Black Is Beautiful

I am old enough to remember when the phrase "Black Is Beautiful" burst on the scene.  It never meant "Only Black Is Beautiful," it meant, "Hey, Black is Beautiful in its Ownself!" We don't have to meet "white" standards of beauty; we are gorgeous as is! This was at a time when a black model on the cover of a mainstream (aka white audience) magazine was big news. Glamour magazine had its first black cover model, Katiti Kironde, with its August 1968 issue. The first African-American model to grace the cover of Vogue was Beverly Johnson, six years later, on the August 1974 issue. While no longer front page news, it's still the case that a cover model is more likely to be white than to be a person of color. 

Black Lives Matter never meant "Only Black Lives Matter," or "Black Lives Matter More," it meant "Black Lives Matter Just As Much, and We Are Saying So Because the Reality Is, as far as the System is concerned, They Don't!." 

How can I, a 66-year old white woman, experiencing the privilege that comes with whiteness, even when I know that privilege is unjust, how as an artist, sheltering in place, offer my support?  I can create artwork featuring people of color. It's an inadequate gesture, I feel. And, the question of appropriation comes to mind. But, it is the best gesture I can come up with right now.  

So here are a two recent portraits, based on photos posted by the subject herself on the Sktchy app for iPad/iPhone, both drawn freehand on my iPad Pro, using the Sketch Club app.

Prayer for Peace

Haley

And, an older work, from 2011, a charcoal/pastel on sanded board, of my all-time favorite model, Brittany Anne, done from life in the studio.  She moved away awhile back, and I still miss drawing her.  She was really an extraordinary model, exuding strength, sweetness, power. She is probably the most beautiful woman I have ever met. And, yes, she has quite the petite ears!

Brittany