PORTRAITS FOR LIFE

Artistically Yours… by the French artist Miki

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

Photography Prints

August 30, 2011 Posted by | art, celebrities, Guitar Heroes, life, Miki, music, portrait | Leave a Comment

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

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August 28, 2011 Posted by | art, celebrities, Guitar Heroes, music, portrait | Leave a Comment

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!

Art Prints

June 20, 2011 Posted by | art, Bass Heroes, blues, celebrities, Guitar Heroes, music, portrait | Leave a Comment

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.

Wikipedia:

“…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

Art Prints

March 17, 2011 Posted by | art, blues, celebrities, Guitar Heroes, music, portrait | Leave a Comment

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….

(read more here)

 

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

Photography Prints

February 7, 2011 Posted by | art, children, Guitar Heroes, Miki, music, portrait | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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!

 

WIKIPEDIA:

“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:

 

Art Prints

November 12, 2010 Posted by | art, Guitar Heroes, men, Miki, music, portrait | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Guitar Hero Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix 01 – by Miki

WIKIPEDIA:

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:

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October 29, 2010 Posted by | art, Guitar Heroes, Miki, music, portrait, The Art of Portrait | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

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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October 21, 2010 Posted by | art, Guitar Heroes, Miki, music, portrait, The Art of Portrait | , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Guitar Hero Angus Young

Guitar Hero Angus Young - by Miki

Read in Wikipedia:

“Angus McKinnon Young (born 31 March 1955) is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances, schoolboy-uniform stage outfits and the duck walk….”

 

And for those who wish to purchase a print (available in many different sizes and on different supports such as Fine Art Paper or canvas), here you go:

Art Prints

 

ATTENTION PLEASE:

This painting was inspired by a photo of Steve Stevens which I found in a wonderful book called “Guitar Heroes” which I bought in the USA early this year. 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.

 

October 19, 2010 Posted by | art, Guitar Heroes, men, music, portrait, The Art of Portrait | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Guitar Hero Jennifer Batten

I saw her in a show with Michael Jackson, and although I am generally not very impressed by women on electric guitar or bass,  I found her very fascinating . Sorry for the other ladies, but I must be a little bit old-fashioned, as to me, a man on electric guitar looks simply better! Although I don’t like it when they start acting too much “girly”, to me it does not match the instrument and its wildness and passion. But I want to add that I am not speaking here about the quality of their play, haven’t heard enough of them to judge it.. I am speaking only about the look.

Anyway, here is Jennifer, with another guitarist from whom i do not remember who he was… if he sees this painting and recognises himself (won’t be easy I guess!), he is very welcome to contact me !  :-)

 

Read in Wikipedia

“…Armed with a wry sense of humor, an irrepressible spirit, and impeccable chops, Jennifer Batten is an estrogen-powered supernova in the cluttered firmament of modern rock guitarists…”

 

 

 

Jennifer Batten - by Miki

 

And for those who wish to purchase a print (available in many different sizes and on different supports such as Fine Art Paper or canvas), here you go:

 

Sell Art Online

October 17, 2010 Posted by | art, Guitar Heroes, life, Miki, music, The Art of Portrait, women | , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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