Kamar de los Reyes

Kamar de los Reyes

Kamar de los Reyes is an American actor known for his work in theater, TV, and films. I became a fan of his work on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live. He played the character Antonio Vega with passion and conviction. It was an exciting time as a soap opera viewer because the show started to hire actors of diversity. A combination of various skin tones, great actors, and exciting story plots, the show became hot! Yes, more or less of the storylines at times were stereotypical, but you have to start from somewhere. Besides soap operas in general are stereotypical! The difference was that they mixed the veteran workers with new blood actors and combine with over the top storylines with flava!

Anyway, Kamar de los Reyes portrayal as Antonio Vega added the letter d to the word, drama! The soap opera decided to add to the storyline a musical performance of Kamar and his family.  He grew up watching them, then eventually joining his Cuban born musician father in the percussion band. Kamar, his brothers and their father gave an electrifying and outstanding performance on this soap opera! No matter if he was acting or play a musical instrument, he performed with such passion as if he was on fire 🔥 

Kamar, was born in Puerto Rico of Cuban and Puerto Rican (Mother) descent, is not only multi-talented he is handsome as well. I decided to paint a portrait of him. I read in one of his interviews that he learned to play the trumpet at an early age. Mr. De los Reyes came from a musical family so in his portrait, the actor’s face is the foreground while an image of him as a boy playing his trumpet in the background.

The palette knife technique with acrylic paint was applied thought out the painting.

It’s amazing how watching the works of a talented individual can be inspiring to someone else. It can spark creativity. That’s what happened to me! I wanted to express my gratitude by creating this portrait and it was mailed to him.

Thank you, Mr. De los Reyes, for sharing your incredible talents with long time soap opera viewers.

My mom

My sister

And me!

11"x 14" Acrylics on board

The study of Dorothy Dandridge

Pen and Ink 5"x5"

The study of Dorothy Dandridge

This theater trained actor, was talented and had flawless beauty.

She broke barriers in the entertainment industry with the first African-American actor nomination for best actress  Academy Award for her performance in Carmen Jones.

Actor, singer, and dancer, she was a triple threat in the entertainment world. So I assumed her life equally fore filling. I assumed also while studying her that she had it all beauty brains and a charmed life. But I was wrong just because you're beautiful but doesn't mean life is just great. I wish it was for her because she seem to be a decent human being but she just ran into a lot of unfortunate circumstances. We all do, it's called life.

She was judge based on her beauty. Her flawless beauty grabbed more attention than her talents.

Just because you're flawless beauty it doesn't mean you're flawless of trials and tribulations. Her life tragically ended at the age of 42. Talent is talent, no matter what. And it is especially sad when a talent so young is gone.

The script writing behind her sketch are pieces from the article from Ebony magazine.

Study Of Chris Rock

Mixed Medium 5"x5"

Study of Chris Rock

Subject: Chris Rock, comedian, Actor, Writer, Producer, director and host of the 77th Academy Awards

Medium: Pen and Ink, photo of animal print.

Concept: I was drawn to the turtle neck and the leather jacket outfit of Chris. I thought it would be interesting to draw a mock cityscape in the background and add the animal print. The print extended to the foreground as the actor holds it like a stage curtain. “The world is his stage” was the first thing that came to my mind. 

The Study of Dylan McDermott

5"x5" Mixed Medium

Study of Dylan McDermott

Subject:  Actor Dylan McDermott. This handsome actor is best known for the television show, The Practice, and movies Steel Magnolias, Olympus Has Fallen (by one of my favorite directors, Antoine Fuqua!)

Medium: Pen and Ink, color pencil, pictures of sparkling bubbles

Concept: To create an unique background for the portrait of the actor. Also a bonus, play around with his eye color.

Study of Will Smith

Mixed medium 5" x 5"

BIG WILL .............

Famous rapper of, “Parents just don't to stand”, “Summertime”, “Will 2K”, “Getting Jiggy With It”.

Famous actor with hit tv show,” Fresh Prince of Bel Air”, Successful movie actor of blockbusters including, “Enemy of The State”, “Bad Boys”, and “Men in Black”.

Becoming comfortable with my quick sketches, I'm not concerned with a portrait style sketch, but just getting the essence of the actor Will Smith, especially with his well known ears.

A very quick sketch with the use of watercolor wash, marker, pen and ink.

Study of Joie Lee

Pencil 3"x 5"

Study of Joie Lee

Joie Lee is an actor and sister of the director, Spike Lee. She has appeared in several of his movies including, Do the Right Thing, Crooklyn, and Mo’ Better Blues.

Joie is quite similar to Spike in many ways. Spike challenges society’s view through his films. Joie challenges society’s view through her hair style. Why do you ask did i go towards hair instead of her film work?

Well, because Joie sported her natural hair at a time when the majority of black women wore their straight, especially for camera ready. At that time, various natural hair styles was becoming slowly popular. She stood out whether she meant to or not. Natural or straight? Joie sported the less common hair style, natural! I love various hair textures but I wanted to do a study of this actor’s beautiful hair texture.


It stood out…..different, bold. Joie’s hair texture help to create a unique and wonderful positive and negative space for the background. This was a fun portrait to sketch.

Study of Heavy D

Study of Heavy D

Heavy D is one of my favorite Rappers / Performers. When I use to work in Mt. Vernon , NY, his hometown, I was always hopeful that I would bump into him and said the following,

“I love your work, I appreciate your music. Thank you for being a rapper who’s not afraid to dance, plus I heard that you knew my cousin Mike!"

This picture of this multi talented Rapper is so cool, I decided to sketch him on the diagonal to make him “POP!”.



Just like his music.

Study of Halle Berry

Pencil 3"x5"

 Study of Halle Berry

The off the shoulder pose by Halle Berry.

 At first, I thought oh no! How will I draw her face with that shoulder in the way.

 I got over my slight panic and I worked with it. 

The (diagonal) tilt of her head created a cool play with positive & negative space.

Study of Clint Eastwood

Pencil 3"x5"

Study of Clint Eastwood 

Clint Eastwood has such an expressive face (animated) with the intense stare or glare and the high contrast of black and white was enough for me to start sketching. What I always admired about this actor is his determination to follow his own creative vision instead of trying measure up to everyone else. It paid off because,

 1. When he began in “Hollywood” in his twenties, he was rejected from roles because his Adams Apple was too big, he spoked slowly and his voice was too low.

 2. Early in his career, during breaks on the “set”, he studied the behind the science of production and direction. 

3. His “Spaghetti Westerns” were different from the typical Hollywood standard. 

4. He was one of the few actors who acted, produced and directed their movies.