My art includes my struggle
#CaptionedBlackArt | Thursdaysº
Captioned Black Art
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“Harmony, radiance, and simplicity, all the essentials of spiritual beauty in the race they had marked for destruction.”
— Nella Larsen, Quicksand
A Snippet:
Did you know that first editions of Nella Larsen’s works are rare, as she mysteriously disappeared from Harlem’s literary and arts community after publishing two successful novels and becoming the first African-American woman to win a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1930?
Learn more . . .
19. (Untitled)
“Take advantage of the community and connections that are at your disposal. The critiques with your peers and professors are invaluable. Once you graduate, unless you continue to higher education, or enter the work of residencies, you will find that the feedback and encouragement you once received may not always be consistently available at the level you need it. Creating and nourishing connections made amongst other artists is very important.”
— Kalin Renée Devone
Did you know?
Did you know that Kalin Devone credits her painting studies at UNC Charlotte for her technical skill and development as a painter?
“The faculty I was able to work with during my time there [UNC Charlotte] put a lot of emphasis on proportions, color theory, and composition,” Devone has said. “I often go back to the notes that I took in figure painting and figure drawing classes as a reference.”
Kalin Devone received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in painting, and has been involved in the creation of various murals across the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.
20. “Rosa Parks Mugshot”
“Just because you’re different from the people around you doesn’t mean you’re not beautiful.”
— Monica Ahanonu
Did you know?
Did you know that Monica Ahanonu was a competitive gymnast throughout her childhood?
“I didn’t realize how active and creative I was as a child until looking back more recently. I had an intense gymnastics schedule, was always making calendars or cards for my friends on the computer, taking photos, making up dances, drawing my own magazines or writing TV scripts and filming myself acting out the parts.”
Upon graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2013, Monica Ahanonu started her career at DreamWorks Animation where she found her unique artistic style.
She made the leap to become a full-time freelance artist in April 2017 and since then has worked with companies such as Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Netflix, Samsung USA, TIME Magazine, Adidas, Sprite, Salvatore Ferragamo, MTV, Shea Moisture, NYX Cosmetics, Simon & Schuster, and Adobe Creative.
“Just because you’re different from the people around you doesn't mean you’re not beautiful,” says Monica Ahanonu. “I believe in diverse beauty. It brings color and variation into the world . . . and more excitement. I’m glad that I can bring that to light with my work.”
21. “Stoic”
“I create the art that I wanted to see when I was growing up.”
— Stacie Monday
Did you know?
Did you know that Stacie Monday (a self taught artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma) began painting in 2014 and her primary medium is acrylics?
In fact, in 2018, Stacie Monday won 3rd place in acrylic art in the Lenora Rolla Black History Month show.
Monday was also a participating artist for the Affirmations art show located at the South Dallas Cultural Center, and had a residency and solo show at Sunset Art Studios. She completed two murals, one at the Bath House Cultural Center in Dallas and the other at Mag and May luxury apartments in Fort Worth, TX.
“My art has two purposes; to celebrate African American women and to be an activist in my community. My art includes my struggle, my experiences, and my lessons learned as a woman in America. I feel that Black women are strong, nurturing, and beautiful in every way. I paint to change the negative view of Black women and to erase stereotypes that we face. Each painting is filled with vibrant colors and full of passion. I create the art that I wanted to see when I was growing up.”
Where There’s Joy, There’s Pain
(Breathe In . . . Breathe Out)
My art includes my struggle
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