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