The Art of Survival

I am immensely proud to announce that my African Godson and wonderful artist Emmanuel Baliyanga is making the cover of our local English spoken magazine “The Sentinella” with one of his marvellous paintings “Senegalese Woman” of an African woman carrying a baby

The Sentinella – March 2011 Edition

But not only that. The Sentinella was so kind to publish an article I wrote, “A Modern Way of Humanitarian Help: The Art of Survival”, telling the story of my encounter with Emmanuel. It is indeed an interesting and exciting story, as Emmanuel is originally from Rwanda, and had to flee the Genocide after all 10 members of his family were killed.  Actually working occasionally for a book publishing company in Cameroon, he contacted me for the first time some months ago to ask my permission to use one of my Obama portrait paintings for the cover of a book in homage to Obama.

Here is a screen shot of the article in The Sentinella

Emmanuel Baliyanga and Miki in The Sentinella

But to be able to read it more comfortably, and anyway to browse through the whole magazine (do it, it is packed with exciting articles!), go please to the Edition online.

Even better:  if you live in our area (Turre, Provincia de Almeria, Andalusia, Spain” pick up a printed edition at your local bar, cafe or supermarket. And don’t forget to tell The Sentinella what you think about it, they love to get feedback!

African Odes and Songs in Homage To Barack Obama

I have the pleasure to announce today that one of my Obama portraits, “Yes We Can”, has been chosen as a book cover. And what a book!

A book called

Odes et Chansons Africaines

en Hommage a Barack Obama

(African Odes and songs, in homage to Barack Obama)

A book written by Marcelline Sibylle Ngono Bene, Doctor in Literature and African Civilisations, Master of Conferences at The University of Yaoundé and General Inspector of Academic Matters at the Ministry of Higher Education.

I adore the fact that my portrait serves this aim, and it will be a very emotional moment for me when I receive my dedicated copy…

I hope I will be able then to translate some of them in English. In fact, I am waiting to get it to see if a translation from French to English of the whole book could be possible. I am quite sure that a lot of people in the world would be interested in the content…

My special thanks to Emmanuel Baliyanga -a great artist himself by the way, check here- in charge of the book design and who found and chose my portrait.

Obama’s portrait painting is available as Giclee print, in different sizes and different formats, in my FAA Gallery:

Painting Africa 01

I want to introduce you today to a new artist who joined my new website “Painting the Music”, totally dedicated to Music and Dance Artworks. His artist name is BARRY, he was born in Rwanda, studied arts there and is now living in Cameroon. Living from tone’s own art is not possible there (like in most of the other places of the world, but there it is of course even more difficult), and he chose to make a career in Book Cover Design. This is by the way how I met him some weeks ago, an exciting project which includes me, more concretely one of my Obama portraits, is taking shape right now.. more details will be published here when the project has come to completion.

Anyway I asked Barry if he had some African music and dance paintings, and indeed he has!. To my delight he agreed to join my World of painting the music, and he has published there already 6 African dance paintings.I would appreciate you all to have a look at his paintings, and if possible, to support him in anyway you can. He has his artwork for the first time in internet, a totally new world has opened to him, and I want him to enjoy it as much as possible! I tell you, that guy has much courage, much talent and much heart! This should be rewarded…

Intore Dance from Rwanda - by BARRY

This painting is available  as original (gouache, 21 x 29 cm) Giclee print, in different sizes and different formats, in Barry’s FAA Gallery:

By the way, if you want to exhibit your music/dance art

in my new site “Painting The Music”,

contact me please.

Barack Obama -4-: Taking it easy!

(Pastel & Colour Pencils, 65 x 50 cm – 2009)

I just was in Obama mood again these days…