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!

Painting Africa 02

Central Africa fauna - By Emmanuel Baliyanga, alias "Barry"

Gouache Painting.

Please click on the image if you are interested in buying the original artwork or a Giclee Print.

Some time ago, in a post called “Painting Africa 01″, I presented a new artist to you , Emmanuel Baliyanga, alias “Barry”, originally from Rwanda but living in Cameroon now, for the sad reasons one can imagine…

We are  in contact everyday, and I must say that Emmanuel amazes me more and more. He is such an accomplished artist, there is so much potential in him. I love the way he paints Africa, much sensitivity, love, sincerity and even humour are always present in his paintings.

We now have a very special relationship. I am his artistic “Godmother”, he is my “Godson”, and it is a wonderful feeling to be able to help such a great artist to promote his art around the world. I am also deeply touched by his humility and his thankfulness.. It is something which, I find, has become very rare, above all on the net…

Good luck, my dear Emmanuel, go on painting and showing your wonderful and fascinating Africa to the world.

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.