Pride

14" x 14"

• Self acceptance
• Self-respect
• Integrity

The painting was created to celebrate the pride of being a woman of African descent.  Yes, people of African descent skin complexion varies from rosy peach to deep chocolate. The hair textures varies from bone straight to tight coils. All forms are absolutely beautiful. The spotlight for now, is the beauty of dark skin and the Afro. This has been a underrated example of beauty.

The painting was created to be displayed at the Apollo Theater Foundation Exhibition. Several references, later this image was created. I wanted to have a model head up in a profile to show strength and pride in beauty of her hair and physical features. The afrocentric scarf wrapped around her head as a headband to create a contrast next to her smooth complexion.

The painting, “Pride” illustrates a feeling of happiness that comes from achieving self acceptance there is a sense of pride in her face from high self-esteem. She loves and except herself therefore she's able to love others and except others.

This pride represents the boldness of truly being yourself!

Study of Hair Texture

Pen and Ink 5"x5"

Study of Hair Texture

I came across of this reference of a model wearing her curly and thick hair texture. This is a fun texture to render in pen and ink. Curls tightly roping around each other creating amazing coils. 

I believe that women, especially of African ancestry, have a reason to celebrate the various hair textures, because it’s unique and beautiful. Now we see different examples of curly hair glamorized in magazines of all women.

Also, there are products catered to textured hair. 

Hurray!

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.