Daddy's Little Girl

Acrylics on canvas board 11” x 14”

Daddy's little girl

Acrylics on canvas board 11” x 14”

Many years ago, my family found this photograph of my stepfather and his daughter. We thought it would be a great surprise to have the photo restored and to present it as a gift to her. I was so excited about this idea that I told her one day I have a surprise for you. My original idea was to try different photo restoration places, but it was either too expensive or they couldn’t piece the photo together because of the damage. It was equally expensive to attempt to do it on my own computer, so I kept the picture protected over the years. 

One day the thought hit me, try your own photo restoration through painting. It wouldn’t be the first time I thought. I did a painting a few years back of me surrounded by my cousins and my grandfather from a damaged photo. This project was a fun, but a tedious challenge!

The baby photo was so damaged that I had to re-create the structure of her face. I see why the photo restoration places didn’t want to deal with it. The lessons from anatomy class finally paid off! 

It was a wonderful picture of a celebration of Angie’s first birthday. Because it was a strong flash was used, most of the details disappeared. I was curious about what was on top of the cake. Using a magnifying glass I discovered that it was ballerina figurines dancing around. This was really precious and important to capture.

The portrait titled, “Daddy‘s little girl”, was presented at Grandpuba’s (my step father’s nickname) 70th birthday celebration. They were both surprised. It’s sparked memories  of a wonderful time and started a conversation about her first birthday celebration. The look of joy on their faces was priceless.

Portraits like this one, are special and unique. You’re basically getting a damaged photo, and restoring its original image into a painting. Memories are treasured through photos. I’m hoping that memories can be treasured through paintings. I can’t express how significant and valuable milestone memories are. But if it could be saved to a painting, that would be great.

The Flower Girl

16" x 20" acrylics on canvas board

The Flower Girl

Hi, my name is Jolly. And I am three years old. And I am a big girl. Everyone tells me that I’m a big girl now so I can do more things. I am smart and a good listener. They picked me as the flower girl!  Now I get to travel with the adults everywhere. I have a white and fluffy dress. I have pretty white shiny shoes, My heels make a click clack click clack sound when I walk, I like that! I have pretty earrings. And I have pretty hair, my mommy did it.

They trust me with the flowers. My job is to carry them for a long time and also walk in a straight line. I do that all the time in school. I’m a big girl now I did a great job. Everyone told me so. I knew I would. I walked carefully and tossed the petals gently to the sides. No throw! I tossed. 

I am special

I am smart

I am a big girl

I am, the flower girl🌸

Trisha

16” x 20” acrylic on canvas board

Trisha

This is a portrait of a church member. A few years ago, the women of the church attended a women’s retreat. It was a couple of days of relaxation, praise, worship, and testimony. Several members gave their testimony about how God has helped them in their lives. When Trisha spoke of her testimony of her trials and tribulations and how God has brought her through, there was a sense of release. A couple days after the experience at the retreat. I noticed there was a change in her. She seemed to glow. As if the weight of the world has lifted from her shoulders. I wanted to capture that essence that I noticed after the retreat. She expressed to me that she wanted something that can be passed down from generation to generation. She wanted a portrait of herself to have as a family heirloom. 

Rafaela and Heriberto

11“ x 14“ acrylic on canvas board

Rafaela and Heriberto

A friend of mine asked me to paint a portrait of her mother and uncle. When she text me the picture, I asked her what year was this portrait painted. She seemed shocked that I knew  that it wasn’t a faded photo. 

She replied that it was sometime in the 1960s. It has been their first image together since their arrival to America from Santo Domingo. I also noticed a significant age difference between them. 

She seemed to be a serious yet a hip teenager aware of the latest trends, while her brother looks dissatisfied to be taking the picture. He has this typical adolescent, “I don’t want to sit here” look on his face. Which is very funny and I wanted to capture it in this portrait.

