Painting With Soul

Before I let go, Maze (1981)

What is the soul of a piece of artwork? It is that inner spiritual meaning that can be hidden behind the layers of paint. It is that ethereal element that is passed down through the generations. It is that thing that is felt yet not seen, touched but not held, and when properly prescribed is the medicine that has healed our wounds for centuries. It is a mixture of the three inseparable and immutable components of the Black experience, music, visual arts, and spirituality. There is no contemplation of the visual arts without association with the music of its day. There is no observance of Archibald Motley’s paintings without drawing a clear association with his fellow New Orleanian Louis Armstrong. They were both channeling the spirituality of the generations that came before them and providing an interpretation of all of the hopes and dreams of their mothers and fathers. That spiritual element, when removed, alters something in the texture of the expression. My attempts to express myself artistically are textured by the experiences of Aretha Franklin at Bethel Baptist Church, Paul Williams and his smooth choreography with the Temptations, and even the spirit of NWA that would be the soundtrack of my teenage years. I believe that music led me to a love for the visual arts and when I started my exploration of the Black American contribution to modern art history, I would always listen to period music to further gain access to the spirit of the time. I’m going to start adding more clips of my process (per your request) and take notice of the songs that I vibe to when I’m working and I hope to give you access to some of the elements that inspire me as a visual artist.