Ballet spotlight

Ballet spotlight

OK guys, I'm starting to sound like a broken record. I enjoy all forms of dance.

I believe that dancers are the most underrated performers. They are true athletes. The stamina alone that it takes to perform is mind blowing. 

This ballerina, is poised and confident. The dancer is at the moment with all her passion comes through from her tippy toes to her fingertips. The spotlight shines above just as it falls towards the dancer's position.

Matisse acrylic paints were used for this task. What I enjoy the most about the paint, is the texture. It is smooth with each brush-stroke. It's also true to color. I painted with ease. It also gives the look of a pastel feel to the painting. 

Pastels are a passion of mine as well as dance and I feel like this paint gave the work justice.

Woman Praising

Acrylic on canvas 24" x 30"

Woman Praising

The woman praising is an isolated figure in an outdoor setting. Having a private praising moment. I wanted to create an uplifting, confident, and joyful image. It's not about putting a show on for other people. What I mean by that is sometimes praising becomes a production of, look at me world, look at me, I'm loud and I'm praising praising God, look at me!

Don't give me wrong, there's nothing wrong with shouting and screaming and jumping up-and-down the aisles. There are legit loud praises. Some people have really intense testimonies, it is justifiable to praise loudly. The other side of that are the performers, the ones who are attention seekers. But there are moments where you have quiet praises. Yes, I grant you that there are people who are dead in spirit and a powerful sermon may go over their heads. But just because someone is sitting quietly it doesn't mean they're not having their special moment with God. When you think of how God has brought you through so many things, it's OK to have different responses. Sometimes, you need a quiet time, of solitude when praising God.

Holy

Acrylic on canvas board 18" x 24"

Holy

The painting was made with the intention of showing a majestic figure, slightly transparent, levitating while in the praying hands position. The figure is wearing a choir robe in the color red.

The significance of the color red in the bible are blood of Jesus, love of God, and salvation.

The image, in the painting, represents devotion to the service of God. To be kind and helpful to others. To love everyone like God loves everyone. Slow to take offense.

This painting means so much to me because I realize that we are in this together. Everyone has to help one another. I try every day to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. To be helpful, to be kind, show empathy, and slow to take offense. It is not easy to do. I have to remind myself  this lesson just about every day because," some people will try you"!

Meek is not weak, meek is STRONG!!

We praise your Holy Name

Acrylic on canvas 24"x 30"

We praise your Holy Name

This was a special project because I had a vision of people singing and shouting their praises to God. Everyone's hand was up in unison. This is one of the few ideas that thumbnail sketches weren't necessary. The vision was so clear that I immediately sketch it onto the canvas!

It takes place outdoors. The praisers are standing on grass. There is a vast blue sky. The sunshine is shining bright across the sky. 

The painting was reproduced on programs for a Mount Hermon Baptist Church conference workshop called “Back to Basics”.

Praise dancer in yellow

Acrylic on canvas board 18"x 24"

Praise dancer in yellow

Keeping the theme of praise dancing. Praise dancers not only show/express their passion for God, but they also minister to others through dance.

This dancer is expressing the joy that is already in her heart towards God.  She is performing a celebratory dance in a vibrant yellow dress.

Yellow in the Bible represents - Faith and Glory of God, anointing, and Joy.

Stand With Me

Acrylic on canvas board 18"x24"

Formerly called,“ Prayer”

Stand with Me

This painting was inspired based on a women's retreat which my mom and I attended with our church. It was a wonderful and enlightening experience. It was a spiritual retreat where everyone contributed to mini workshops and shared their experiences and their relationship with God. There were a lot of praise and worship during this trip, especially on the bus ride back to church. We got it back just in time for Sunday services. All the women stood up in church and did a praise dance to the song called “ I pray for you, you pray for me”! It was led by a very spiritual church member who started the praise dance ministry at Mount Hermon Baptist Church, Sis. Viola Christian.

The artwork was sold to a church member.

Praise Dancer

Acrylic on canvas board 16" x 20"

OK, back to the subject of dance again!

If you have not known by now, I love many forms of dance, especially praise dance.

Praise dance is a very spiritual form of motion.

This kind of dance is an outward, expressive praise and worship to God. 

There are dances of rejoicing, dances of praise, and dances of celebration; all in keeping with the topic of praise dance. 

Whenever I watch a praise dance, especially when the praise is authentic and from the heart, it fills my spirit with joy! 

This painting was sold to a church member.

