Joe Bonamassa, again and again!
Joe Bonamassa 03 – Watercolour painting by Miki
I have heard that Joe Bonamassa’s last album is number 1 of the charts in the UK, and I am over the moon! I though it is time to celebrate with a new portrait of him. In watercolour this time, and on strong structured watercolour paper from Arches.
I have seen Joe twice life, once last year in the Czech Republic with his Super Band Black Country Communion, and once this year in Murcia in Spain. It is simply an amazing experience, and this is what I wanted to convey in this new painting, the way how he seems to dominate the whole time-space around him when he plays! This is much deeper and universal than simply “taking the stage”!
As usual these painting is available directly online as Giclee print in many different dimensions, on paper or canvas, and also as greeting cards. Just click on the widget below to access my FAA Gallery
I also made available a version of this painting with less background, for those who want more of Joe for the same price! 
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Jimi Hendrix 02
Jimi Hendrix 02 – Watercolour painting by Miki
After having made many musician paintings using a mixed technique involving a classical technique such as gouache, pastel chalk, acrylics, colour pencils, etc.. and some digital tools, I have suddenly felt the need to try to make some watercolour portraits of them. Sometimes I can’t see my computer any more, and don’t enjoy so much the digital art. Then it is time to go back to the classical brushes for a while and leave the computer totally out of the art! Perhaps the wrong decision from the business point of view as these artworks in mixed technique sell very well. People react strongly to the extremely vibrant colours and effects I can reach with my professional painting software. But well, business is one thing. An important thing clearly, but important too is that I enjoy what I do, and right now I enjoy watercolours and the organic effects of the paints on well structured paper!
And anyway for some obscure reason my computer had become very slow and take ages for each move. Nothing for such an impatient nature like mine, it simply drives me MAD! Surely wiser to let it rest for a while…
The painting above was inspired by a portrait of Jimi Hendrix I saw in a tattoo shop some weeks ago in Rethymno in Crete.
And here is the other portrait of Jimi I did some time ago, in the usual mixed technique.
Jimi Hendrix 01 – by Miki
This painting was inspired by a photo of Jimi Hendrix which I found in a wonderful book called “Guitar Heroes” which I bought in the USA in 2010. I have no idea if by putting this painting for sale as a print, I am infringing on any property rights. If it is so, I am really sorry and would ask the owner of the rights to contact me. I would then of course remove this painting from sale.
Both paintings are available directly online as Giclee print in many different dimensions, on paper or canvas, and also as greeting cards. Just click on the widget below to access my FAA Gallery
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Keith Richards 02
Keith Richards 02 - by Miki
I always wanted to see him (and his mates) live.. and always missed him!
But this won;t happen again, next time the Rolling Stones are on stage, I go there, wherever it is!
Let’s see what the Wikipedia has tp say about him
“Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, songwriter and founding member of The Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created “rock’s greatest single body of riffs” and, placed him as the “10th greatest guitarist of all time.” Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting partner and band vocalist Mick Jagger are listed among Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.[1][2][3] Richards’ notoriety for illicit drug use has stemmed in part from several drug busts in the late 1960s and the 1970s…”
If you want to read more about that extraordinary guy, go yourself to the Wikipedia.
If you are a fan of him and want to purchase a print (available in different sizes, on paper or canvas) or a greeting card, just click on the widget below
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Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clamons
Bruce Springsteen and Clarence Clemons - by Miki
Painting based on the Video “Born to Run”.. fascinating interaction from these two giant musicians!
If you are a fan of him and want to purchase a print (available in different sizes, on paper or canvas) or a greeting card, just click on the widget below
Black Country Communion: YOU ROCK!
BCC, TOU ROCK! - By Miki
Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa in teh superroup Black Country Communiuon.
This new artwork is to celebrate the end of BCC (Black Country Communion) so successful USA Tour End 2011. We are waiting now for them to come to Europe, where their first gig will be in Spain. We wanted to attend it, unfortunately Kevin has self a gig that day.. but it does not matter, we will do what it takes to see them live, and fly on the 12th of July to the Czech republic to attend their show in Locket on the 17th. I hope to come back with some sketches, also it is more probable that I will be so excited and hypnotised that I won’t do anything other than widely opening my ears and eyes!
The “You Rock” in this picture points to… I am sure that Glenn is always playing for him too, and that God enjoys as much as we all do!
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.
