New aura painting: MIDIAN (태호)

Here it comes the third aura portrait part of the series for the Korean band MIDIAN! This time is the aura and energy's inspired painting of the drummer and leader of the band, Kim Taeho.

Drummers are those musicians who stay almost completely hidden by their instrument and are not as visible as those who perform right at the front stage and can easily interact with fans during live shows. Taeho is not only a strong and charismatic leader but also a very dedicated musician whose passion for music (and Midian) is undoubtedly so strong it really touches the heart of whoever get to know him.

Inspiration from the piece came from the extraordinarily warmth of the glow of the red autumn leaves visible in Korea. The latter season is in fact the favourite of many Koreans mostly because of the wonderful tints that surface in the natural landscape during the period. (For those who have never been to Korea in that season I would really recommend a visit!)

MIDIAN (태호)

The glow of autumn leaves

Successful aura painting delivery across the world!

One of the biggest pleasure for an artist is without a doubt the opportunity to witness a satisfied commissioner (or the person for whom the painting was commissioned) receiving the desired painting and to see their happy face the first time they can hold the artwork in their hands.

During my recent visit to Seoul it was an absolutely delight to meet once again Craig Grillanda, one of the professional boxers for whom I was asked to create the Boxing Club Aura Series, and, most importantly, to pass the original painting directly to him in person. Here it is a photo of the occasion!

Boxer Craig Grillanda with  his very own aura portrait

Craig also helped me to deliver the aura portrait of his fellow colleague in the boxing ring, professional boxer Taek Min Kim, whom unfortunately I was unable to meet during my last trip to Korea. As a way to express his thanks and contentment Taek Min kindly sent me a few snapshots of him happily holding the painting. In the one uploaded here I love the boxing ring appearing in the background as it somehow add a touch of authenticity to the whole Boxing Club Aura Series!

Boxer Taek Min Kim  his portrai

New aura painting: MIDIAN (한울)

Second painting part of the series for the Korean band MIDIAN. The piece is the portrait of the charismatic band's bass guitarist Um Hanwool (엄한울).

In the painting I tried to replicate the feeling I had the first time I met the talented musician, that of the richness and warmth of the beautiful red, green and golden colours of an autumn forest at sunset. The finishing touch is unfortunately not showing in the digital format, but the original painting is extremely sparkling as I added an extra gloss coating with the aim to convey the feeling of the golden sunset sun rays coming through the tree leaves. With my delight I have found a photo in internet that may help to envision where the inspiration for the painting idea came from.

MIDIAN (한울)
The autumn forest in the sunset light

New Aura Series - MIDIAN (SIN)

It is always a pleasure to spend time in South Korea, a country with, without a doubt, I have been fallen madly in love. What made my last sojourn there even more enjoyable than usual was the fact that this time round not only I finally got to be fully introduced to the local Heavy Metal scene but I also became acquainted with several local bands.

One of these in particular, MIDIAN, caught my attention in full and bewitched me completely: in addition to the fact that their style of music and live performance match exactly my personal taste, the kindness demonstrated by the band members throughout my staying in Seoul was almost overwhelming: I got invited to see their rehearsals, album recording & mixing, and they made me feel welcome like I was a newly arrived band member.

As the band as a whole seemed to like my style of painting and appeared to be quite intrigued by the concept of aura painting, I left Korea with plans for future working collaborations such as a joint concert and art exhibition, promoter work and a full-house of aura painting commissions!

It is a total pleasure and humble honour to have the opportunity to repay such kindness with my art.
So here it comes the first of the paintings in the series, that of MIDIAN's vocalist, SIN.

His image and presence on (and off) stage is really remarkable, so I tried to capture his energy on canvas at my best. The feeling that I had was that of an impenetrable curtain made of a wall of thorns sparkling in the moonlight.

MIDIAN (SIN)
The wall of thorns

Boxing Club Series - New Painting!

My new painting part of the Korean Boxing Club Series!
This new piece is the portrait of a Canadian boxer (but with Italian relatives and from my very own home-town Ferrara!), Craig Grillanda, currently fighting professionally in South Korea.

Inspiration for the painting comes from a peaceful weeping willow tree covered in beautiful white snow in a winter morning, the first image that came to my mind when I met Craig in Seoul back in April. I painted his name in the centre of the composition like if it was carved in the frozen tree. 

After completing the painting I tried to find an image in internet that could illustrate exactly what I had envisioned and really happy, I think I fond it! It is so rewarding to see how similar the feeling of the two images, the real willow and my painting, is. 

Hope you like it!

Craig - The Willow Tree in a Winter Morning

Craig Grillanda

Aura Series - The Music Promoter

Whilst working on several other painting commissions, I took a break to paint this piece for one of my Korean friends, Sukchan Yusepina Park, who works as a music promoter across Asia. Thanks to him I got to see great gigs in Seoul and also met a lot of interesting and talented Korean and Japanese bands new to me. My friend seemed to be quite curious about my art, so I thought to painting him a portrait as a way to say thanks for the wonderful time spent together in Seoul.

~ It always makes me happy when people like my art and I can paint something for them as a pay back.

~ The Music Promoter ~

Boxing Club Series ~ New painting!

Following my recent trip to Seoul and after a lot of time since my last painting of this series, here it comes my new work for a Korean Boxing Club!! The new work is for Kim Taek Min, a boxer that I recently met in Seoul during the 'Night with the Boxers' event (see previous blog entry for details).

The feeling I had was that of a dangerous wild animal hidden inside a dark cave and ready to strike at any time. I tried to replicate this in the energy pattern of the painting so to give the feeling of a very intricate forest with many hidden enemies. The surface of this piece is really sparkling, like menacing eyes would glow in the dark from the thick of the forest.

Hope you like it!

 Taek Min Kim - The dangerous forest

Kim Taek Min