My work is politically based and emerges from a place of inspiration and social concerns. I must be inspired by the subject I am compelled to recreate upon canvas. It may be the stance of the person; the color of their skin; the shape of their body or what they are wearing. The best portraits are when the soul of that person emerges from behind his eyes. Even when I paint a tree or a rock, I become one with the object. Whatever it is, when I paint, I become excited, sometimes frustrated and finally satisfied as I see what I have created with the help of my ancestors, long deceased. I believe being an artist involves a social responsibility to incite change, and transform consciousness. It also to bring peace to a troubled soul. I believe if I had started oil painting at 13 instead of 63, I would have been a fashion designer. I love the lines that form the shape of the human body, and the texture of cloth and it's movement upon that body like a human tree fascinates me. When I was young, there were not many images of young, defiant, black women like the ones were described in the poetry of Maya Angelou such as "I'll Rise"...she writes, Does mu haughtiness offend you? .... .You may shoot me with your word, you may cut me with your eyes,, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise. Does my Sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I danced like I've got diamonds at the meeting of my things." I love my work to be powerful!
