Ancestor Art
Growing up, I was very close to both of my grandmothers. They greeted me with their arms wide open and gifted me with unconditional love. My memories of Mary and Dorothy bring me comfort and place a warm smile on my face. I honor all of my Ancestors on whose shoulders I stand here now.
Grandma’s Hands
This is an early oil painting inspired by a black and white photograph I saw that reminded me of both of my grandmothers who took joy in preparing wonderful meals for their families.
She Who Speaks All of Her Truths Out Loud
I painted this figure during a class focused on the healing qualities of art. With the throat chakra symbol across her neck, she reminds me to stand in and speak my truth.
African Indian Earth Mother Goddess
From that same healing art series, offered by an organization called Musea, I connected with both my African and Native American Ancestors and the Spirit Animals, Snake and Raven. This mixed media painting is about connection, transformation and telling your story.
And Still I Rise!
I originally titled this mixed media piece “The Apothecary of Joy” because it explored how I’ve used my paintbrush and my writing quill as medicine to heal past ills. With her arms joyfully lifted to embrace the future, I changed her title to reflect overcoming life’s challenges, often inflicted by others, as described in Dr. Maya Angelou’s poem of the same name.
The Sacred Journey: Three Generations
This is my most recent Ancestor painting. It began as a study of human cells and evolved into 3 figures: a dark bluish-purple, slightly hunched over elder on the left, a seasoned, middle-aged woman in the center looking upward and a lavender young woman who is encased within the right side of the middle figure, pregnant with the future. She is facing you while the other two figures are seen from behind. Do you see what I see? Perhaps you see something entirely different…
