Tell us about the style and medium of your art.
My work is a celebration of the beauty and grace that I see in all women of color. My intent is for the viewer to slow down, take their time, and find their connection to the portraits before them.
I am drawn to images of the female form; it is the silhouette of black women that are of particular interest to me.  I see the poise and energy women inhabit in the world, which is so often commodified in popular media. In response to this, I offer counter symbols of black women as figures personifying grace and strength.  In my work, I explore the use of silhouettes by recontextualizing images from popular culture to use as entry points for deeper conversations on gender, race, and the perceptions of beauty.
Using photographs as my source image, my process begins by reducing the subjects to their essential elements, eliminating everything until they are stripped to raw imagery of line to expose their most compelling details. Next I will cut-out the silhouette and paint her in my signature high enamel blue. Final steps involve collaging the silhouette with pattern papers, encaustic prints or inked paper and pour resin to seal the composition.  My preference is to work on birch panel; it supports my resin pours best and 2 -3 times a year I will create a large scale paper cut piece (see "There She Stands, Regal with her Braids and Beads").
In the current body of work, I am focusing on the themes of identity, migration, and displacement in the human narrative.  

How have the Arts impacted your life?
I would have to say that the arts have impacted my life in a very significant way. Art is one of my favorite loves. I would compare it to an old friend and great collaborator. For as long as I can remember, I have always been an admirer of the arts. I liken it to humankind's way of aspiring to truly be more like the creator, to be able to express ourselves in our hearts truest form. The language of art. Art is pure. It's not good, it's not bad, but it can be all of those things. It strikes an emotional context, it controls your emotions and also helps you to release those emotions. It just makes you feel a type of way. I feel like art is just as powerful, in its proper use as a God or Goddess.

What inspired you to work in the entertainment industry?
Art has always been an inspirational factor in my world, almost like a guiding force in my life. I don't know if I would have been able to get away from it if I tried. Honestly, I should’ve known it was my passion because I was never good at keeping a job in other industries. After a while, It was more like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. My soul was just meant for so much more. Once I realized that you could create a living from having that feeling of creativity one gets from making something; It just always made me wonder why anyone would want to do any other job in the world. As a young child I spent a lot of time watching TV and I grew up in front of the television. I witnessed the entire world by watching TV. It was like a magic carpet to me, I could go anywhere. My favorite show was Movie Magic.

How have the Arts impacted your life?
At an early age I grew to love all genres of music. One of my elementary school teachers exposed me to classical music and I have loved it ever since.  But in the same vein it allows me to have an even greater appreciation for the awesome talent and creativity of today’s Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B artists. Additionally, my appreciation for the Arts has been a positive force to aid my understanding of science and math.

Tell us about 5J Entertainment.
5J Entertainment is committed to educating, informing, entertaining and promoting positive images through various forms of media.  We believe in exploring the little-known stories and unknown narratives that are unheard, unknown and in some cases distorted  or misunderstood. Our goal is to provide a higher understanding of the culture and factors that create those narratives.
5J Entertainment is a visionary company working to bring encouragement and inspiration to audiences through storytelling, utilizing history, facts, data and vivid imagery.  

How have the Arts impacted your life?
I was born in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is synonymous with handles like Motown and the Motor City. I grew up mindful of the blend of working-class Americans building a middle-class Mecca with a great appreciation for the creativity of world-renowned musicians, actors, dancers and pioneers of edgy works of art. At a very young age my mother introduced me to the Alvin Ailey dance theater and often took me to off Broadway productions by creators adept at crafting stories familiar to me and my everyday life. These artists presented their work with a creativity that yielded audiences across broad spectrums of race and wealth. Throughout my life art and the appreciation of artistic expression has helped me find and communicate commonality in themes and market my services to diverse audiences in business.
 
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
At a core level I would say that my creative spirit initially led me to seek my own unique skill and craft it into something useful for others. I’ve always had a big imagination and a knack for writing. In school I tested well in math and science so a career in stem was a natural progression. Technology was an arena that allowed me to hone in on my creative energy to develop innovation ideas and turn those ideas into technological realities. As an entrepreneur, my passion for writing and compelling others to see my vision, allows me to market innovation to audiences that would benefit from the services.