"yOu CaNt hAvE mUlTiPlE ArT sTyLeS!" 🤪

This narrative was driven into brain so much that it crippled me. That if I wanted to exist in a space that I either hadn't explored or seen success in, I couldn't because it wasn't 'my lane'. Last year, I decided to remove all labels from & that allowed me to explore 2 different illustrative styles for different applications.

 

PORTRAIT STYLE

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

This style is shown in my Expression series (2 toned close ups of faces). This developed as an evolution of my Classic style from custom illustrative pieces of families (full body with no facial details). During COVID, my husband & I were having a lot of racial charged conversations & I wanted to capture Blackness in a way that my children could interpret. In 2022, my depression hit a peak & in an act of recovery in August of 2023, I took a risk on myself & decided to start painting these faces on LARGE canvases & the rest is history! 

WHY IS IT SPECIAL TO ME?

The portraits came to be as a visual reminder for my kids. In the final stages of each digital design, I run them by my kids to make sure they can identify the emotion. When I started looking to create for ME again in 2023, these joyous faces helped bring me back. Making the conscious decision to paint these faces took a lot of personal determination & as a result, it's one of the most calming things I've ever done for myself. Each canvas teaches me something new about myself so 

 

REFRESHED STYLE

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

This style is heavily inspired by my kids. It's such a juxtaposition of style from my other but still so joyous. In an effort to get out of a creative rut, I went back to my drawing roots & created figures & shapes that specifically showcased movement & funky poses.

WHY IS IT SPECIAL TO ME?

I've always wanted to have a 'style'. It wasn't until I took many steps back to capture my kids energy that I hit it. Yes, it's very simple & fun & that's it! It's not for everyone & that's totally ok! It makes me smile & that's what matters :)