I was recently commissioned to pay tribute to the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll, Tina Turner. Turner began her career with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm in 1957 where she was part of such great works as “River Deep – Mountain High,” “Proud Mary” and “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine.” In 1976, the band disbanded,… Read more »
Posts By: Heidi Fendos
2006 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Ed King
I received an exciting commission this past fall from the widow of 2006 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ed King, former guitarist and founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock, co-writer and guitarist on the number one hit “Incense and Peppermints” and Southern Rock stalwart Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ed, who passed away in 2018, helped… Read more »
Billy Joel – The Piano Man
Billy Joel was commissioned along with Freddy Mercury as a set for a music suite. While having near complete freedom for both pieces, this one needed to have the lyrics to The Piano Man displayed in a prominent place. Billy was born in 1949 in the Bronx, NY. At age 15, he played his first… Read more »
Freddie Mercury of Queen
I was also commissioned in 2021 to create Freddie Mercury, the highly theatrical front man of Queen. And, I have to say he was great fun to create. I decided to pay tribute to him from his famous Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985, which most consider to be his greatest performance. Mercury… Read more »
Throttle Back Sparky Custom Order
Most people have probably not heard of the band Throttle Back Sparky but I was contacted last fall by Allen Lulu, one of the band members , who asked me to help him pay tribute to the band. Throttle Back Sparky was an American rock band that played in and around Los Angeles in 2000…. Read more »
Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music. He was born in 1770 although the exact date was not recorded. At he age of 10, he withdrew from school to study music full time and by the age of 12 he published his first musical compositions. His… Read more »
Painting a Pop Art Icon…Andy Warhol
I love getting commissions. This one had me excited. It’s not everyday you you get challenged to paint one of the most-renowned American pop artists of our time… Andy Warhol. While the client wanted him in black, I also realized this piece needed color. Warhol, who was born in Pittsburgh on August 6 1928, began… Read more »
Honored Guests Are Coming To Dinner
I was recently contacted by a retired journalist from Ohio who had a desire to have a dining room table occupied by four noteworthy African American women. I welcomed this challenge and was honored to complete it. If only these guests could talk…what a story they would have to tell. The chairs included: Sojourner Truth,… Read more »
Cheers to This Bar Stool Special Request
I recently had a potential customer reach out to me telling me that he loved my chairs and asking me if I would paint him some special bar stools. I said sure and asked him to send me the chairs. When they arrived I was shocked at how large and heavy they were. They were… Read more »
Looking to Host a Painting Party? Let’s Talk!
I had a pretty rough childhood. I grew up in poverty with a very difficult dad. So I often found myself trying to escape from the stress of daily life by pulling out my paints and painting my little army figurines with toothpicks. Fast forward to my young adult years, and as I was trying… Read more »
