178th Street @ Crotona Parkway

18"x24" charcoal on Illustration board

It was a warm sunny day in The Bronx. A casual visit to my paternal grandmother’s house, “Grandma Red”. 

“Grandpuba”, her son would always park directly in front of her building or as near to her building as possible. We entered the lobby, walked up one flight and knocked on her apartment door. When there was no answer, we realize she must be at the park across the street, of course, on a nice day like this! Once we cross the street to Crotona Park, we spotted her immediately. She was hard to miss, wearing a pink stretch jersey summer dress and her fiery red hair was almost the same tint as the cranberry juice that she was sharing with a friend on the park bench.

Everyone in the neighborhood called her “Red” because of her fair complexion. I asked her if I could call her “Grandma Red” when I was a little girl because I thought that it was cool that she was a natural redhead. She was a gregarious soul who could talk to anyone. Small talk, chit chat, or deep conversations it didn’t matter. Good conversations, particularly outside, was a bonus! While she had a diverse group of friends, a few of them looked like misfits or bums. Never judge a book by its cover! Those are ones that always had her “back” on Crotona Avenue. She always was able to carry herself strong. She was always one of “the boys”. No one messed with her.

The Wiggins

The Wiggins  

18” x 24” acrylics on canvas

These are my maternal grandparents, Norman and Harriet. Together they had 13 children, 1000 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, too many to count.

I was about four years old when I met them at my mom’s childhood home at “Johnnie’s Farm”. They were kind, wonderful and loving. I found out from an early age why everyone was crazy about them. They were always welcoming, warm and friendly. As far as they were concerned, their home was your home.

I visited my grandparents again when I was six years old. They moved to a new home with an indoor toilet, I was excited! Yes, the first house had a outhouse! 

Their house was always loud with the sounds of conversations, laughter and music. 

The bonus was the house was filled with the scent of “Down home southern cooking!”

I loved to visit my grandparents.

My grandfather passed away when I was about eight years old. What I love the most about my grandfather, was no matter how many grandchildren were running around in the house, he always took the time out to talk to me and he understood my quiet ways.

My grandmother lived to to the age of 94. She passed away about three years ago. What I loved about her was she too understood my quiet ways. I enjoyed our conversations over the years. The things that she would say would make me laugh so hard. She had a very good sense of humor. You need a sense of humor when raising a house full of children!

This portrait I wanted to make for years, but just never got around to it. A few months before my grandmother passed away, I have this urge to create this portrait of my grandparents. It’s a nice picture of my grandparents, but a terrible reference for painting. The photo is a little blurry. I knew I wanted to use the photo they took together  when I was about six years old. I also wanted to incorporate the house into the painting and the North Carolina landscape. The road trips to my grandparents house was always epic for me because I knew we were getting closer to the house as we made that turn around the curve of the road and you can certainly see the house from a distance. That’s when I knew I was on my way home!

They represent, family.😃

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

Grandpa's Visit to NY

Acrylics on paper 14"x17"

Grandpa’s visit to New York

One of my early works of art.

The first photo restoration project transformed into a painting. Who would’ve thought years later, I will provide this as one of my art services!

This is a portrait of my family members. Mainly my cousins and my grandfather. It was his first trip to New York City. I recall him saying I love my family, but I can’t stand New York! As a country boy born and reared in North Carolina, perhaps the city life was too much for him. I can understand why. I guess it was such a great difference between the concrete jungle and people cramped up in tall brick boxes verses the flat and open fields of seasonal crops, grass, trees and mostly one level homes in North Carolina. It also didn’t help that it was a time of multiple blackouts, burned tenements. (Arsons cause by landlords for insurance gains). I don’t mean to sound matter of fact, but this was how it was in the first years of my life. Fires! Blackouts! Fires! Blackouts!

Anyway, this portrait was based on a damage photo that I discovered in my grandmother’s house many years ago. I asked for her permission if I could take it with me back to New York and have it fixed.

 I was frustrated with the different reactions from various photo places in Manhattan. Didn’t want to touch it it was beyond damage. It was one of those old Polaroid photos of the cardboard mount. Then I decided to create a painting as part of the photo restoration.

This was a challenging assignment. I began with small sketches of my uncle and my cousin who is in which was extremely damaged to re-create construct their faces.

