50 Shades of Black

“50 Shades of Black: a community-engaged platform for sharing, learning, growing and healing using personal stories submitted by viewers and art to foster a global dialogue about sexuality and skin tone in the formation of identity. Website includes blog with a diverse group of writers from across the country. – from 50shadesofblack.com“.

With that said, there was a lot of diversity involved with this project. What I was commissioned to work on was a illustration for their first mix Cd of black music. this was almost difficult because it featured music from old negro spirituals to the present. I had to ask myself in terms of music… what was the most consistent instrument? I though the drum outside of the human voice. So I chose this as a base to infuse the various elements of black music. I gave it a tribal feel because again, the drum and music didn’t start here in America. I was in a zone, using a new abstract style that I was continuous and I applied it here.

The creator of the brand (Carlton Mackie)and Dj (Kwame Phillips) loved it. I struck gold again and it was well received. I donated to the cause by offering portions of our limited edition prints of the piece, right back into the project. It was worth it.