2007, Plant released Raising Sand, an album produced by T-Bone Burnett with American bluegrass soprano Alison Krauss, which won the 2009 Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards.[1]
A career spanning more than 40 years, Plant is regarded as one of the most significant singers in the history of rock music, and influenced contempories such as Freddie Mercury and Axl Rose. In 2006, heavy metal magazine Hit Parader named Plant the “Greatest Metal Vocalist of All-Time”. In 2009, Plant was voted “the greatest voice in rock” ahead of Freddie Mercury, in a poll conducted by Planet Rock ...”
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Contact me at miki@goodaboom.com
