Artwork celebrating cultural diversity, inspired by travels to Guinea, West Africa to live among the Malinké people.

The Book: Djoliba Crossing -

The Book: Djoliba Crossing

Journeys into West African Music and Culture

Les Batteurs I (the drummers): watercolor painting - Illustration for the book Djoliba Crossing: Journeys into West African Music and Culture. “Les Batteurs” (the drummers) depicts musicians from the Kouroussa region of Guinea, West Africa, in a village near the Niger River.

Les Batteurs I (the drummers): watercolor painting

20x27 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

$3,995

prints from $90

Famoudou Konaté: Le maitre à Sangbarala - Le Maitre à Sangbarala is a portrait of world-renowned djembe player, Famoudou Konaté, with whom I studied music for many years — he has become a mentor for me over the years. The painting depicts a festival taking place in his home village in the Kouroussa region where we would often visit. Famoudou and I have remained friends and I visited with him on my 2014 and 2016 trips.

Famoudou Konaté: Le maitre à Sangbarala

19x30 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

$4,495

prints from $95

Kpanlogo - Kpanlogo is the name of a popular dance and rhythm from Ghana, West Africa, as well as the name of the drums being played in the foreground. I visited Ghana for 3 months in 2001 and painted this upon my return. Even though this painting is 15 years old, I still love the movement and energy of this work — one of my favs.

Kpanlogo

18x24 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

$2,995

prints from $90

Numun Foli: blacksmith painting - 2010. 18x24” watercolor. Illustration for the book Djoliba Crossing. Numun is the Malinké word for blacksmith, and this painting depicts a festival that took place to celebrate the important work that the blacksmiths do in the village. This man was a charismatic and well-liked member of the community. Sadly, he passed away before I could show him the painting. I gave his family many gifts upon my return to his village in 2016.

Numun Foli: blacksmith painting

18x24 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

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prints from $90

Nungua Fishing Village: watercolor painting - Nungua is a village located on the coast of Ghana, not far from the capital city Accra. I visited there in 2001 to study music. Each morning, I would walk past the place where the fishermen would set out with their large wooden boats into the often rough sea, and haul in their catch in wide nets.

Nungua Fishing Village: watercolor painting

24x18 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

$2,995

prints from $90

Sangbarala Village Huts - Illustration for the book Djoliba Crossing: Journeys into West African Music and Culture, depicting the style of houses common throughout much of West Africa. Simple though they may seem, these houses are remarkably efficient and ingenious structures — they simultaneously keep the driving rain out while venting the smoke from the fires that can be built inside.

Sangbarala Village Huts

16x12 watercolor and pencil on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper

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prints from $90

Djoliba Crossing: “Conakry, Guinea Map” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Conakry, Guinea Map”

16x24” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Ancient Mali Empire Map” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Ancient Mali Empire Map”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “République de Guinée Map” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “République de Guinée Map”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Hamana Region Guinée Map” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Hamana Region Guinée Map”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Pirogue” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Pirogue”

16x24” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Village Roundhuts” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Village Roundhuts”

16x24” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Sekou playing djembe” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Sekou playing djembe”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “La grand mère” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “La grand mère”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “a village elder” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “a village elder”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Fromagier tree and houses” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Fromagier tree and houses”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Hamana / Dununba” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Hamana / Dununba”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Dreams of Lions” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Dreams of Lions”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Bolon player” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Bolon player”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Le Sangbanfola” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Le Sangbanfola”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Kondèn Mask” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Kondèn Mask”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Dununba I” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Dununba I”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Dununba II” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Dununba II”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Numun (blacksmith)” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Numun (blacksmith)”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Donso (hunter)” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Donso (hunter)”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Mamaya” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Mamaya”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Bala Kulandyan” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Bala Kulandyan”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Dyènè” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Dyènè”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Djaa” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Djaa”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Mendiani” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Mendiani”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Soliwulen” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Soliwulen”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

Djoliba Crossing: “Kòmò” - Artwork from the book Djoliba Crossing by Dave Kobrenski.

Djoliba Crossing: “Kòmò”

12x15” mixed media drawing and collage.

prints from $50

New! Monthly Fine Art Print Giveaway

Every month for the coming year, I’ll give away a fine art giclée print to one lucky subscriber. Winners can choose a print from any of my art. Learn more.

Enter to Win a Print!

No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Giveaway begins in August 2021. Winners will be chosen at random at the beginning of each month, and will be notified by email. Free shipping. Contact Dave with any questions. You could be the next winner!