Starting A Body of Work
There is something both exciting and intimidating about standing at the beginning of a new body of work. Every series begins with questions instead of answers, and that's exactly where I find myself today.
Over the past several weeks, I've been immersed in research, filling sketchbooks with ideas, reading, remembering, and thinking deeply about the stories I want these paintings to tell. Before a single brush touches a finished canvas, there is an invisible stage of the process that few people ever see. It is made up of notes, photographs, conversations, memories, and countless sketches as I search for the strongest visual language to express an idea.
My newest series, explores the places where Black communities gather, celebrate, create traditions, and build lasting memories. These spaces are more than physical locations they are cultural landmarks where joy, resilience, music, dance, and community continue to thrive across generations.
As an artist, I believe that preserving these moments through painting is one way to honor the richness of everyday Black life. Many of these traditions are passed from one generation to the next without ever being formally documented. My hope is that these paintings will serve not only as works of art but also as visual records of experiences that deserve to be remembered and celebrated.
This project would not be possible without the support of organizations that believe in artists and the importance of cultural storytelling. I am deeply grateful to the Puffin Foundation for awarding a grant that is helping bring this series to life. Their investment allows me to dedicate time and resources to developing this body of work with the care it deserves.
I am also honored to be creating this series with the support of Princeton University and to have been named a Trenton Arts Fellowship Finalist through Mercer County Community College (MCCC). Their encouragement has given me both confidence and momentum as I begin this next chapter of my artistic practice.
For collectors, this stage of a project is especially meaningful. Every finished painting begins as an idea scribbled in a sketchbook. Watching a body of work evolve from research to sketches and finally into completed paintings offers a rare glimpse into the creative journey. When you collect a work from a series, you are collecting not only the final image but also the months of thought, exploration, and dedication behind it.
Over the coming months, I'll be sharing more of this process from research and preliminary sketches to studio updates and completed paintings. I hope you'll follow along as this new collection takes shape.
Thank you for being part of the journey from the very beginning.
