INFLUENCER

Neal Barbosa

livepainter | 57.5k Reach

Music

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LIVE PAINTER NEAL BARBOSA
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Bio

All art painted during live music
Web: livepainter.com hey welcome
Neal Barbosa has shared the stage with the likes of Warren Haynes, the New Orleans Social Club and Sol Horizon. But, the Novato resident isn’t a musician. He’s a painter.

The stage is Barbosa’s studio. He creates artwork during shows, with a paintbrush in each hand.

A painter since he was about 9 years old, he’s had a 15-year career as a live painter, painting at venues from Finland to the Bay Area’s Exploratorium and Paramount Theatre.

You can see him in action alongside Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs!, Moonalice and Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Italian Street Painting Marin on June 23 and 24 in downtown San Rafael
Q What got you into live painting?

A I loved music and my hippie uncle used to take me to all kinds of music in Sonoma County and anywhere around here. I used to hang out with my friends, listening to their bands. I didn’t play an instrument at the time and I wasn’t good enough to be in a band, so I came up with the idea of live painting. Me and my friend got the first gig in Petaluma. It was me, a drummer and a bass player, and that went over well. … I didn’t start doing live paintings until I was in my late 30s.

Q What’s a performance of yours like?

A I just try to listen to the music, have a good time and I channel what they are doing. Sometimes, I’m listening to the guitar. Sometimes I’m listening to the drums. You’re feeling the energy of the band and the energy of the audience. It’s motivating and inspiring.

Q What are some things you like to paint?
A I like guitars, so I do portraits of guitars. I like to take the guitar after it’s about halfway completed, and jam with the musician in the middle of their guitar solo so I look like I’m playing with them.

Q How many paintings do you typically make during a show?

A It depends on the music, the flow. One time I was on stage with Fishbone and I did 24 paintings in a 45-minute set because they are high-energy. I was just doing abstracts, and they come out looking pretty wild with all these colors and brushstrokes every which way. Each brushstroke is pretty much inspired by the music in the moment as it’s happening.

Q Who would you love to collaborate with?

A Santana, Journey, Lady Gaga and Sammy Hagar. I just love all kinds of music. I remember going through my uncle’s albums. He had like 300 albums in his collection, and I would just listen to all of his stuff.

Q What are some memorable shows?

A I found myself on stage with Shiny Toy Guns. They put me on a drum riser and put their drummer up front. I had two easels. I was painting with a plunger. It was crazy. I painted on stage with Pepper, which was my first 2,000 crowd. I’m on stage with Pepper and the lead guitarist comes over and he’s painting on me, while singing and playing guitar.
But most of all i found myself promoting my shows and my art, i love promoting on ig just gime a reason!!