Collection: Mon Jardin de Lys

A. Lys Cercle Rouge
24" x 20" x 1.5" Acrylic and canvas on gallery wrapped canvas.

This piece was inspired by the work and mission of a story I recently heard another artist share...

"I became very enamored by the circle. This circle came from an experience when I was a child during segregation, where we visited my mother and sisters in Ohio. And my father loves root beer. We would drive to Kentucky, and we got chilled root beer in a glass. In the bottom of our glasses was a red circle, and that meant that was for Black people. You couldn't share any silverware or glassware with Whites. And that's what I think, when the circle really hit me, you know, that became something I wanted to undo in a way, or to express it in a way where the circle is beautiful and not used as a form of punishment, that you cannot drink from the same mug."
~ Howardena Pindell

As somewhat of a self-titled hippe, I coupled Howardena's words with the style of a piece by Alexandar Calder, and my, "Lys Cercle Rouge," was born, helping to change the narative!

B. Ľéléphant et le Lys
16" x 20" x 1.5" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

In 3dr or 4th grade we did animal reports, and my animal was the elephant. So probably the night before the report was due I went to my mom and told her that I had to have a picture of an elephant to go in the report. What happened next was absolutely wondrous, and it changed the way I viewed my mother forever.

My mom said, "Well I will do the best I can," and then proceeded to draw the most realistic elephant that I had ever seen drawn.... but I had never seen one drawn, so excuse the measure for error BUT before that very day, I had no idea that my mom could draw!!!

WOW!!! I was totally mesmerized.

This painting, titled "Ľéléphant et le Lys," was created to celebrate the unexplored talents of my mother.

I love you forever Jack. Thank you for that moment and thank you for the gift of Art 😘

C. Lys en Cuir
18" x 24" x 1.5" Acrylic and leather on gallery wrapped canvas.

Some ideas are sparked from a tactile experience.

I created this piece titled, “Lys en Cuir,” just to see what it would feel like. I wanted to see if I could create a 3-D experience. And if I could, I wanted to see how I would go about doing so.

I worked on this piece for quite some time. Part was the construction, and the other larger part of the work was thought. I had one chance to get it “right.”

Almost daily, over the course of a few weeks, I would mock the assembly of the lily, often changing the layout of the leather petals by length and color placement. Then finally one day, it felt right.

Then the process started over for the colorful textile backings of each petal. It is difficult to capture by photo, but each lily petal has a different colorful patterned backing, which truly enriches the piece.

This turned out to be one of my most favorite works to date. to capture by photo, but each lily petal has a different colorful patterned backing, which truly enriches the piece.

This turned out to be one of my most favorite works to date.

D. Trois Grands Lys
24" × 48" × 1.5" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Again, inspired by the work of Alexandar Calder, this piece titled, “Trois Grands Lys,” is about happiness.

I often stretch myself, asking the simple question, “What’s next?” In response, I grabbed the canvas, and while it was still in it’s plastic wrap, I began using marker and paint on my fingers to lay out this design.

My intention was to only create a simple layout just to be sure that the canvas was large enough for the vision, but the further along I got, the more I wanted to keep going... so I did. I actually painted the entire vision on the plastic wrapper.

The next morning, I carefully removed the wrapper, and up to this very day, it is hanging on my wall!