Sketching out a new piece...

Video footage of me sketching out a new piece...

Emory Douglas:Minister of Culture

I have always liked this artists work, but I've never seen him shown in NYC. If you aren't familiar with hm you should look him up. He is Emory Douglas former Minister of Culture for the Revolutionary Black Panther Party. His work was featured in just about every Panther Party newspaper. As Minister of Culture, was able to use his work to challenge the injustice that Blacks and the underclass were dealing with in the 1960's. His images are strong and eye catching detailing the plight of the underclass while maintaining their dignity and giving them a national voice through the use of the Black Panther new paper. As a painter I find his work inspirational because of his use of thick black outlines which is a technique I use in my own work as well, although not as masterfully.

...oh i'm not really familiar with The Roots...

This is from another blog I have, but I want you all to see the type of people I have been meeting lately. This is 100% true nothing has been embellished...

So i went to opening night of the National Black Fine Art Show last night and had a great time. talked to a few gallery owners, met some folks, even saw a few friends i hadn't seen in a while. then as the show was coming to a close i meet this cute black chic. we chat a while. nothing major just regular 'who are you, and what do you do' kinda talk.

the night is young, and i'm not really ready to go home yet, so i ask her to join me for a drink at this bar across the street from the art show.

long story short...we chat..have a drink and decide to share a cab home (she lives in harlem too)

anyway...here is part of our conversation.


ME: blah blah blah...what music do you listen to?

black chic i just met: Oh, i have a wide array of music that i like. i like all kinds of music. i listen to everything. I really like The Eagles.

ME: yeah thats cool. me too. i can listen to just about anything. however, i'm not a fan ot top 40 radio.

black chic i just met: yeah, i agree, the radio is boring, nothing is really creative. i'm mostly an ipod type chic

ME: thats cool, i can dig it...by the way, The Roots are doing two shows at the Apollo next week...you trying to roll with me?

black chic i just met: oh i'm not really familir with The Roots.

ME: you do realize that this is the last time I'll probably ever speak to you.

HER: Part II

This piece I started a while ago, but wasn't able to find the right color or think of the right name for the piece, so it's been a while. I think I'm on the right track now and hopefully this will be done before too long.

And yes this piece is about someone that I know.

MUSIC BY: Dead Prez, "Mind Sex"

EXHALE:PART I

I started this piece a few days ago, but I wasn't happy with what I had so far. If you look close you can see 2 or 3 other sketches under the top sketch. This is slightly a new directions for me (more detailed) so we will see what the final out come will be. For the record, I was going to make this a happier piece than is it turning out to be. Sometimes you have to do what the canvas is telling you to do instead of what you are planning to do.