Belgian artist Peter Engels will mark the birthday of living jazz legend Toots Thielemans with the largest and most impressive portrait of 'Mister Harmonica' to date. Toots, whom Engels has met several times, will turn 86 on April 29.


The canvas, which measures almost 200x100 cm (75 x 40 inches), shows Toots deep in concentration as he plays his harmonica, eyes closed, totally focused.


Peter Engels creates his 'Vintage Portraits' with a knife in a unique style very much his own, using sepia colours to produce breath-taking close-ups of well-known characters. Although he has painted Toots Thielemans several times, he has never painted him on such a large a canvas


Peter Engels: "Toots Thielemans has a warm and friendly personality. He is young-at-heart despite his respectable age. Time may have engraved his characteristic face, but his eyes still twinkle. When he plays the harmonica he is so intensely focused. That is the image I wanted to paint. One has to hear his 'Bleusette' only from looking at the painting."


Peter Engels has been a painter for more than 30 years, during which he has perfected the art of portrait painting. His paintings decorate houses and offices all over the world. His wish is to exhibit his work in leading galleries and museums and to visit the world's largest art fairs.


Peter Engels' uniqueness is highlighted in the way he frames the subjects on canvas - an act of revolutionary creativity. His sepia colorite, his extraordinary style and his particular brand of painting with a knife are his unique signature. Engels goes beyond merely painting Toots Thielemans' physical features; he captures his inner soul.


Just like this impressive canvas of Toots, Engels' work has a rare quality and style, as well as a contemporary artistic, mature look. The art of portrait painting literally receives a new face in Peter Engels' work. This recent Toots portrait is certainly one of his best.