West Africa 2000-2011: Drawings and Paintings by Dave Kobrenski

Les Batteurs I

2011, 20x27” watercolor on Arches cold press paper. 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. View details

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Le Maitre à Sangbarala

2006. 19x30” watercolor on Arches cold press paper. 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. View details

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Kpanlogo

2001. 18x24” watercolor on board. 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. View details

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Numun Foli

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. View details

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Nungua Fishing Village

2002. 18x24” watercolor on Arches cold press paper. 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. View details

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Sangbarala Village Huts

2010. Watercolor on Arches paper. 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. View details

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