When the painting was finished, I gave the painting to my grandmother as a gift.

My grandfather in the middle surrounded by Uncle Norman “Barney”, cousins Kents, Norman, Kenneth “Keith”, Jeffery and the youngest child with a big smile is me!

I would love to re-create this restoration portrait when I have time. 

My skills have changed over the years and I’m curious to see how “we” will come out!

Stay tuned folks.........

Girl

Acrylics on canvas panel 11"x14"

Girl

This is a portrait of my aunt’s first granddaughter. I met her for the first time during one of our many family gatherings at my other aunt’s house. for years, I photographed most of the family gatherings and I enjoyed it. It also helped me as extremely shy person to “brake the ice”!  

She was probably no older than five years old. She was as cute as can be. She seemed to enjoyed her family surroundings as she ran and play with the other children in the backyard. I remember she had a heartwarming smile and I thought wow this would be a great painting. I wanted show the innocence of youth.

In other words, I loved her attitude and it is rare to find a five-year-old that is not jaded……… like a unicorn sighting!

It’s rare!

She was sweet and a kind little girl.

The Delaney Sisters

Acrylics on board 15"x17" 

Delany sisters

I read a book called Having Our Say: The Delany sisters’ First 100 years. The author are Sarah Louise and Annie Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth.

It’s a richly detailed story about their lives through their words when they were the ages 101 and the other 103 respectively. These extraordinary sisters have heartfelt stories about growing up in the south. They speak with such conviction and lucid detail, these extraordinary women was able to recall their story from the time when their father was born a slave up to the age of seven when the Civil War ended. 

Their stories continued during the Reconstruction period, the cruel Jim Crow Era, to their journey to the north as they prospered as a teacher (Sarah Louise) and a dentist (Annie Elizabeth) in New York City, the civil rights movement and beyond.

The divisive and absurd obstacles that they had to face just because of their color of the skin, did non stop them from breaking through the barriers of hatred because of their strong foundation and unbreakable faith provided from their parents. As a result, they became civil right pioneers!

I was inspired to create this portrait of Sarah Louise (Sadie on the left) and Annie Elizabeth (Bessie on the right) because of their story. Their favorite flowers also surrounding them in the portrait.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a wonderful American history book. Also search on YouTube,The Delany sisters. It is a great opportunity to see them tell their story.

Figuring Things Out

Acrylics on canvas panel  11"x14"

 Figuring things out

This is the portrait of my niece. A typical teenager experimenting with the length of her hair. A bouncy hair 
of ringlet curls with dark auburn highlights from her maternal grandma, I thought it would make a great portrait, especially as a profile. It seems more spectacular. 

As voice of Generation Z, emojis were added to best illustrate some of her personality.

Consider the life of a teenager. It wasn’t easy for me, therefore I couldn’t imagine being a teen today. Especially a Christian teen. I can’t imagine being  an active church member, balance a social life and also active in school.

She’s an extraordinary person. I appreciated her grandmother for taking her to church since she was three years old. I couldn’t imagine her life any other way. Once more, I can’t imagine what it’s like as a Christian teenager, people expect you to be perfect.

The only thing perfect is God! 

I appreciate her accomplishments and I appreciate her flaws too.

I told her a long time ago that she was going to take this world by storm and she has and she will continue to. With God in her life, in her heart, and a strong faith based personality, I believe with all my heart, she will be okay no matter what life throws at her!

The following is from her college essay:

American evangelist Billy Graham once said, “The Christian life is not a constant high. I

have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’” I was taught from an early age by my grandmother that in life you might be the odd one out but God will always provide a way for you to be great. She started taking me to Sunday school at the age of three and put the seed of faith in me to make sure my relationship with God would grow. As I grew up, everything my Grandmother sowed into me began to blossom. I saw what she saw in me in my peers, except they had no immediate role model to help cultivate their gifts, so I became what they needed. I often wonder who I would be if it was not for the relationship built with my God-fearing grandmother, a relationship that came out of the ashes of a family that was not meant to be. Being an only child of a single parent that labors constantly to make ends meet became the threshold to many opportunities that I still experience  today.

