Let Birds Be Birds Painting

ARTIST STATEMENT My paintings are the visual representation of my voice. They are the language I use to convey my childhood memories through mixed media, vintage photos and visual storytelling. With the integration of vintage photography, my work breathes life into universal childhood experiences. Themes of children playing with friends, solitary moments of quiet grace and undeniable dignity are evoked in my work in a way that spans gender, ethnicity, race and nationality. My work celebrates the African-American experience in a positive and absorbing way not commonly seen. Ironically, this method compels me to rely strictly on intuition and instinct. My most recent works combine abstracts, collage and random marks, which is the antithesis of the directive I was given as a child to 'always color in the lines'. My inner voice now tells me there are no lines, there is only spontaneity, energy and instinct that compels me to 'NEVER color in the lines'.