A Story Without Words.

“All you need to paint is a few tools, a little instruction, and a vision in your mind.”

– Bob Ross

In the art workshop at Urban Scholars – Boston, the object of each piece composed is to tell a story. But, how can you tell a story without words?

That is the difficult part, coming up with something people can understand by simply just looking at it and giving it time to sink in.

In order to have other people connect to your art in a way to understand it, you must be one with your work. Let creativity spring from your heart, preferably not your head.

For my first piece, that of which I was able to complete in two sessions, I decided to create something that voiced my identity.

In the society we are in today, being yourself and being accepted for who and what you identify yourself with or as is apparently a different task. Let people be who they want to be, its going to effect their lives not yours.

The black silhouette of the body represents my Black, African American identity.

The curly mold of the hair, and the blue, red, white and yellow colors, represent my culture; I am Cabo Verdiana (Cape Verdean) and I am proud.

The background was originally going to be pink, purple and blue – the colors of the bisexual flag-, but I am an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and I want more people than just myself to be represented in what I have created.

The motive behind me painting this piece, was the recent approval for the Heterosexual Pride Parade in August. This is my retaliation to their retaliation to the LGBTQIA+ community.

I do not believe anything good is going to come from this new found pride parade if it does in fact end up happening. I believe that it is only happening because the people who suggested it fear homosexuals and anyone who identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+.

I get that they could not be denied the right to have this parade, because as a politician it is not exactly good if you side with one side of the population. The next politician could come and represent those you refused to help and bam, you might not win the next election.

However, this is my pride, no one is going to make me ashamed of it or make me cower in the shadows.