Fruitful Conversations

Year: 2024; 2024
Dimensions: 16x20x1.5"
Medium: Acrylic and Oil Pastels

Artist Description of Work:
In the "She Said" collection, I turn to abstract portraiture to examine the tension between what's hidden versus what's shown. I explore the inner dialogue of women—the often unspoken contrast between what's felt and what's projected. Through vibrant, expressive forms and layered symbolism, this collection speaks to the masks women wear, the truths they carry, and the strength it takes to navigate that duality. In Fruitful Conversations, I used color to express the tension between composure and interior intensity. Her body, painted in cool and calm tones, contrasts with the vivid, expressive color of her face and mind. This opposition reveals the difference between how she presents herself during conversation and what she’s actually thinking and feeling. On the right side, a second, almost hidden face emerges—an internal self with sharper features—suggesting that even in a “fruitful” exchange, she is exercising restraint in what she shares. The basket of bananas adds another layer of symbolism: representing both the fruits of her labor and her fertility—two aspects of a woman’s life that don’t always coexist in harmony. In Lemonade Stand, a woman “wears many hats.” An external face and an internal face emerge, reflecting the quiet duality between how she appears and what she carries within. Her stance suggests both engagement and guardedness—she’s present in the moment, yet her mind remains active, balancing the many roles and responsibilities that fill her days. The scene becomes a metaphor for motherhood and womanhood alike: the art of being present while holding so much unseen, the tension between care for others and care for self.