The "academic approach" I once took when painting a portrait has evolved over the years  into a more personal approach in regards to my application of paint and my choice of colors.  An artist becomes free to  paint in their unique styles my being with lots of texture, intermingling of vibrant colors that dance happily on the canvas in a way that expresses my inner spirit and feelings about the subject.  Most often, whatever I am going to paint will begin as a sketch on my drawing pad before it goes onto the working surface where the final drawing is rendered slightly or completely different from the initial sketch.   My palette is by no means limited-consisting of multiple reds, yellows, blues, greens, browns, including black and white.   Before I begin, I ask God to bless it and to open my inner sight, and then I submit to the creative powers!  Dipping my palette knife or brush into two or more colors at a time, in an almost random fashion, I start to place dark and light colors strategically to create form.  Generally, I pose in the mirror for the figurative imagery in my paintings, which are often based on a personal experience of mine, such as in "Wash Day I and II".   Portraits are more technical, but to keep my creativity alive in portraiture work, I work only from  black & white photos and rely on my own color choices to capture the person's essence.   My favorit painting mediums are acrylics and oils that have been mixed with coldwax.  I also paint sometimes with beeswax (encaustic painting) & I have tried oil pastels.   Paintings & Portraits of Color is the bes way to describe my overall work. 

 Inspiration & Influences:

I admire and study the work of diverse artists from around the world (past and present), and I am certain, in some way, more than a few have had some influence on me.Whenever I see face or scenery that touches my "art nerve," it becomes my goal to re-create an image that captures the essence, spirit, and energy of what I saw or personally experienced.   Autumn Passion, Somewhere & Sinews are my interpretations of the beauty I see in nature, as I remembered it, after a walk in the park.   Mother of Zion, Coffee Bean Café, Walking with Seagulls, Wash Day, Fruit Stand, Branches, are all imagery composed and inspired from my personal memories of motherhood, friendships, and travels to Africa and Jamaica.

 In 2007 I started to explore clay as a possible surface to for my paintings. (see the link to my journey in clay). I now consider myself a painter and ceramist.  Since I was been bitten by the clay goddess I've been on an addicting and exciting journey in clay.  I employ hand-building, sculpture and wheel techniques in my pieces. The clay provides me with an alternative to canvas, which I continue to explore and embellish sometimes with drawings from my sketchbook. There is something so immensely calming to my spirit when I work with clay; molding and kneading it into a finished piece of work.The first ceramic piece I created is called Golden Memories, which was all hand-built and sculpted .  It was the first in a series of small windows, each showing a personal experience I remember from my childhood growing up in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, NY. 

I  believe and hope that my artistic style is captured in any medium I choose to use, and that the universal content that inspires me will invite a diverse audience to make an immediate and personal connection to my work. Since stepping out on faith, my work has started to leave my apartment walls and abide on the walls of art  lovers and collectors - some of my patrons include:

• Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat
• Dr. Maime Locke - VA State Senator
• Dawn Jackson, President of Women Business Owners (WBO)  in Prince Georges County, MD
• Maria Thomas, D J/Hostess - "Talk To Me" 93.5 FM WRTN