Progress video of the making of Origins.
“You can't hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree.”
― Malcolm X
Origins began as an art submission for a quarterly magazine. The premise was to create an illustration of one's own personal origin story. This was hard for me. I debated if I should go the route of my upbringing—where I came from or the deeper one my identity. My ethnicity.
My decision was to go the path as a black woman, but also tie the commonality of humanity. So I came up with Mother Earth or the goddess mother. I envision this lovely dark-skinned woman emerging from the foliage and sprouting new life.
This is one of the most personal of my portraits and the one that identify the strongest. My piece was not chosenfor the magazine but I am grateful for the opportunity to go at a level I rarely go.
Sketch is completed.
Blocking out the colors before painting.
Starting to lay down layers of ink.
Warmer up the tones.
Working in the studio.