I make portraits of young people in vibrant color and natural light. My work mostly

depicts African Americans in their freest and fearless moments. Many of my sitters

are friends and family, and I aim to honor who they are with care and honesty. I’m

inspired by God, so biblical symbolism shows up through a pose, a line of scripture, or an object.

I talk with each sitter as I work, then return to the studio and build the final image from multiple photographs.

 

Lately, I’ve been bringing more of the outdoors into my work to highlight the beauty of nature and a sense of place. I use traditional tools alongside unconventional materials to get the textures I’m after, so the surface feels as alive as the scene. Outside, my sitters open up in a way I don’t always see indoors. That pull comes from years of working with children, which sharpened my eye for curiosity and play and deepened my commitment to young people’s safety and freedom. My niece and nephew, along with other young people in my life, keep me returning to these themes. Visually, I pull from Expressionism and Impressionism, whether the background is observed, imagined, or both.

 

Working across acrylic, watercolor, and drawing materials gives me room to explore texture and depth. I’m drawn to working large-scale so the figure can breathe and the sitters’ presence feels undeniable.