“No Crystal Stair” African American portraits What I am capturing here

What I am capturing here is that energy

I tried to capture some of the essence of this connection with various modes of texture

(36x48) and (18x24)

Her face is literally the culmination of generations

We have learned over time to thrive through challenges and that will not soon change

“No Crystal Stair” African American portraits What I am capturing hereThis painting was inspired by Langston Hughes famous poem Mother to Son. The image in many ways speaks for itself but the viewer should pay special attention to how the background informs the mood and energy of the piece. Raising black children in such a world as this takes grit, fortitude, intelligence, commitment, and above all, undying love. While the pressures of black parenting are real and often intense, they can also be incredibly rewarding. We