In church I became who everyone wanted to be like, even the adults admired the spirit of

God within me. Being the little girl that could recite the books of the Bible in order, sang on the choir, praise danced, ushered people into the house of God and articulated herself well for her age; I was always in the hotspot. People watched my every move and it later became yet another setback. I could no longer just be a kid, but instead the perfect kid so I would not embarrass my

family and give the people jealous of me something to talk about. I felt there was no room for error and found it awfully hard to be exactly who everyone wanted me to be. My peers began to treat me differently. They no longer wanted to hang out with me because I matured rather rapidly. Although I was like the adult to them, many of the adults did not see me that way nor did they respect my efforts to increase the kingdom of God.  My faith deepened during my time of distress. I knew God would provide me instruction to get through it. That is when I realized it does not matter what other people thought of what I was doing, I was sent here on assignment to bring people closer to God and guide them along the path.

I worked harder, and took younger kids in the church under my wing. They learned their

talents and how to use them to minister to others. The same God people saw in me, I began to see in everyone whose heart I touched. In 2013, my mother got married and the following year God blessed my family with another child. I knew when he was born, I had to take care of him. Not just his physical needs but also putting him on the right path. It is not easy being an older sibling along with  having no choice but to take care of your  sibling while both of your parents are now working hard to make sure not one but both of their children have decent lives.

 I have come to the realization that God will allow you to experience some things that are

not always great. Then he will make an example of you to make the best of every situation. Had I not been an only child to a single parent, I doubt that faith would be as strong. I also would not be the role model that I am today if my grandmother did not plant the seed in me to be able to give my talents back to God.

Clint

Acrylics on board 15"x17"

Clint

This is one of my favorite portraits. It was inspired by article about Clint Eastwood, the actor, director, and producer.

 The article was about his movie, Bridges of Madison County. The title of the article was, “Has Clint eastward gone soft?” This movie and role was unlike any of the Clint eastward characters that anyone have seen before. It’s a love story about a photographer who falls in love with a married housewife which lasted for several years in the 1960s.

As I stated before in my blog, I am fan of Mr. Eastwood’s work because his roles have always been unconventional. He was never afraid to go across the grain”. Interestingly, there have been certain roles in the past, that was quite uncomfortable with because they were so different. Now I appreciate those rolls and films that made me a little uncomfortable because he has the audacity to do something different. In other words, to be creative!

So I decided to create this portrait using the question from the article, has Clint Eastwood gone soft?

I used the palette knife technique through out the portrait. I wanted to capture the “Clint Eastwood” iconic stare as he sports a floral hat!

The audacity of it all! 

Mr & Mrs Adams

Oil on Canvas panel 14"x17"

Mr. Mrs. Adams

I had brought my art portfolio to my job for meeting with an art curator immediately after work. It was just a few blocks away. One of my coworkers was quite curious about my portfolio and asked me to present my work. She was shocked and excited while seeing my work. Slowly more and more people started to gather around to view my work. My coworkers were amazed and complimented me. As I said thank you, there was one person, who remained quiet. Someone nudged her and said,”Look at what Tracey can do!” The quiet person replied politely, “I am not very into art.” Then was the awkward silence. I said, “Ok, cool.” Then someone said well anyway, I like your work, Tracey.

The person who was not into art was, Mrs. Adams. She was the only one that did not make a big deal about my art work. She was a no nonsense type of individual. She was a straight talker and could be very blunt at times. I appreciated her honesty and her intentions came from a good place. Never from a malicious place. I liked her, she was one the toughest, hard working teacher assistant that I felt comfortable in the classroom. It was all about caring for the children and getting the job done.

“ Straight no chaser! ”

Sometime later Mrs. Adams approached me about painting a portrait for her husband. He wanted a painting of them. Out of all the people, I was commissioned by Mrs. Adams’s husband. I was well beyond shocked.

A photograph that they took one year at a cruise was used for this portrait. There were some challenges too. The photo of the couple was dark. The position of their pose was also a little bit far away, but I wanted to bring them closer. They are striking couple and I wanted to express the love they have for one another. This was a well respected couple. I presume that most marriages go through challenging as well as, wonderful times.

 It was an honor to paint their portrait. A solid and strong couple. 😀

A portrait of the legendary Nina Simone

Mixed medium 11" x 14"

Nina Simone recorded the song, "Feeling Good" for her 1965 album, I Put a Spell on You.

 

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!

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……

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!