My inspiration for this painting was a classic Robert 'in concert' pose. When using a photo reference to work from, my intention is to bring more to the painting than just a likeness...I want to create a narrative about the musician, how their personal musical influences shaped the band's sound. For that reason, my approach to painting a musician's portrait varies greatly with each subject.
In Robert's painting, I used many elements that were rather 60s retro, such as the sunburst behind his head, whereas the floral vine design weaving through his mic stand brings in a more current noveau design element. The colors I used were strongly influenced by the colors used in his Band Of Joy CD. My thought was to tie his past and present together with his love of the blues, his unique style that weaves through all his music. After all, his musical legacy spans more than 5 decades! Yellow-golds and reds are very strong, powerful colors that make a bold statement, and I think they really work well to showcase Robert's larger-than-life persona.
I was honored to be chosen By Delta Magazine for their cover. Robert Plant headlined the Sunflower Blues & Gospel Festival with his Sensational Space Shifters in concert in August 2012, Clarksdale, Mississippi.
This original 24x36 inch oil painting on canvas was part of the "Memories In Music in the Midlands" exhibit at the St. Paul's Gallery in 2010.