Divas

Acrylic on board 18"x24"

Divas

The word diva is interesting. It's mostly used as a negative term for women. Someone who is full of themselves. Arrogant and conceded female who is bossy. If male, they would say he sure is confident and knowledgeable.

Divas, in my opinion, are women who are self-reliance, confident and competent. These women do not apologize for what they know. They have a strong work ethic and they're not afraid to ask for anything!

The Late Pastor Wenzell P Jackson loved this painting  and when he found out the title he asked me, “Are you a diva? My reply was yup, and I'm working on it!

The creation of this painting was influenced by the Supremes the legendary Motown group.

This painting was sold to a customer in Japan.

The Dance

Acrylic on canvas board 20"x30"

The Dance

Dancing is so much fun. I use to dance all the time. As a matter of fact, people were shocked to find out that I could dance because I am a quiet person. There's nothing like getting lost in the rhythm of the music. It's so liberating and free. Particularly when you're a kindergartener choreographing routines with your imaginary back up dancers for your imaginary audience to the songs, "Lost in music" by Sister Sledge 🎼 and "Dancin' the night away" by Voggue. It's great to see a large amount of people on the Dance floor showing off the latest moves. There is something special about couples who dance. Their energies are connected They bond through constant movement of spin and turns. The communication of dance can express happiness, sorrow, joy, or pain. I wanted to capture the movements of each couple. It's interesting that some people can't see right away that there are people dancing in this painting. 

This painting was sold to a client in Harlem.

🎼 The song, "Lost in music was produced by the extraordinary Nile Rogers of Chic. He was mentioned in blog entry January 2016.

Conversations

Acrylic on paper 18"x25"

 Conversations

This is my first painting that I created in the series. I wanted to present a group of people in casual conversation. When it comes to communication, I naturally work best in one on one conversations as stated earlier.

I find large group conversations really fascinating.

Figurative Abstract Art

Figurative Abstract Art

Abstract painting has always been an interest for me. I started to experiment with this painting style several years ago. I used to doodle on notepads anything that can get my hands on, I started making these little figures. You can view some of the samples of it in the piece from January post “ My journey with David Bowie”. The figures have involved over time. It was time to make a painting. It was a free-form, expression of painting. This is when I actually let go and lose control of the brush strokes. Sometimes I will paint along with  the music. Other times I would paint in silence. Either way, I let the paintbrush in my heart call the shots. When it was time to enter different competitions, they were constantly asking what category. I never knew what to call this form of art. After some research, I decided to label it “Figurative Abstract Art”.

Figurative: art that show figures, (human or animal form), in a painting or sculpture.

Abstract: art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

My Journey With David Bowie

8"x10" Pen and Ink

My Journey With David Bowie

I am truly lost for words. I am profoundly saddened by the lost of Mr. David Bowie.

I was introduced to David Bowie, in pop culture, while following his music video called “Let’s Dance”. This song has a great beat to it. An infectious rhythm to dance a simple “two step” along with. And that's what I did when the girl in the video found a pair of red shoes and started dancing, in her two-step I join too, and I swayed back-and-forth as to smooth voice of David Bowie as he sang “put on your red shoes and dance the blues”. I interpret that  as dance away your blues, so that's what I did! Years later I found out that the song was produced by the legendary Chic front man, Nile Rodgers. Mr. Bowie had great production taste!

He seemed to be an odd looking man, but yet striking at the same time. His appearance seems to be washed out, with the pale skin, white blonde hair and yet he had one I darker than the other (from a childhood accident). How strange, I thought. Yet, his wardrobe was highly tailored and bright in color. Since then, I loved more songs, including Modern love, Blue Jean, China girl, I’m afraid of Americans, Jump, Fashion, Changes, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel Rebel.

Something about him was different, but I couldn't place my finger on it at the time. Until I found out he was a Capricorn. Immediately it made so much sense to me. Ha ha! He was a very creative individual who thought outside the box.

For entertainment purposes only, he became my Capricorn brother.

I found out other bits and pieces about him such as, the late Luther Vandross (The ultimate smooth singer!) started off his career as David Bowie’s back up singer. Mr. Bowie also became vocal back in the day when MTV was  new, and he addresses the issue of the lack of or no black musicians were showcasing their music video especially the late Michael Jackson (The King of Pop!). After calling out the industry, the music video channels had Michael Jackson on heavy rotation. He has a keen eye for talent.

Anyway, when I found out that he was going to celebrate his 50th birthday by having a concert at Madison Square Garden, I wanted to celebrate my birthday at his concert but I never had the opportunity.

Mr. Bowie was truly an avant-garde artist.