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.

And if you want a print (on paper or canvas and many different sizes available) just click on the widget below