Ron Wood Supports the African Wildlife Foundation

Ron Wood is known worldwide as a musician. A member of the Rolling Stones, Wood's guitar work has made him a rock icon. Ron is also an excellent visual artist, a career he attempted before joining bands such as the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces.

Wood is recognized for having strong control of his medium, never losing sense of spontaneity in his painting style. Though his career as a musician quickly overtook his early aspirations to become a professional painter, he has continued painting, drawing and printmaking for more than 35 years.

Wood has painted celebrities and fellow band members for years. To date, nearly $3 million dollars of his work has been sold. His most important and critically acclaimed pieces are the "Endangered Species" series. For many years, Wood has been an active advocate for the global conservation of wildlife. To help raise public awareness, Wood produced a series of "portraits" of highly endangered species, with a portion of sales from this series benefiting organizations committed to conserving various species.

Recently, AWF had an opportunity to meet with Wood, in New York and he generously donated a series of endangered species prints to the African Wildlife Foundation. These prints will be auctioned at AWF's upcoming fundraiser in New York City on May 8 at The Plaza Hotel. Says Wood, "If we all don't do more to help these animals, then pictures and paintings may be all we have left to remind us of these magnificent creatures."

Wood and his wife Jo, who have traveled many times to Kenya, are particularly drawn to the plight of the rhino. Wood has recently completed a series of rhino paintings. He said, "Rhinos are fantastic. They remind me of dinosaurs. They truly look like they are from another time. It is everyone's responsibility to do what we can to make sure these creatures remain wild for all our children, and their children's children to enjoy."