Tag: Musicians

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Iconic AF. Season 1, Episode 2: Soul Rebel

24″ X 30″ Acrylic Painting on Canvas of the late great Bob Marley

I grew up in Lagos with Iconic tunes from this great man coming through pretty much every transistor radio in every local kiosk on every corner. My brain still takes me back to particular places and times when I hear some of his songs. Bob Marley was and remains a legend to us Nigerians because of his courage and musicianship. I mean this man literally got shot at during a concert and went right back to playing the very next one as if nothing happened. When asked why he’d risk his life, his response was simple and powerful. I’m paraphrasing here, but it went something like: “the people who are trying to make the world worse aren’t taking days off, so those of us trying to make the world better can’t either”… #respect. This is the second piece of work in season 1 of the “Iconic AF” series. You can see snapshots of works in progress from this series on the instagram page

Without Wax

Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Check out the ETSY store!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Iconic AF. Season 1, Episode 1: Voodoo Child

24″ X 30″ Acrylic Painting on Canvas of the late great James Marshall Hendrix

Prints available for purchase

Through the process of growing up as a music lover and eventually morphing into a practitioner of music and the fine arts, there have been luminaries who have served as a source of inspiration. Although the chief inspiration for my artistic exploits was and remains Michelangelo Buonarroti, I have also drawn a ton of inspiration from musicians, fighters, and thinkers past and present. These luminaries have inspired me and many others with their ingenuity, artistry, courage, passion, and fearless individuality. Jimi Hendrix is one such source of inspiration.

Full disclosure here… I’m about as big a fan of Jimi Hendrix as you’ll find anywhere so my objectivity on his life and works as a man and musician might be slightly warped. Jimi Hendrix is probably the biggest single reason why I play guitar. His style of guitar playing is readily recognizable in my guitar playing because I spent a ton of time copying and learning from the great man. I unfortunately never got the chance to see him in concert because he died a long time before I was born. He was really the first guitar player to develop the technique of playing within chords, and was also responsible for popularizing double stops… two techniques that are now commonplace in every serious guitar player’s arsenal. He’s been an inspiration to myself and many others, making this particular piece an absolute joy to create. This is the first piece of work in season 1 of the “Iconic AF” series. It sold to a collector here in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 2018 Millbrae Art and Wine festival. You can see snapshots of works in progress from this series on the instagram page

Without Wax

Chuba Oyolu Ph.D.

Check out the ETSY store!