West End Girl

For those of you not familiar with Atlanta, we have a West End.  It’s a great Afro-centric, urban neighborhood.  Home to  artists, Jamaican restaurants, the Atlanta University Center, old people, small business, soul food, African shops, and an assortment of characters.  Did I mention that there is a Krispy Kreme there, too?

It’s the Afro-centricity that I associate most with West End.  So when I saw this picture, a natural child, not ashamed of being black and nappy-headed, I think she’s from the West End.

Being a formalist, I make the art first; the subject is secondary.   I choose the face because I’m most familiar with it.  I was making the eyebrow, mouth, and nose in the simplest way.  Therefore, this face came from the process, and the story, her association came later.  That’s why art is fun - it’s like a box of chocolates.  

Ok, I did say that there’s a Krispy Kreme in the West End, didn’t I?  Just checking.

(reposted from previous blog)