I don’t know much about them. But I can just imagine the stories they might have had. Can you imagine being a young yet serious teen girl or an elementary school age, rambunctious boy (don’t ask, I just see in his eyes....... HA! ). Moving from the Dominican Republic, called home for most of your short life to the United States of America, a new home and adjusting to a whole new culture, language, and environment. I am certain that their stories contain happy as well as painful memories.........

This project was very important to me because there’s a strong sense of family history in this image. I wanted to capture their essence, their strong sibling bond, hopefully to start or continue a conversation that usually goes from one generation to the next. This is why portraits, in general, are important. It's the connection from one generation to the next. It’s a start of a good dialogue. Portraits can also be a wonderful gift for the family. When the portrait was completed, my client/friend, loved it! I just hope her family enjoyed it as well.

* I would often stand in someone else shoes to gain an understanding of their perspective, regardless of their different race, culture, or religion.

We are living in a divisive climate now, which is filled with racially charged rhetoric! If we connect as humans, we will find out that we are more alike than different. Go figure! 

Portraits for all

Collage portraits

Portraits of all

especially :a pictorial representation of a person usually showing the face

I am not certain when my interest in portrait studies officially began. But I will say this, the earliest example of a head portrait, was in the eighth grade. Art class was offered to some of the students during our senior year. Most of the kids didn't like our class, therefore, treated Art class, like our lunch break. Most of them were disrespectful towards the teacher. They will sit and talk and groups disregarding what he was trying to teach for that period. I wish I could remember what he said exactly that triggered my interests. Perhaps it was the whole process of art. The idea that you can take something from your mind, and produce into a drawing, was mine blowing to me. And secretly this was something I have tried to do since the age of five. Also, this art teacher introduced the process of taking what you see in front of you and translated to paper. This sparked my interest even more. And I couldn't wait to get started.

It's funny, the same children that were disrespectful to him during his lessons, suddenly realize they needed to pass the quizzes to get a good grade. There's nothing worse than answering to your parents why you failed art, so sad so sad! Anyway, these kids realized I knew what I was doing because I actually paid attention to what he said. The same kids that wouldn't give me the time a day began to surround my table asking me for favors, wink wink. Oh yo! Can you draw that for me? This was my opportunity. I could say yes and be accepted by the cool kids. If anyone knows me, you can image my response was? Nope, I said. As they said f*** you Fatso! As they left my table, I responded back at them f*** You Idiots as my portrait was selected to be displayed for first place prize in the art exhibit. Before I graduated from high school, I received certificates for the Dean's list as well as certificates of achievement from art. Thanks to this art teacher that recognized my potential, and ever since, portraits have been my passion! 

Roberto Clemente high school in the South Bronx. Mr. S. Berkowitz, 

thank you 😃

Never underestimate the underdog!

Creativity Takes Courage

Electronic Art

Sketches of Family Members 2

Sketches of Family Members 2

Sketches of family 1

Original sketch 5" x 7"

Sketches of family

Psalm100 on Mt Hermon Baptist Church

24" x 30" Mixed Medium

Psalm100 on Mt Hermon Baptist Church 

There were several reasons why I decided to join MHBC. One of the primary reasons was that I wanted the same contentment as my mom had since joining. She seemed different once she joined the church. Things didn't seem to bother her as much as it used to. I couldn't have the same thing that she had, because every person experiences are different. But what I realize was that I needed to develop a personal relationship with God. That's what was missing from my life. I needed a closer relationship with God.

I wanted the tools that were necessary to help understand God's words.

It was wonderful going to church services, attending Sunday school and weekday Bible study. I looked forward to every Sunday, surrounded by problems at work, problems with every day people. It was refreshing to enter the doors of the church with smiling faces and warm greetings. And I greeted them warmly as well. One of the church leaders approach me one Sunday and asked me, "Why are you always smiling?"
 I didn't even realize that was the case. I told her to be honest, after dealing with nonsense during the week, it was refreshing to enter the Lord’s house in praise and thanksgiving.

