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! 

David Bowie in Ashes to Ashes – aquarelle by Miki

I have started a new series of watercolour  paintings featuring David Bowie in some of his different looks. At least this is the plan!

I have started with the above painting of David the Clown In “Ashes to Ashes”, simply because the painting of Leo Sayer in “The Show Must Go On” had stimulated me to start also a clown paintings series. It was natural then to choose this motif of David Bowie.

And now I just finished to paint David in “Space oddity”… a totally different look of course, but this is exactly what I wanted!

David Bowie in Space Oddity – aquarelle by Miki

As usual these 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

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

Leo Sayer in “The Show Must Go On” – Watercolour painting by Miki

I just fancying painting a clown yesterday… it was my birthday and I needed the company of a clown! 

And this one has got such a wonderful voice…

For those who don’t know Leo Sayer, check the Wikipedia:

“… Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 19480) is a British singer song-writer, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s. His first seven hit singles in the UK all reached the Top 10…”

This 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 widgets below

Tinariwen 03 – by Miki

Watercolour painting

In my last post here I presented my first artwork of Tinariwen and wrote about how I first “met” them. I haven’t found yet a suitable date for me to see them live on stage, so in the meanwhile I paint them, the best way for me to deal with my impatience!

This 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 widgets below

Tinariwen 01 – by Miki

My partner Kev Moore wrote about our encounter with Tinariwen in a text called “Tinariwen – The Magic of The Desert”

“… We ate out at a restaurant in the Medina to the sound of local Gwana musicians playing and dancing – quite spectacularly – in a confined space, and whilst it was interesting, and clearly proficient, it didn’t move me beyond the pleasure of seeing traditional music performed in a traditional setting. But one afternoon, walking through the narrow streets, we passed a music stall, and the most amazing groove assaulted our ears. It literally stopped us in our tracks. That was the moment we became fans of Tinariwen.

I asked the guy at the stall who it was, and he produced the album Aman Iman, their third, and it became the constant soundtrack to the rest of our trip. Its fabulous grooves, hypnotic singing and clever weaving of electric guitars in, around and between the traditional instruments.

With further research, I discovered these guys have been around for some years, originating in Mali, and with a fascinating background as Tuareg freedom fighters. These were truly proper rock’n’roll rebels!  Their leader, Ibrahim, has the potential to be a modern day Bob Marley, but that really does him and his compatriots a disservice. They have become a rallying point for the salvation of an entire culture, and I think it is that single achievement that sits them head and shoulders above most ‘social conscience’ bands. It seems that a number of famous musicians now carry a torch for them, Robert Plant and Carlos Santana amongst them, and it’s plain to see why. I’ve never really been a huge fan of World music, but there’s something about Tinariwen that speaks to your soul. Needless to say, I now have all four albums. Check them out, they are truly unique…”

If you want to read the whole post, see photos and last but not least, check Kev Moore and his music, just click here.

And for more info about Tinariwen, you can go to their website

I am personally constantly checking it in search of a possibility to see them life! They tour a lot, but so far we could not find a date and location which suits us. I hope they will add one soon, I really can’t wait!

is artwork is available directly online as prints on paper or canvas and in many different sizes. Also as greeting cards. Just click on the widget below if you are interested

Pinetop Perkins – by Miki

Some days ago I thought it was now time to render homage to Pinetop Perkins in form of a painting. I had seen him live , even sat next to him in Austin in march 2010, and was then extremely shocked bu the announcement of his death. I did not dare to paint him. But now I had to…

Here is what Kev Moore, my partner, has to say:

“… Our trip to the States has been full of amazing happenstance – being in the right place at the right time on an amazing number of occasions. (Or in the case of this morning, the wrong place, as a plane crashed into a building here in Austin a few blocks away!!!)

But last night, we wandered into Nuno’s on the famous 6th. street, and found ourselves sitting next to Pinetop Perkins who, at 96 years young, is pretty much the oldest living bona fide Delta bluesman. I introduced myself, and shook his hand. It was akin to touching history. Here was a man who was there at the beginning, played Piano for Muddy Waters, Sonny boy Williamson, BB King, the list is endless.  I bought a CD, Pinetop Perkins and friends, recorded with the likes of Eric Clapton, and amnazingly, recorded when Pinetop was 94!  – and he kindly signed it for me.

But more amazing than that, he took to the stage last night. That grand old man of the blues, joined the house band and proceeded to take us back in time with half a dozen classics, such as Down in Mississippi, and Pinetop Boogie.   I leaned over to Miki and whispered, “We are so privileged to witness this.”

My respect and affection for this man knew no bounds. The term ‘living legend’ is bandied about with vulgar regularity in this shallow era, but here was a man who embodied it.

Who would have thought, when I signed the guitar in Helena at the studios of King Biscuit time, and noticed Pinetop’s signature, that I would meet him some weeks later?  Life, as I had often suspected, is amazing….”

By the way: Kev has also doen an artwork featuring Pinetop, as he remembered him at Nuno’s

These two paintings are available directly online as prints on paper or canvas and in many different sizes. Also as greeting cards. Just click on the widgets below if you are interested

To finish on a deep emotional note, here is a photo of Pinetop as we saw him…

Pinetop Perkins at Nuno's in Austin in March 2010 - Photo by Kev Moore

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

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

Pablo Larrazabal winning the BMW Golf Open in Germany in June 2011 - by Miki

Watercolour painting.

I wanted to try again some golfer portrait, but in watercolour this time. The winner of the BMW open is certainly a good motif..