Galleries
Having grown up in Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River, I often recall the stories written by Mark Twain that describe his childhood days fishing the Big Muddy. I have noticed an absence of canvases devoted to this simple pleasure.
In 1865, Special Field Order No. 15 made it possible for black people to own land after slavery ended. This series is a tribute honoring the journey from plantation worker to landowner, and serves as a reminder of the beginnings of property acquisition.
We can still learn from those monkeys. The idea came to me to paint a series of human faces in the positions of see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil, and attach a scripture to each face. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Strong women influenced all stages of my life. Their beauty and strength have always intrigued me. This series is an appreciation of the many benefits I’ve received from their presence.
After slavery and during the Reconstruction period in the South, illegal arrest practices and harsh, inhumane incarceration were imposed on innocent blacks. These paintings depict actual forms of punishment. Brutal reminders of a brutal past.
One day, while wondering if my style of painting measured up to the styles of other artists, I began to doubt myself. Then I heard an inner voice say, “paint ME.” Soon after hearing this divine inspiration, I started painting the scriptures.