This person gave me an odd look, then nodded her head in agreement and started to laugh, she said," Well you're right about that! " 

Bishop Wenzell P. Jackson did a sermon one day based on psalm 100. And how he noticed a lot of grim faces entering the church.

I connected to the sermon immediately.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying, everyone has good days and bad days. But sometimes, ummmm, we can carry negative energy, specially if it's someone else's. We end up carry that negative energy with us everywhere and don't even know why. And it can fester inside us. But if we take the time and think of the wonderful things in our life, for example, "I woke up this morning", "I have my right frame of mind", "I can walk without anyone's help".

Some people emotionally want to attend church services, but physically not able to or verse versa. So I don't have much to complain about.

And this sermon helps me to understand why I smile sometimes while entering the church doors.

I am basically a negative person so I have to work really hard to see the glass half full at all times. So I was inspired based on the sermon, and the psalm 100 to complete this painting of my church.

The psalms 100 were painted repeatedly from the top to the bottom of the building, giving the illusion by way of bricks but up close you can read Psalms 100.

Psalm 100 King James Version (KJV)

100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Last Supper

24" x 36" Acrylics on canvas

The Last Supper

I mentioned some time ago on this blog that I enjoyed certain challenges. What in the world was I thinking when I decided to do a remake of the last supper. Presently on display at Mount Hermon Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

The size was a challenge because I don't think I have a work this large of my life. It was amusing watching my niece’s reaction. She would watch me as I would place together the sketches. Deciding on the placement of each of the characters was challenge because I was afraid to make mistakes. I decided to push fear out by the way! You can't hold on to fear. That's not what Art is about! 
The research was another task to overcome. I love Leonardo DA Vinci's Version of the Last Supper, but I simply wanted to tackle it and use a more humble/rustic scene. I remember asking The late Bishop Jackson for guidance, even with art history knowledge, I wanted to do it right. I asked him about how it was back in the time, his answer was always been how is in the Bible. I took the as a cue as read your Bible, girl!……. LOL. I understood his response because everyone has their interpretation of the environment during the Last Supper with Jesus and his disciples. It was important for me to read and study the Bible. It was up to me to do complete research to illustrate my interpretation of the last supper so I thought...... My little helper, my niece, Jocelyn, really came through. This young lady has the combination of Sunday school knowledge since the age of four. Also, she has been in Catholic school since the first grade. She is extraordinary.

One thing that Leonardo DA Vinci had that I didn't was obviously, a commission to create a mural as a church restoration by his Paton, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan Italy. I kid you not, I really study years of art history from high school and throughout college. I am surprised that I remembered anything from the classes. 

The materials and supplies came out of my pocket. This was a passion project and I wanted to see it through. I want to see it completed.

The Bishop Jackson was so amazed about the completed painting, he wanted to discuss with the church for possible purchases……

Father and son in Praise

18" x 24" Acrylic on canvas board

Father and son in Praise

The inspiration for this painting was to celebrate the extraordinary bond between a father and his son. The bond is usually, if you're fortunate, filled with kindness, support, and compassion. Perhaps these are the main factors needed to teach a boy to become a man, a strong man. This fascinating relationship, becomes even stronger when the father teaches his son how to develop a strong relationship with God through praising.

My plans for a future painting is flip the script and explore the relationship between father and daughter and mother and son.

When will I find the time? I don't know! But because It's in my heart, it might be sooner than I think.

Mother and daughter in prayer

Mother and daughter in prayer 

 The inspiration for this painting was to celebrate the strong bond between a mother and daughter. The bond is usually, if you're fortunate, is very supportive, nurturing, resilient, and unconditional. With all those factors in the mix, this amazing relationship, becomes even stronger when the mother teaches her daughter how to develop a strong relationship with God through prayer.

......... I have seen some daughters have mothers who were not physically or emotionally available for various reasons, rise above their circumstances and determined to be the moms they never had.