If you want to purchase a print (on paper or canvas, and in different sizes) or a Greeting card, please click on the widget below
Gary Moore, an Impression
Has been a while since I haven’t published a new portrait.. well, I was busy with some other art. To do portraits, i need to be in a very special mood, somehow ready to enter the soul of my subject…
Well, yesterday, some hours down the coast from us, Gary Moore died in an hotel . We heard the news as Kevin came back from a gig in the middle of the night… it was about 3 in the morning, the worst time ever to hear this kind of news. Everything around seems to break down and the whole life reduced to a giant black hole.
Kevin writes
“Last night I returned home on cloud nine after gigging down on the Playa in Mojacar. It had been a while since I’d been on stage and I’d missed it. Arriving home, I was in great spirits after getting that ‘fix’ again. A mere four hours down the coast, something had happened that was to hit me like a sucker punch.
On Friday, sitting in our local at lunchtime, I’d met one of Gary Moore’s backstage technicians, taking a short break from touring. We were discussing how Gary achieved his wonderful tone, partly through the heavy gauge strings that he used – incredibly hard to bend, but rich sounding.
Now, as I fired up the Mac upon returning home late Sunday night, I discovered that Gary had passed away in a hotel in Estepona. He was just 58. I was dumbfounded. Gary Moore has always been one of my guitar heroes. He was the real deal, and the complete package, not only a genius guitarist, but a great singer and writer. There were few if any, that could touch him. As if that weren’t enough, he was equally at home playing fusion, blues, jazz and metal….“
I felt the need to make a first portrait of Gary, but really it is only an impression. I just hope this impression is good enough… I could not do more right now, I am still under shock, having his music on continuoius loop in the house…
Gary Moore, an Impression - by Miki
If you wish to purchase a print or a greeting card of this painting, please click on the widget below
Guitar Hero Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa and The Pianist - by Miki
I saw his in his concert at the Royal Albert hall in London.. it as just one of the best shows I have ever seen! A feast, as well for the ears as for the eyes! I will do a series of paintings commemorating this big event, and in fact I have already doen 2 portraits of The Pianist and his Little Buddha. I found them both extremely fascinating!
, but well, Noblesse Oblige, I should start here with the Master himself!
“Joe Bonamassa (born May 8, 1977 in Utica, New York) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer….”
This painting is available as poster and Giclee print, in different sizes and different formats, in my FAA Gallery:
Guitar Hero Jimi Hendrix
- Jimi Hendrix 01 – by Miki
“James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix, November 27, 1942[1][2] – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock music,[3][4][5] and one of the most influential musicians of his era across a range of genres.[6][7][8]
After initial success in Europe, he achieved fame in the United States following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. He often favored raw overdriven amplifiers with high gain and treble and helped develop the previously undesirable technique of guitar amplifier feedback.[9] Hendrix popularized use of the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock which he often used to deliver an exaggerated pitch in his solos, particularly with high bends and use of legato. He was influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King and Elmore James,[10][11][12][13] rhythm and blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield, Steve Cropper, as well as by funk and some modern jazz.[14] As a record producer, Hendrix also broke new ground in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas. He was one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects for rock recording.[citation needed]
Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime, and has been posthumously awarded many more, including being inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. An English Heritage blue plaque was erected in his name on his former residence at Brook Street, London, in September 1997. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 6627 Hollywood Blvd.) was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his debut US album, Are You Experienced, was inducted into the United States National Recording Registry, and Rolling Stone named Hendrix the top guitarist on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time in 2003.[15] He was the first person inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame.”
This painting is available as poster and Giclee print, in different sizes and different formats, in my FAA Gallery:
Guitar Hero Big Jerry – People from Memphis 01
Big Jerry in Memphis - by MIki
He might not be featured in that wonderful book “Guitar Heroes” I bought in the USA early this year, but for me he is a Guitar Hero!
We saw Big Jerry in Memphis in January 2010, gigging outside with his band in Beale Street, it was my very first day in Memphis, and is was just great.
We bought a CD from him, one of the many we bought on our Music Highway Trip .
If you are interested in ordering the new CD “Blue Odyssey” which Kev Moore did, inspired by the whole trip, please go to Miki’s Mart.
And if you want to purchase a print of Big Jerry, it is available in many different sizes and on different supports in my Fine Art America gallery:
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Contact me at miki@goodaboom.com
